Name/Title
TronaEntry/Object ID
2009.62.101Description
Chemical Composition: Na3(HCO3)(CO3) - 2H2O
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Trona
Chemistry: Na3(HCO3)(CO3) - 2H2O Trisodium Hydrogendicarbonate Dihydrate.
Group: Carbonates
Location: Inyo County near Trona, California
Description: Thick bladed crystals, tan to light brown in color with a small area of light pink crystals.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is gray, colorless, white, pale brown or yellowish.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.
Crystal Habits include prismatic to blocky crystals, but usually massive, fibrous or columnar.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction and poor in two others.
Fracture is subconchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 2.5 - 3.
Specific Gravity is 2.1 (well below average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Has an alkaline taste.
Associated Minerals include hanksite, gaylussite, halite, pirssonite, northupite, nahcolite, borax and calcite.
Best Field Indicators: environment of formation, color, cleavage, density, crystal habit, taste and locality.
Fracture: subconchoidal
Hardness: 2 Gypsum
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Trona is found in evaporite deposits throughout the world.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.11-2.17
Streak: white
Variety: Trona is mined as the primary source of sodium carbonate in the United States, where it has replaced the Solvay process used in most of the rest of the world for sodium carbonate production.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
2-3/4 inDepth
1-3/4 inLength
2-1/4 inWeight
0.45 ozLocation
Location
Shelf
CS-D-1Room
Curation StorageBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
StorageMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
December 19, 2023Location
Drawer
5th from rightShelf
right bottom front, right bottom frontWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Wendy MondryDate
September 25, 2009Location
Drawer
5th from rightShelf
right bottom back, right bottom backWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Jacob RierDate
September 25, 2009Location
Container
LeftDrawer
Bottom / BackShelf
Right, RightWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Jacob RierDate
September 25, 2009Location
Container
Left / BackDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
RightCabinet
Case #31Wall
EastBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent