Nyerereite

Nyerereite
General
Category	Carbonate mineral
Formula; (repeating unit)	Na2Ca(CO3)2
Strunz classification	5.AC.10
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Crystal class	Pyramidal (mm2) ; H-M symbol: (mm2)
Space group	Cmc21
Identification
Color	Colorless
Crystal habit	Platey, pseudo-hexagonal
Twinning	Always polysynthetically twinned parallel to [001]
Streak	White
Diaphaneity	Transparent
Specific gravity	2.541
Optical properties	Biaxial (-)
Refractive index	nα = 1.511 nβ = 1.533 nγ = 1.535
Birefringence	δ = 0.023
2V angle	Measured: 29°
References	[1][2][3]

Nyerereite is a very rare sodium calcium carbonate mineral with formula Na₂Ca(C O₃)₂. It forms colorless, platey pseudohexagonal orthorhombic crystals that are typically twinned. It has a specific gravity of 2.54 and indices of refraction of nα=1.511, nβ=1.533 and nγ=1.535. Nyerereite is not stable in contact with the atmosphere and rapidly breaks down. Collection specimens must be kept in a sealed argon environment.

It has a Hermann–Mauguin notation of mm2 and the respective space group is Cmc21.[1] In nature Nyerereite is naturally twinned and is pseudohexagonal with triad twinning; meaning that this is a six sided crystal that apparently has a hexagonal shape but is not in the hexagonal system. Triad twinning is the intergrowth of three orthorhombic crystals that turn at their center and form hexagonally shaped crystals. Nyerereite is biaxial negative, and has a 2v of 29 degrees. It shows a center acute bisectrix and a birefringence of approximately 0.023.[4] At high temperatures or just erupted lava nyerereite is uniaxial and shows an interference color of second order blue when twinning is not present, and when twinning is there the interference color of nyerereite is first order grey.[4]

Special characteristics

Since nyerereite is very unstable when it reaches the surface it creates pseudomorphs,[5] which is basically the process by which the rock appearance and dimensions remain constant but the main mineral component is replaced by another.[4] McKie (1976) categorized nyerereite into two different categories, high and low nyerereite. There are two types because the Ol Doinyo Lengai lavas are very soluble and hygroscopic; when they come in contact with water or the atmosphere, the lava changes physically and chemically.[6] Therefore, when nyerereite is at high temperature or warm we have what McKie (1976) calls high nyerereite, but when it cools down and gets hydrated we have pirssonite that has a chemical formula of Na₂Ca(CO₃)₂·2(H₂O).[6]

Occurrence and discovery

It was first recognized and described by J.B. Dawson from the Ol Doinyo Lengai carbonatite lavas in 1963 and named in honor of the president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere (1922-1999).[4] In the carbonatite lava it is associated with the potassium-bearing gregoryite. It has also been reported from the Afrikanda alkaline intrusive complex, in the Kola Peninsula, Russia.[7]

References

Webmineral data
http://www.mindat.org/min-2945.html Mindat.org
http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/nyerereite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
Mckie, D., Frankis, E.J., (1976) Nyerereite: A new volcanic carbonate mineral from Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 145, 73-95
Hay, R.L., (1983) Carbonatite tuffs in the Laetolil Beds of Tanzania and the Kaiserstuhl in Germany. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 82, 403-406
Zaitsev, A. N.; Keller, J. (Oct 2006). "Mineralogical and chemical transformation of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatites, Tanzania". Lithos. 91 (1–4): 191–207. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2006.03.018.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2006-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Anatoly N Zaitsev and Anton R Chakhmouradian, Calcite – amphibole – clinopyroxene rock from the Afrikanda Complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia: mineralogy and a possible link to carbonatites. II. Oxysalt minerals, The Canadian Mineralogist 40 pp 103-120 (Abstract)

Bibliography

Dawson, J.B., (1962) The geology of Ol Doinyo Lengai. Bulletin of Volcanologique 24,348-387.
Simkin, T., (1994) Volcanoes of the world. Geoscience press. second edition, 20-35.

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[Webmin-1] Webmineral data

[Mindat-2] ttp://www.mindat.org/min-2945.html Mindat.org

[Handbook-3] ttp://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/nyerereite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy

[McKie-4] Mckie, D., Frankis, E.J., (1976) Nyerereite: A new volcanic carbonate mineral from Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 145, 73-95

[5] Hay, R.L., (1983) Carbonatite tuffs in the Laetolil Beds of Tanzania and the Kaiserstuhl in Germany. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 82, 403-406

[Zaitsev2006-6] Zaitsev, A. N.; Keller, J. (Oct 2006). "Mineralogical and chemical transformation of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatites, Tanzania". Lithos. 91 (1–4): 191–207. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2006.03.018.

[7] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2006-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Anatoly N Zaitsev and Anton R Chakhmouradian, Calcite – amphibole – clinopyroxene rock from the Afrikanda Complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia: mineralogy and a possible link to carbonatites. II. Oxysalt minerals, The Canadian Mineralogist 40 pp 103-120 (Abstract)