| Magadiite | |
|---|---|
 Magadiite. Collected in 1990 from Lake Magadi, Kajiado County, Kenya. | |
| General | |
| Category | Phyllosilicate |
| Formula (repeating unit) | NaSi7O13(OH)3·4(H2O) |
| IMA symbol | Mgd[1] |
| Strunz classification | 9.EA.20 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic Unknown space group |
| Space group | C2/m (no. 12) |
| Unit cell | a = 7.22 Å, b = 15.70 Å, c = 6.91 Å; β = 97.27°; Z=1 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White |
| Crystal habit | Minute platy crystals; spherulitic aggregates; powdery |
| Tenacity | Puttylike |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 |
| Luster | Vitreous - dull |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent to opaque |
| Specific gravity | 2.25 calculated |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.470 |
| Ultraviolet fluorescence | Yellow-white under both long and short wave |
| References | [2][3][4][5][6] |
Magadiite is a hydrous sodium silicate mineral (NaSi7O13(OH)3·4(H2O)) which precipitates from alkali brines as an evaporite phase. It forms as soft (Mohs hardness of 2) white powdery monoclinic crystal masses.[3][4] The mineral is unstable and decomposes during diagenesis leaving a distinctive variety of chert (Magadi-type chert).[7]
The mineral was first described by Hans P. Eugster in 1967 for an occurrence in Lake Magadi, Kenya, and is also found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.[4][7] It is also reported from alkalic intrusive syenites as in Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada.[3]