Gaylussite

gaylussite

thermonatrite

tychite

natron

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Formula: Na2Ca(CO3)2.5H2O
Hydrated normal carbonate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 1.991 measured and calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white
Luminescence: Fluoresces blue-white under long wave UV
Solubility: Soluble with effervescence in acids. Dehydrates with efflorescence in dry air, slowly decomposes in water leaving CaCO3 as calcite or aragonite.
Environments

Evaporite Deposits

Gaylussite is usually found in soda lakes with natron, thermonatrite, trona, pirssonite, calcite, borax and rarely tychite (Dana).

Localities

At the Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, gaylussite is associated with thermonatrite, shortite, villiaumite, Fe3+-rich biotite, pectolite, K-feldspar and aegirine (HOM).

At Borax Lake, Clear Lake Oaks, Sulphur Creek Mining District, Lake county, California, USA, gaylussite is found with northupite and pirssonite (Dana).

At the Green River Basin, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, USA, gaylussite is associated with shortite, northupite, pirssonite and trona (HOM).

Alteration

Gaylussite dehydrates with efflorescence in dry air. It alters readily to calcite. Calcite pseudomorphs after gaylussite have been described.

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