Gobbinsite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gobbinsite
The Gobbins
Formula:
Na5(Si11Al5)O32 · 11H2O
Colour:
White, colourless
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
2.147 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
For the type locality at The Gobbins, Ireland
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1715
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1715:8
IMA Classification of Gobbinsite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na5(Si11Al5)O32·11H2O
First published:
1982
Classification of Gobbinsite
9.GC.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
C : Chains of doubly-connected 4-membered rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
C : Chains of doubly-connected 4-membered rings
77.1.3.4
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
16.10.20
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gbb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gobbinsite
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
2.147 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gobbinsite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.489 nβ = 1.489 nγ = 1.494
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.005
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (180°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (180°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
none
Chemistry of Gobbinsite
Mindat Formula:
Na5(Si11Al5)O32 · 11H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Sr,Ba
Crystallography of Gobbinsite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.1035(15) Å, b = 9.7819(10) Å, c = 10.1523(9) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.033 : 1 : 1.038
Unit Cell V:
1003.37 ų
Twinning:
Submicroscopic, on {110}
Comment:
Gatta et al. (2010)
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005035 | Gobbinsite | Gatta G D, Birch W D, Rotiroti N (2010) Reinvestigation of the crystal structure of the zeolite gobbinsite: a single-crystal x-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 481-486 |  | 2010 | Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | 0 | 293 |
| 0014508 | Gobbinsite | Artioli G, Foy H (1994) Gobbinsite from Magheramorne quarry, Northern Ireland Mineralogical Magazine 58 615-620 | | 1994 | Magheramorne quarry, Northern Ireland | 0 | 293 |
| 0010927 | Gobbinsite | McCusker L B, Baerlocher C (1985) Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure of the new zeolite mineral gobbinsite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 281-289 | | 1985 | County Antrim, Northern Ireland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.11 Å | (100b) |
| 4.116 Å | (100) |
| 3.201 Å | (100) |
| 3.106 Å | (80) |
| 2.699 Å | (80b) |
| 5.056 Å | (50) |
| 2.651 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Gobbinsite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Chalky white, fibrous mineral, consisting of fibrous clusters of lath-shaped crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Ulster Museum, Belfast, Ireland, I7881.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1982,203
3) National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 149432.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1982,203
3) National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 149432.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Basalt amgygdales
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Gobbinsite
Relationship of Gobbinsite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Zeolite Group:
| Alflarsenite | NaCa2Be3Si4O13(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
| Amicite | K2Na2Al4Si4O16 · 5H2O | Mon. 2 |
| Ammonioleucite | (NH4)(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Arzamastsevite | K6Al5Si6O20(OH)4Cl | Tet. 42m : I42m |
| Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O | Hex. |
| Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Boggsite | Ca8Na3(Si,Al)96O192 · 70H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma |
| Brewsterite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup | M[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O | |
| Chiavennite | CaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Clinoptilolite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O | |
| Cowlesite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Dachiardite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Direnzoite | NaK6MgCa2(Al13Si47O120) · 36H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn |
| Edingtonite | Ba[Al2Si3O10] · 4H2O | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O | Mon. |
| Erionite Subgroup | M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | |
| Fabrièsite | Na3Al3Si3O12 · 2H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pmm2 |
| Faujasite Subgroup | M3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | |
| Ferrierite Subgroup | Name used for unanalysed specimens that could be either ferrierite-K, ferrierite-Mg, ... | |
| Ferrochiavennite | Ca1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)5Be2O13(OH)2] · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Flörkeite | (K3Ca2Na)[Al8Si8O32] · 12H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Garronite Subgroup | ||
| Gaultite | Na4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
| Gismondine Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Gmelinite Subgroup | In 1997, gmelinite was split into Gmelinite-Ca, Gmelinite-Na and Gmelinite-K. | |
| Goosecreekite | Ca[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
| Gottardiite | Na3Mg3Ca5Al19Si117O272 · 93H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmca |
| Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O | |
| Hsianghualite | Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2 | Iso. 23 : I213 |
| Kalborsite | K6Al4BSi6O20(OH)4Cl | Tet. 42m : P421c |
| Kirchhoffite | Cs(BSi2O6) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/acd |
| Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Leucite | K(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Limousinite | BaCa[Be4P4O16] · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Lithosite | K6Al4Si8O25 · 2H2O | Mon. |
| Loomisite | Ba[Be2P2O8] · H2O | Mon. m |
| Lovdarite | K2Na6Be4Si14O36 · 9H2O | Orth. mm2 |
| Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O | Orth. |
| Martinandresite | Ba2(Al4Si12O32) · 10H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn |
| Mazzite Subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
| Meierite | Ba44Si66Al30O192Cl25(OH)33 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Im3m |
| Merlinoite | K5Ca2(Si23Al9)O64 · 24H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Immm |
| Montesommaite | (K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 · 10H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
| Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O | Orth. |
| Mountainite | KNa2Ca2[Si8O19(OH)] · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Mutinaite | Na3Ca4Si85Al11O192 · 60H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Nabesite | Na2BeSi4O10 · 4H2O | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Natrolite Subgroup | A subgroup of the Zeolite Group. | |
| Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O | Hex. 6m2 : P6m2 |
| Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 23 : I23 |
| Parthéite | Ca2(Si4Al4) O15 (OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Paulingite Subgroup | Paulingite was originally described in 1960. | |
| Perlialite | K9Na(Ca,Sr)[Al2Si4O12]6 · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm |
| Phillipsite Subgroup | (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O | |
| Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Roggianite | Ca2Be(OH)2Al2Si4O13 · 2.5H2O | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mcm |
| Rongibbsite | Pb2(Si4Al)O11(OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O | |
| Terranovaite | (Na,Ca)8(Si68Al12)O160 · 29H2O | Orth. |
| Thomsonite Subgroup | The large majority of "thomsonite" is thomsonite-Ca. | |
| Thornasite | Na12Th4+3(Si8O19)4 · 18H2O | Trig. 3m : R3m |
| Tschernichite | (Ca,Na2)[Al2Si4O12] · 4-8H2O | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm |
| Tschörtnerite | Ca4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3[Al3Si3O12]4(OH)8 · nH2O | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| 'UM1996-38-SiO:AlCaHNa' | Na-Ca-Al-Si-O-H | |
| 'UM1999-33-SiO:AlHKNa' | K7Na5Al12Si20O64 · 24H2O | |
| 'UM2002-40-SiO:AlCaHKMgNa' | (Mg,Ca,Na,K)7.5(Al12.8Si51.2)O128 · 65H2O | Tet. 422 : P4122 |
| 'Unnamed (Ca analogue of Merlinoite)' | (Ca,K,Na)5(Ca,Ba)2Al9Si23O64 · 23H2O ? | |
| Wairakite | Ca(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2O | Hex. 6m2 : P62m |
| Wilancookite | (Ba5Li2◻)Ba6Be24P24O96 · 26H2O | Iso. 23 : I23 |
| Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Yugawaralite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 4H2O | Mon. m : Pb |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 32 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Gmelinite-Na | Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O |
| 12 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Phillipsite Subgroup | (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O |
| 8 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 6 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 6 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Chabazite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 5 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 5 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 5 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5 photos of Gobbinsite associated with 'Smoky Quartz' | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Gobbinsite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.GC. | Gismondine-Sr | Sr4(Si8Al8O32) · 9H2O |
| 9.GC. | Garronite-Na | Na6(Al6Si10O32) · 8.5H2O |
| 9.GC.05 | 'Gismondine-Ba' | Ba2Al4Si4O16 · 4-6H2O |
| 9.GC.05 | Garronite-Ca | Na2Ca5Al12Si20O64 · 27H2O |
| 9.GC.05 | Gismondine-Ca | CaAl2Si2O8 · 4H2O |
| 9.GC.05 | Amicite | K2Na2Al4Si4O16 · 5H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Martinandresite | Ba2(Al4Si12O32) · 10H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Harmotome | Ba2(Si12Al4)O32 · 12H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Phillipsite-Ca | Ca3(Si10Al6)O32 · 12H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Phillipsite-K | K6(Si10Al6)O32 · 12H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Phillipsite-Na | (Na,K,Ca0.5,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] · 12H2O |
| 9.GC.10 | Flörkeite | (K3Ca2Na)[Al8Si8O32] · 12H2O |
| 9.GC.15 | Merlinoite | K5Ca2(Si23Al9)O64 · 24H2O |
| 9.GC.20 | Mazzite-Na | Na8[Al4Si14O36]2 · 30H2O |
| 9.GC.20 | Mazzite-Mg | (Mg,K,Ca)5(Si26Al10)O72 · 28H2O |
| 9.GC.25 | Perlialite | K9Na(Ca,Sr)[Al2Si4O12]6 · 15H2O |
| 9.GC.30 | Boggsite | Ca8Na3(Si,Al)96O192 · 70H2O |
| 9.GC.35 | Paulingite-Ca | (Ca,K,Na,Ba, ◻)10 (Si, Al)42O84 · 34H2O |
| 9.GC.35 | Paulingite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90] · 45H2O |
| 9.GC.35 | 'Paulingite-Na' | (Na2,K2,Ca,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90] · 45H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Gobbinsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1715.html
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References for Gobbinsite
Reference List:
Nawaz, Rab, Malone, John F. (1982) Gobbinsite, a new zeolite mineral from Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 46 (340) 365-369 doi:10.1180/minmag.1982.046.340.12
Nawaz, Rab (1983) New data on gobbinsite and garronite. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (345) 567-568 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.345.20
McCusker, Lynne B., Baerlocher, Christian, Nawaz, Rab (1985) Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure of the new zeolite mineral gobbinsite. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 171 (3-4). 281-289 doi:10.1524/zkri.1985.171.3-4.281
Dunn, Pete J., Gobel, Volker, Grice, Joel D., Puziewicz, Jacek, Shigley, James E., Vanko, David A., Zilczer, Janet (1985) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 70 (3-4) 436-441
Artioli, Gilberto, Foy, Harry (1994) Gobbinsite from Magheramorne Quarry, Northern Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 58 (393) 615-620 doi:10.1180/minmag.1994.058.393.10
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, et al. (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6). 1571-1606
MATSUYAMA, Fumihiko, MATSUBARA, Satoshi (2000) Gobbinsite from Kuniga, Dozen, Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Japanese Magazine of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 29 (4) 129-135 doi:10.2465/gkk.29.129
Gatta, G. Diego, Birch, William D., Rotiroti, Nicola (2010) Reinvestigation of the crystal structure of the zeolite gobbinsite: A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. American Mineralogist, 95 (4) 481-486 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3390
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada