Nyerereite

Nyerereite is a very rare sodium calcium carbonate mineral with formula Na2Ca(CO3)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.

Nyerereite
General
CategoryCarbonate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		Na2Ca(CO3)2
IMA symbolNye[1]
Strunz classification5.AC.10
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classPyramidal (mm2)
H-M symbol: (mm2)
Space groupCmc21
Identification
ColorColorless
Crystal habitPlatey, pseudo-hexagonal
TwinningAlways polysynthetically twinned parallel to [001]
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.541
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.511 nβ = 1.533 nγ = 1.535
Birefringenceδ = 0.023
2V angleMeasured: 29°
References[2][3][4]

It has a Hermann–Mauguin notation of mm2 and the respective space group is Cmc21.[2] 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.[5] 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.[5]

Special characteristics

Since nyerereite is very unstable when it reaches the surface it creates pseudomorphs,[6] which is basically the process by which the rock appearance and dimensions remain constant but the main mineral component is replaced by another.[5] 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.[7] 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).[7]

Occurrence and discovery

It was first recognized and described by J.B. Dawson from the Ol Doinyo Lengai carbonatite lavas of Arusha Region in 1963 and named in honor of the president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere (1922-1999).[5] 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.[8]

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. Webmineral data
  3. http://www.mindat.org/min-2945.html Mindat.org
  4. http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/nyerereite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  5. Mckie, D., Frankis, E.J., (1976) Nyerereite: A new volcanic carbonate mineral from Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 145, 73-95
  6. 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
  7. Zaitsev, A. N.; Keller, J. (Oct 2006). "Mineralogical and chemical transformation of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatites, Tanzania". Lithos. 91 (1–4): 191–207. Bibcode:2006Litho..91..191Z. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2006.03.018.
  8. "Calcite - amphibole - clinopyroxene rock from the Afrikanda Complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia: Mineralogy and a possible link to carbonatites. II. Oxysalt minerals". Archived from the original on 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2006-02-26. 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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