Natroaphthitalite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Natroaphthitalite
Formula:
KNa3(SO4)2
Colour:
yellow to colorless
Specific Gravity:
2.664 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
The sodium analogue of aphthitalite
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53216
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53216:1
IMA Classification of Natroaphthitalite
Approved
IMA Formula:
KNa3(S6+O4)2
Approval year:
2018
First published:
2020
Type description reference:
Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Pekov, Igor V., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Zubkova, Natalia V., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Britvin, Sergey N., Sidorov, Evgeny G. (2020) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. II. A new mineral, natroaphthitalite, and new data on belomarinaite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (2). 167-181 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900076
Classification of Natroaphthitalite
7.AC.35
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Natt | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Natroaphthitalite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Yellow to colorless
Density:
2.664 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Natroaphthitalite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.488(2) nε = 1.490(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.002
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 (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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Natroaphthitalite
Mindat Formula:
KNa3(SO4)2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Natroaphthitalite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Setting:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.6014(3) Å, c = 7.1507(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.277
Unit Cell V:
194.30 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.010 Å | (42) |
| 3.574 Å | (15) |
| 2.877 Å | (77) |
| 2.797 Å | (100) |
| 2.007 Å | (40) |
| 1.631 Å | (12) |
| 1.617 Å | (11) |
| 1.400 Å | (10) |
Reference:
Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Pekov, Igor V., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Zubkova, Natalia V., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Britvin, Sergey N., Sidorov, Evgeny G. (2020) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. II. A new mineral, natroaphthitalite, and new data on belomarinaite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (2). 167-181 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900076
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Type Occurrence of Natroaphthitalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
single-crystal individuals up to 1 cm in diameter, sometimes combined in crusts up to 2 cm across, and as aqua-transparent colorless tabular to lamellar hexagonal crystals up to 2 mm across, sometimes skeletal, typically combined in parallel intergrowths
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy Prospekt 18-2, Moscow 119071, Russia, registration number 5254/1
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Pekov, Igor V., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Zubkova, Natalia V., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Britvin, Sergey N., Sidorov, Evgeny G. (2020) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. II. A new mineral, natroaphthitalite, and new data on belomarinaite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (2). 167-181 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900076
Synonyms of Natroaphthitalite
Other Language Names for Natroaphthitalite
Dutch:Natroaphthitaliet
German:Natroaphthitalit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AC. | Aluminopyracmonite | (NH4)3Al(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC. | Amgaite | Tl+32Te6+O6 |
| 7.AC.05 | Vanthoffite | Na6Mg(SO4)4 |
| 7.AC.08 | Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Langbeinite | K2Mg2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.15 | Yavapaiite | KFe3+(S6+O4)2 |
| 7.AC.15 | Eldfellite | NaFe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Sabieite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Steklite | KAl(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Aphthitalite | K3Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Belomarinaite | KNa(SO4) |
| 7.AC.35 | Möhnite | (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.40 | Itelmenite | Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.45 | Saranchinaite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.50 | Majzlanite | K2Na(ZnNa)Ca(SO4)4 |
| 7.AC.60 | Philoxenite | (K,Na,Pb)4(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Cu)3(Fe3+0.5Al0.5)(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.75 | Petrovite | Na12Cu2(SO4)8 |
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) | 13.0244% | 4,038 | 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
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 Natroaphthitalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53216.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Natroaphthitalite
Reference List:
Hålenius, Ulf, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2018) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) NEWSLETTER 46. European Journal of Mineralogy, 30 (6) 1181-1189 doi:10.1127/ejm/2018/0030-2819
Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Pekov, Igor V., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Zubkova, Natalia V., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Britvin, Sergey N., Sidorov, Evgeny G. (2020) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. II. A new mineral, natroaphthitalite, and new data on belomarinaite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (2). 167-181 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900076
Localities for Natroaphthitalite
Showing 1 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.
Russia (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout NatroaphthitaliteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatRadioactivityOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia