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Formula: NaAl(CO3)(OH)2
Anhydrous carbonate containing hydroxyl
Specific gravity: 2.44
Hardness: 3
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white
Solubility: Soluble in acids with effervescence
Environments
Dawsonite is a low temperature hydrothermal carbonate formed from decomposing aluminous silicates.
At McGill University campus, Quebec, Canada, dawsonite is found as coatings on joint surfaces of a
feldspar dyke associated with calcite,
dolomite, pyrite,
galena and manganese oxides.
In Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, dawsonite occurs in veins associated with late Tertiary
basalt.
At Santa Fiora, Tuscany, Italy, dawsonite is associated with calcite,
dolomite, pyrite,
fluorite and cinnabar
(Dana).
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