White aggregates of the mineral natrite from Karnasurt Mountain (Lovozero Massif, Northern Region, Russian Federation). The specimen is part of the holotype used by the researcher Dr. Khomyakov. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Natrite
Natrite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula Na₂(CO₃).
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/m).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 2.54; Vitreous to dull on exposure luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Nat, IMA status: approved, named in 1981.
Locally abundant in deep drillholes in pegmatites found in differentiated alkaline massifs (Kola Peninsula, Russia); in sodalite xenoliths in association with an intrusive alkalic gabbro-syenite complex (Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada).
It is found associated with Thermonatrite, vinogradovite, shortite, pirssonite, gaylussite, nacaphite, natrosilite, villiaumite, neighborite, rasvumite, lomonosovite, pectolite, sodalite.
The name refers to sodium, natrium, the sole cation in the chemical formula of the mineral.