Carletonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Carletonite
Carleton University Coat of Arms
Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F) · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, light blue, dark blue, or pink
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
2.45
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named after Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, where it was first studied and what was the main venue for the investigation of MSH minerals by Dr. G.Y. Chao from 1963 to 1995.
The OH analogue of fluorcarletonite.
The colour is caused by (CO3)•– hole defects.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Carletonite.
The colour is caused by (CO3)•– hole defects.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Carletonite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
898
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:898:3
Similar Names
| Carltonite | A variety of Native Iron |
IMA Classification of Carletonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O
Approval year:
1969
First published:
1971
Classification of Carletonite
9.EB.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
72.3.1.4
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
17.4.8
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cto | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Carletonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Carletonite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, light blue, dark blue, or pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
[001] Perfect, [110] Distinct
[001] Perfect, [110] Distinct
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.45 g/cm3 (Measured)
Comment:
Measured with a Berman balance and toluene
Optical Data of Carletonite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.521 nε = 1.517
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
The blue variety shows a weak pleochroism, with O: very pale blue, E: very pale pinkish brown.
Chemistry of Carletonite
Mindat Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F) · H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al,Mg
Crystallography of Carletonite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P4/mbm
Setting:
P4/mbm
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.178 Å, c = 16.695 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.267
Unit Cell V:
2,899.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000287 | Carletonite | Chao G Y (1972) The crystal structure of carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH).H2O, a double-sheet silicate American Mineralogist 57 765-778 |  | 1972 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.353 Å | (100) |
| 4.171 Å | (100) |
| 2.903 Å | (90) |
| 2.384 Å | (60) |
| 4.053 Å | (50) |
| 16.705 Å | (40) |
| 4.816 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Carletonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive core, about 8 inches in diameter, of a xenolith
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature CMNMC 37135 HT specimen
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In an alkaline complex in marble xenoliths in nepheline syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Carletonite
Other Language Names for Carletonite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 16 photos of Carletonite associated with Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
| 15 photos of Carletonite associated with Feldspar Group | |
| 15 photos of Carletonite associated with Arfvedsonite | NaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 12 photos of Carletonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 10 photos of Carletonite associated with Magnesio-arfvedsonite | NaNa2(Mg4Fe3+)(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| 7 photos of Carletonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Carletonite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 3 photos of Carletonite associated with Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 3 photos of Carletonite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 1 photo of Carletonite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EB. | Natromelansonite | Na3Zr[Si7AlO19] · 4H2O |
| 9.EB.05 | Melansonite | Na◻KZrSi8O19 · 5H2O |
| 9.EB.05 | Rhodesite | KHCa2Si8O19 · 5H2O |
| 9.EB.05 | Macdonaldite | BaCa4Si16O36(OH)2 · 10H2O |
| 9.EB.10 | Hydrodelhayelite | KCa2AlSi7O17(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EB.10 | Delhayelite | (Na,K)10Ca5Al6Si32O80(Cl2,F2,SO4)3 · 18H2O |
| 9.EB.15 | Monteregianite-(Y) | (Na,K)6(Y,Ca)2Si16O38 · 10H2O |
| 9.EB.20 | Fluorcarletonite | KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4F · H2O |
| 9.EB.25 | Günterblassite | (K,Ca,Ba)2(Fe,Ca,Mg,Na)[(Si,Al)13O25(OH)4] · 7H2O · |
| 9.EB.25 | Hillesheimite | (K,Ca,Ba,◻)2(Mg,Fe,Ca,◻)2[(Si,Al )13O23(OH)6](OH) · 8H2O |
| 9.EB.25 | Umbrianite | K7Na2Ca2[Al3Si10O29]F2Cl2 |
| 9.EB.30 | Fivegite | K4Ca2[AlSi7O17(O2-xOHx)][(H2O)2-xOHx]Cl |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 3.6232% | 1,123 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
A very weak endothermic peak at 300 C, a very strong endothermic peak at 692 C, a weak exothermic peak at 736 C, and a very weak endothermic peak at 915 C.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Carletonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-898.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Carletonite
Reference List:
Chao, George Y. (1971) Carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O, a new mineral from, Mount St. Hilaire, Quebec. American Mineralogist, 56 (11-12) 1855-1866
Chao, George Y. (1972) The crystal structure of carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O. American Mineralogist, 57 (5-6) 765-778
Frost, Ray L., Xi, Yunfei, Scholz, Ricardo, López, Andrés, Belotti, Fernanda Maria (2013) Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the silicate–carbonate mineral carletonite – KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F)·H2O. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1042. 1-7 doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.03.036
Localities for Carletonite
Showing 3 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Ottawa meeting +4 other references |
Russia | |
| Kaneva et al. (2018) |
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada