0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 cm. A small capsule with grains of the rare hydrated sodium silicate species, kenyaite. Type locale (Lake Magadi, Kajiado County, Kenya). Ex. Ralph E. Merrill Collection. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kenyaite
A peculiar layered sodium silicate — first synthesized in nature-like conditions, used industrially as a catalyst precursor.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Kenyaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Si₂₂O₄₁(OH)₈·6H₂O.
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system.
Key properties: specific gravity 2.33.
IMA symbol Kya, IMA status: approved, named in 1967.
Occurs as concretions, with chert cores, embedded in magadiite; perhaps as a reaction product between the two (Lake Magadi, Kenya); in altered volcanic rocks (Trinity Co., California, USA).
It is found associated with Magadiite, quartz.
The name is derived from the locality in Kenya.