Wairakite

Wairakite is a zeolite mineral with an analcime structure but containing a calcium ion. The chemical composition is Ca8(Al16Si32O96)•16H2O. It is named for the location of its discovery in Wairakei, North Island, New Zealand, by Alfred Steiner in 1955.[3][4] The first finds were in hydrothermally altered rhyolitic tuffs, ignimbrites and volcaniclastic rocks.[4] The mineral has since been found in metamorphic rocks and in geothermal areas. It was most likely first successfully synthesized in a laboratory in 1970.[5]

Wairakite
Wairakite from Azerbaijan
General
CategoryZeolite minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca8(Al16Si32O96)•16H2O
Strunz classification9.GB.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupI2/a
Unit cella = 13.69 Å, b = 13.64 Å
c = 13.56 Å; β = 90.51°; Z = 8
Identification
Colorcolorless to white
Lustervitreous, dull
Streakwhite
Diaphaneitytransparent, translucent
References[1][2]

References

  1. Mindat
  2. Mineralienatlas
  3. Szostak, Rosemarie (1992), Handbook of molecular sieves, Springer, p. 482, ISBN 0-442-31899-5
  4. Steiner, Alfred (1955), "Wairakite, the calcium analogue of analcime, a new zeolite mineral" (PDF), Mineralogy Magazine, 30: 691–698, retrieved 2011-09-08
  5. Liou, J. G., "Synthesis and stability relations of wairakite, CaAl2 Si4 O12·2H2O", Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 27 (4): 259–282, Bibcode:1970CoMP...27..259L, doi:10.1007/BF00389814


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