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Gonnardite

A species of Minerals, Also known as Ranite

Gonnardite is a comparatively rare, fibrous zeolite, natrolite subgroup. Older papers claim that a complete solid solution exists between tetranatrolite and gonnardite, but tetranatrolite was discredited as a separate species in 1999. A series, based on the disorder of the silicon-aluminum in the framework, appears to exist between Na-rich gonnardite and natrolite, Na2(Si3Al2)O10·2H2O. Gonnardite was named in 1896 after Ferdinand Pierre Joseph Gonnard (1833–1923), who was Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Lyon, France.

Hardness:

4 - 5

Density:

2.33 g/cm³

General Info About Gonnardite

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Physical Properties of Gonnardite

Colors

White, yellowish to salmon-red

Streak

White

Hardness

4 - 5 , Soft

Density

2.33 g/cm³, Normal Weight

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Chemical Properties of Gonnardite

Formula

(Na,Ca)₂(Si,Al)₅O₁₀ · 3H₂O

Elements listed

Al, Ca, H, Na, O, Si

Characteristics of Gonnardite

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Composition of Gonnardite

Gonnardite is a tectosilicate belonging to the natrolite group. The natrolite minerals are composed of chains of AlO4 and SiO4 tetrahedra that link to form frameworks. As with all zeolites, there are channels within the framework, and for the natrolite minerals the channels are occupied by polyhedra containing sodium, calcium or barium, together with oxygen and water. Gonnardite has the same framework structure as natrolite, but a disordered Si, Al distribution on the tetrahedral sites. Some of the water sites in the disordered natrolite structure of gonnardite are empty.

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