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Gaultite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gaultite
Formula:
Na4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2O
Colour:
Colourless to pale mauve
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
2.52
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named by T. Scott Ercit and Jerry Van Velthuizen in 1994 in honor of Robert A. Gault (1943-), mineralogist at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Currently the only natural zeolite with essential zinc.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1661
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1661:8
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Gaultite
Classification of Gaultite
9.GF.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
F : Other Rare Zeolites
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
F : Other Rare Zeolites
77.2.6.1
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gau | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gaultite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless to pale mauve
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect {101} and {010} cleavages and a poor {021} cleavage.
Perfect {101} and {010} cleavages and a poor {021} cleavage.
Density:
2.52(4) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.52 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gaultite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.520 nβ = 1.521 nγ = 1.524
2V:
Measured: 61.3° (4), Calculated: 62°
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 Âĩm 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 Âĩm 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:
Low (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak to moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Gaultite
Mindat Formula:
Na4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Gaultite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Fdd2
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.211(3) Å, b = 39.88(2) Å, c = 10.304(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.256 : 1 : 0.258
Unit Cell V:
4,195.94 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Equant, multifaceted crystals. Forms include {010}, {110}, {110}, {021}, {151}, {l5l}. Subordinate {111}, {111}, {131}, {131}, {171}, {171} and {011}.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005410 | Gaultite | Ercit T S, Van Velthuizen J (1994) Gaultite, a new zeolite-like mineral species from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, and its crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 32 855-863 | ![]() | 1994 | Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.35 Ã | (100) |
| 5.36 Ã | (20) |
| 4.96 Ã | (30) |
| 3.240 Ã | (60) |
| 3.167 Ã | (40) |
| 3.140 Ã | (40) |
| 2.996 Ã | (20) |
| 2.821 Ã | (30) |
| 2.491 Ã | (20) |
| 2.233 Ã | (20) |
| 1.807 Ã | (20) |
| 1.689 Ã | (20) |
| 1.406 Ã | (20) |
| 1.345 Ã | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Gaultite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Euhedral, multifaceted crystals to 0.5 mm in a sodalite inclusion.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, number CMN 81513.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Contact of hornfels and nepheline-sodalite syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Gaultite
Other Language Names for Gaultite
Relationship of Gaultite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Zeolite Group:
| Alflarsenite | NaCa2Be3Si4O13(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
| Amicite | K2Na2Al4Si4O16 · 5H2O | Mon. 2 |
| Ammonioleucite | (NH4)(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Arzamastsevite | K6Al5Si6O20(OH)4Cl | Tet. 42m : I42m |
| Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O | Hex. |
| Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Boggsite | Ca8Na3(Si,Al)96O192 · 70H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma |
| Brewsterite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup | M[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O | |
| Chiavennite | CaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Clinoptilolite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O | |
| Cowlesite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Dachiardite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Direnzoite | NaK6MgCa2(Al13Si47O120) · 36H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn |
| Edingtonite | Ba[Al2Si3O10] · 4H2O | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O | Mon. |
| Erionite Subgroup | M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | |
| FabriÃĻsite | Na3Al3Si3O12 · 2H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pmm2 |
| Faujasite Subgroup | M3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | |
| Ferrierite Subgroup | Name used for unanalysed specimens that could be either ferrierite-K, ferrierite-Mg, ... | |
| Ferrochiavennite | Ca1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)5Be2O13(OH)2] · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| FlÃķrkeite | (K3Ca2Na)[Al8Si8O32] · 12H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Garronite Subgroup | ||
| Gismondine Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Gmelinite Subgroup | In 1997, gmelinite was split into Gmelinite-Ca, Gmelinite-Na and Gmelinite-K. | |
| Gobbinsite | Na5(Si11Al5)O32 · 11H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Goosecreekite | Ca[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
| Gottardiite | Na3Mg3Ca5Al19Si117O272 · 93H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmca |
| Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O | |
| Hsianghualite | Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2 | Iso. 23 : I213 |
| Kalborsite | K6Al4BSi6O20(OH)4Cl | Tet. 42m : P421c |
| Kirchhoffite | Cs(BSi2O6) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/acd |
| Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Leucite | K(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Limousinite | BaCa[Be4P4O16] · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Lithosite | K6Al4Si8O25 · 2H2O | Mon. |
| Loomisite | Ba[Be2P2O8] · H2O | Mon. m |
| Lovdarite | K2Na6Be4Si14O36 · 9H2O | Orth. mm2 |
| Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O | Orth. |
| Martinandresite | Ba2(Al4Si12O32) · 10H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn |
| Mazzite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Meierite | Ba44Si66Al30O192Cl25(OH)33 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Im3m |
| Merlinoite | K5Ca2(Si23Al9)O64 · 24H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Immm |
| Montesommaite | (K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 · 10H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
| Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O | Orth. |
| Mountainite | KNa2Ca2[Si8O19(OH)] · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Mutinaite | Na3Ca4Si85Al11O192 · 60H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Nabesite | Na2BeSi4O10 · 4H2O | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Natrolite Subgroup | A subgroup of the Zeolite Group. | |
| Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O | Hex. 6m2 : P6m2 |
| Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 23 : I23 |
| ParthÃĐite | Ca2(Si4Al4) O15 (OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Paulingite Subgroup | Paulingite was originally described in 1960. | |
| Perlialite | K9Na(Ca,Sr)[Al2Si4O12]6 · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm |
| Phillipsite Subgroup | (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O | |
| Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Roggianite | Ca2Be(OH)2Al2Si4O13 · 2.5H2O | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mcm |
| Rongibbsite | Pb2(Si4Al)O11(OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O | |
| Terranovaite | (Na,Ca)8(Si68Al12)O160 · 29H2O | Orth. |
| Thomsonite Subgroup | The large majority of "thomsonite" is thomsonite-Ca. | |
| Thornasite | Na12Th4+3(Si8O19)4 · 18H2O | Trig. 3m : R3m |
| Tschernichite | (Ca,Na2)[Al2Si4O12] · 4-8H2O | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm |
| TschÃķrtnerite | Ca4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3[Al3Si3O12]4(OH)8 · nH2O | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| 'UM1996-38-SiO:AlCaHNa' | Na-Ca-Al-Si-O-H | |
| 'UM1999-33-SiO:AlHKNa' | K7Na5Al12Si20O64 · 24H2O | |
| 'UM2002-40-SiO:AlCaHKMgNa' | (Mg,Ca,Na,K)7.5(Al12.8Si51.2)O128 · 65H2O | Tet. 422 : P4122 |
| 'Unnamed (Ca analogue of Merlinoite)' | (Ca,K,Na)5(Ca,Ba)2Al9Si23O64 · 23H2O ? | |
| Wairakite | Ca(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2O | Hex. 6m2 : P62m |
| Wilancookite | (Ba5Li2âŧ)Ba6Be24P24O96 · 26H2O | Iso. 23 : I23 |
| Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Yugawaralite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 4H2O | Mon. m : Pb |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.GF.05 | Terranovaite | (Na,Ca)8(Si68Al12)O160 · 29H2O |
| 9.GF.10 | Gottardiite | Na3Mg3Ca5Al19Si117O272 · 93H2O |
| 9.GF.15 | Lovdarite | K2Na6Be4Si14O36 · 9H2O |
| 9.GF.25 | Ferrochiavennite | Ca1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)5Be2O13(OH)2] · 2H2O |
| 9.GF.25 | Chiavennite | CaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.GF.30 | Tschernichite | (Ca,Na2)[Al2Si4O12] · 4-8H2O |
| 9.GF.35 | Mutinaite | Na3Ca4Si85Al11O192 · 60H2O |
| 9.GF.40 | TschÃķrtnerite | Ca4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3[Al3Si3O12]4(OH)8 · nH2O |
| 9.GF.55 | Direnzoite | NaK6MgCa2(Al13Si47O120) · 36H2O |
| 9.GF.60 | Meierite | Ba44Si66Al30O192Cl25(OH)33 |
| 9.GF.65 | Rongibbsite | Pb2(Si4Al)O11(OH) |
Fluorescence of Gaultite
Bright apple-green fluorescence under short-wave UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Gaultite does not readily dissolve in 1:1 HCl but does show very slight etching after prolonged exposure.
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 Gaultite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1661.html
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References for Gaultite
Localities for Gaultite
Showing 2 localities.
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - 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 (TL) | |
| Ercit et al. (1994) |
Russia | |
| Potapova et al. (2026) |
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The
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La VallÃĐe-du-Richelieu RCM, MontÃĐrÃĐgie, QuÃĐbec, Canada