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CSITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Carbonate) <br />http://www.gal levies.com/minernls/carbonaUgaylussi/gaylussi.htm <br />Minerals ~ By Name ~ By Class ~ By Groupines ~ Search ~ Properties ~ Carbonates <br />J THE MINERAL GAYLUSSITE <br />• Chemistry: NaZCa(C03)2 - SH2O ,Hydrated Sodium Calcium Carbonate. <br />• Class: Carbonates <br />• Uses: Only as mineral specimens. <br />• Specimens <br />Gaylussite is named for French chemist and physicist J. L. Gay-lussac. II is sometimes a well crystallized <br />mineral displaying good, intricately faceted monoclinic forms. Gaylussite is one of several carbonate <br />minerals that form in non-marine evaporate deposits. Other such carbonates include trona, Qirssonite, <br />northupite, nahcolite and thermonatrite. They are all difficult to tell apart from each other except when <br />good crystal form is present or when optical or X-ray techniques can be used. Gaylussite is subject to <br />dehydration which can cause cloudiness and deterioration and should therefore be stored in a sealed <br />container. <br />PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: <br />• Color is colorless, white or yellowish. <br />• Luster is vitreous. <br />• Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. <br />• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m. <br />• Crystal Habits include intricately faceted prismatic to tabular crystals, but also massive and <br />encrusting. <br />• Cleavage is perfect in two directions. <br />• Fracture is conchoidal. <br />• Hardness is 2 - 3. <br />• Specific Gravity is 1.9 - 2.0 (well below average) <br />• Streak is white. <br />• Associated Minerals include pirssonite, northupite, trona, analcime and halite. <br />• Notable Occurrences include Searles Lake, San Berardino County; Deep Spring and Owens Lake, <br />Inyo County; Borax Lake, Lake County and China Lake, Kern County, California, USA; Gobi Desert, <br />Mongolia and Lagunillas, Merida, Venezuela. <br />• Best Field Indicators: Crystal habit, environment of formation, cleavage, density and locality. <br />Minerals ~ By Name ~ By Class ~ B~Groupin~s ~ Search ~ Prouerties ~ Carbonates <br />Coovright ©1999 byAmethyst Galleries. Inc. <br />1 of I 4112/99 3:50 PM <br />