Gregoryite

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Gregoryite
Gregorite.JPG
General
Category Carbonate mineral
Formula (Na2,K2,Ca)CO3
IMA symbol Ggy [1]
Strunz classification 5.AA.10
Crystal system Hexagonal
Crystal class Dihexagonal pyramidal (6mm)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group P63mc
Unit cell a = 5.21
c = 6.58 [Å]; Z = 2
Identification
ColorBrown, milky white
Crystal habit Phenocrysts in carbonatite lava
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 2.27 (calculated)
Optical propertiesUniaxial
Solubility Soluble in water
References [2] [3] [4]

Gregoryite is an anhydrous carbonate mineral that is rich in potassium and sodium [5] with the chemical formula (Na2,K2,Ca)CO3. [2] [6] [7] It is one of the two main ingredients of natrocarbonatite, found naturally in the lava of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano of Arusha Region, Tanzania, and the other being nyerereite. [8]

Because of its anhydrous nature, gregoryite reacts quickly with the environment, causing the dark lava to be converted to white substance within hours. [5]

Gregoryite was first described in 1980 and named after the British geologist and author John Walter Gregory (1864–1932), who studied the East African Rift Valley. [2] [3] It occurs associated with nyerereite, alabandite, halite, sylvite, fluorite and calcite. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 Mindat.org
  3. 1 2 Webmineral.com
  4. 1 2 "Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
  5. 1 2 "Gregoryite definition". Dictionary of Geology. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Roger H.; Bruce A. Kjarsgaard (2010). "Experimental Studies of the System Na2CO3–CaCO3–MgF2 at 0·1 GPa: Implications for the Differentiation and Low-temperature Crystallization of Natrocarbonatite". Journal of Petrology. 52 (7–8). Oxford Journals: 1265–1280. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egq069 .
  7. ↑ Hay, Richard L (1989). "Holocene carbonatite-nephelinite tephra deposits of Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 37 (1). Elsevier (Netherlands): 77–91. Bibcode:1989JVGR...37...77H. doi:10.1016/0377-0273(89)90114-5.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "World's Coolest Lava is in Africa". Volcano Watch. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Watch. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
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