Mineral phase
IMA name
Nontronite
Class
silicate mineral
Compound type
phyllosilicate
Comments
Nontronites typically have a chemical composition consisting of more than ~30% Fe2O3, less than ~12% Al2O3 (ignited basis), and a hydration number of 4
Formula
Na0.3Fe23+.(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2n(H2O)
Chemical formula
Na0.3(Fe3+)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2•n(H2O)
Elemental formula
Na0.3 (Fe3+)2 (Si)3.65-4 (Al)0-0.35 O12 H2
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Na Sodium element 0.3 constituent element main
Fe3+ Iron(III) cation element 2 constituent element main
Si Silicon element 3.65 - 4 constituent element main
Al Aluminium element 0 - 0.35 constituent element main
O Oxygen element 12 constituent element main
H Hydrogen element 2 constituent element main
Composition comments
Typical formula: Na0.3Fe23+.(Si3Al)O10(OH)24(H2O) - Common impurities: Ti, Mg, Ca
Chemical functions
  Function Number
(OH) 2
Chemical bonds
  Bond Number
OH 1
Oxides
Formula Na2O Fe2O3 Al2O3 SiO2 H2O
Mass fraction (%)

Strunz

Class
silicates (09)
Division
phyllosilicate (09.E)
Family
with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets (09.EC)
Code
09.EC.40

Dana

Major class
silicates (VIII)
Class
phyllosilicate sheets of six-membered rings (71)
Type
with 2:1 clays (71.03)
Group
Smectite group (Dioctahedral Smectites) (71.03.01a)
Code
71.03.01a.03
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
monoclinic
Crystal class
prismatic
Crystal class symbol
2/m (C2h)
Crystal spacegroup
C2/m
Molar mass
495.90 g/mol
Density
2.3 g/cm3
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
biaxial
Refringence sign
negative
Birefringence
0.030 - 0.035
Refraction index nα
1.53 - 1.58
Refraction index nβ
1.555 - 1.612
Refraction index nγ
1.56 - 1.615
Dispersion V
strong
Pure color
green
Color
greenish yellow, brownish green, olive green
Diaphaneity
translucent to opaque
Luster
earthy