Pachnolite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Pachnolite
Formula:
NaCa[AlF6] · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.983
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
From the Greek πάχνη, frost, and λίθος, stone, in allusion to its appearance.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Pachnolite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3058
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3058:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
120e43c3-2adb-4cbc-b7b3-f052d73be5ff
IMA Classification of Pachnolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
NaCaAlF6 · H2O
First published:
1863
Classification of Pachnolite
3.CB.40
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
11.6.5.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
8.6.18
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phn | 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 Pachnolite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
On {001}.
On {001}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.983 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.97 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pachnolite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.411 nβ = 1.413 nγ = 1.420
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.009
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemistry of Pachnolite
Mindat Formula:
NaCa[AlF6] · H2O
Crystallography of Pachnolite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.117(4) Å, b = 10.414(3) Å, c = 15.680(4) Å
β = 90.37(2)°
β = 90.37(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.164 : 1 : 1.506
Unit Cell V:
1,978.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
16
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic [001], commonly acutely terminated. Terminated by {001} at times. {110} striated parallel to the intersection with {001}. Massive, cleavale to granular; stalactitic masses.
Twinning:
On {100} common, yielding crystals with an orthorhombic appearance; giving a grid pattern in thin section.
Comment:
Non-standard space-group setting F2/d.
Crystallographic forms of Pachnolite
Crystal Atlas:
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Pachnolite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Pachnolite no.11 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005195 | Pachnolite | Hawthorne F C, Ferguson R B (1983) The crystal structure of pachnolite The Canadian Mineralogist 21 561-566 |  | 1983 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Pachnolite
Epitaxial Minerals:
| Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O |
Epitaxy Comments:
Oriented growths of thomsenolite on pachnolite, with thomsenolite (001) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001). Also with thomsenolite (110) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.95 Å | (100) |
| 3.26 Å | (10) |
| 3.02 Å | (20) |
| 2.92 Å | (10) |
| 2.79 Å | (70) |
| 2.16 Å | (50) |
| 1.971 Å | (90) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Pachnolite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Pachnolite
Other Language Names for Pachnolite
German:Pachnolith
Pyroconit
Pyroconit
Spanish:Pachnolita
Pyroconita
Pyroconita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 50 photos of Pachnolite associated with Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O |
| 20 photos of Pachnolite associated with Hydrokenoralstonite | Na0.5(Al,Mg)2(F,OH)6 · H2O |
| 16 photos of Pachnolite associated with Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 |
| 8 photos of Pachnolite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 5 photos of Pachnolite associated with Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 3 photos of Pachnolite associated with Kupletskite | (K,Na)3(Mn,Fe)7Ti2Si8O26(OH)4F |
| 3 photos of Pachnolite associated with Elpidite | Na2ZrSi6O15 · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Pachnolite associated with Limonite | |
| 2 photos of Pachnolite associated with Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| 2 photos of Pachnolite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.CB.05 | Cryolithionite | Na3Al2(LiF4)3 |
| 3.CB.15 | Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 |
| 3.CB.15 | Elpasolite | K2NaAlF6 |
| 3.CB.15 | Simmonsite | Na2LiAlF6 |
| 3.CB.20 | Colquiriite | CaLi[AlF6] |
| 3.CB.25 | Weberite | Na2Mg[AlF6]F |
| 3.CB.25 | Leonardsenite | MgAlF5 · 2H2O |
| 3.CB.30 | Karasugite | SrCa[Al(F,OH)7] |
| 3.CB.35 | Usovite | Ba2CaMgAl2F14 |
| 3.CB.40 | Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O |
| 3.CB.45 | Carlhintzeite | Ca2[AlF6]F · H2O |
| 3.CB.50 | Yaroslavite | Ca3Al2F10(OH)2 · H2O |
| 3.CB.55 | Sbacchiite | Ca2AlF7 |
| 3.CB.60 | Verneite | Na2Ca3Al2F14 |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in H2SO4.
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 Pachnolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3058.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Pachnolite
Localities for Pachnolite
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.
Argentina | |
| Dina (1993) |
| American Mineralogist (1978) +2 other references | |
Brazil | |
| Wegner et al. (1998) |
Finland | |
| Ilkka Mikkola collection |
Germany | |
| Dill et al. (2009) |
| www.berthold-weber.de (2001) |
Greenland (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +3 other references |
Norway | |
| Raade et al. (1980) |
Russia | |
| Bailey +1 other reference |
| Starikova et al. (2015) +2 other references |
Ukraine | |
| Bailey +2 other references |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference | |
| Gross et al. (1966) | |
| Am Min 51:299-323 | |
| Landes (1935) +2 other references | |
| Armbrustmacher (1988) +1 other reference |
| AmMin 67:1258 |
| Mineralogical Record: 31: 204. |
| Kearns (1995) +1 other reference |
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Ivigtut Mine, Ivigtut stock, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland