Dualite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Silicate mineral, cyclosilicate |
Formula (repeating unit) | Na 30(Ca,Na,Ce,Sr) 12(Na,Mn,Fe,Ti) 6Zr 3Ti 3MnSi 51O 144(OH,H 2O,Cl) 9 |
IMA symbol | Dua[1] |
Strunz classification | 9.CO.10 |
Dana classification | 64.1b.1.4 |
Crystal system | Trigonal |
Crystal class | Ditrigonal pyramidal (3m) H-M symbol: (3m) |
Space group | R3m |
Unit cell | a = 14.15, c = 60.72 [Å] (approximated); Z = 3 |
Identification | |
Color | Yellow |
Crystal habit | Anhedral grains |
Cleavage | None |
Fracture | Conchoidal |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 5 |
Luster | Vitreous |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Transparent or translucent |
Density | 2.84 (measured), 2.81 (calculated; approximated) |
Optical properties | Uniaxial (+) |
Refractive index | nω = 1.61, nε = 1.61 (approximated) |
Pleochroism | None |
Ultraviolet fluorescence | No |
References | [2][3] |
Dualite is a very rare and complex mineral of the eudialyte group, its complexity being expressed in its formula Na
30(Ca,Na,Ce,Sr)
12(Na,Mn,Fe,Ti)
6Zr
3Ti
3MnSi
51O
144(OH,H
2O,Cl)
9.[2][3] The formula is simplified as it does not show the presence of cyclic silicate groups.
The name of the mineral comes from its dual nature: zircono- and titanosilicate at once. Dualite has two modules in its structure: alluaivite one and eudialyte one.[3] After alluaivite and labyrinthite it stands for third representative of the eudialyte group with essential titanium.[2]