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Formula: Na3Mg(CO3)2Cl
Anhydrous carbonate containing halogen
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 2.38
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, pale yellow, grey, brown
Solubility: Readily soluble in dilute acids with effervescence. Decomposed by hot water with the separation of
magnesium carbonate (Mindat).
Environments:
Northupite occurs in continental evaporite deposits and in oil shales.
Localities
At Borax Lake, Clear Lake Oaks, Sulphur Creek Mining District, Lake County, California, USA, northupite is
associated with gaylussite
and pirssonite
(Dana).
Northupite from Borax Lake - Image
At Searles Lake, San Bernardino County, California, USA, northupite is
associated with tychite,
pirssonite and rarely burkeite
and nahcolite
(Dana).
Northupite from Searles Lake - Image
At Green River, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, USA, northupite occurs in drill cores in the oil shales
associated with shortite,
bradleyite, trona,
pirssonite and
gaylussite
(Dana).
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