Nitratine

Nitratine or nitratite, also known as cubic niter (UK: nitre), soda niter or Chile saltpeter (UK: saltpetre), is a mineral, the naturally occurring form of sodium nitrate, NaNO₃. Nitratine crystallizes in the trigonal system, but rarely occurs as well formed crystals. It is isostructural with calcite. The typical form is as coatings of white, grey to yellowish brown masses. It is quite soft and light with a Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2 and a specific gravity of 2.24 to 2.29. Its refractive indices are nω=1.330 - 1.336 and nε=1.580 - 1.587. The rare crystals when found typically have the scalenohedral form of the calcite structure.

It is found only as an efflorescence in very dry environments. It is very soluble in water such that it is deliquescent and will absorb water out of the air and turn into a puddle of sodium nitrate solution when exposed to humid air.

It has been known since 1845 from occurrences in the Confidence Hills, southern Death Valley, California and the Atacama desert, Chile.

References

• Nitratine page on mindat.org
• Nitratine page on webmineral.com
• Mineral galleries data

This article about a specific mineral or mineraloid is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Mineral stubs Sodium minerals Nitrate minerals Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Null (computer programming) Null (mathematics) Look at other dictionaries: Nitratine — Ni tra*tine, n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in transparent crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or lemon yellow, color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making nitric acid and for manure. Called also {soda niter}. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English nitratine — /nuy treuh teen , tin/, n. Mineral. See soda niter. [1840 50; NITRATE + INE2] * * * …   Universalium nitratine — ni·tra·tine …   English syllables nitratine — ˈnī.trəˌtēn, tə̇n noun ( s) : native sodium nitrate : caliche 1 …   Useful english dictionary soda niter — Nitratine Ni tra*tine, n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in transparent crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or lemon yellow, color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making nitric acid and for manure. Called also {soda… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Sodium nitrate — IUPAC name …   Wikipedia List of minerals N-R (complete) — It is currently not possible to have a complete list of minerals . The International Mineralogical Association is the international group that recognises new minerals and new mineral names, however minerals discovered before 1959 did not go… …   Wikipedia alkali waste — Soda So da, n. [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having probably been a name of glasswort. See {Solid}.] 1. (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English baking soda — Soda So da, n. [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having probably been a name of glasswort. See {Solid}.] 1. (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Caustic soda — Soda So da, n. [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having probably been a name of glasswort. See {Solid}.] 1. (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”