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Thermonatrite

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Prismatic sodium carbonate

Definition

Thermonatrite is an evaporite mineral with the chemical formula Na2CO3 H2O (orthorhombic crystal system). It is often found in association with halite (NaCl), trona (Na3(CO3)(HCO3) · 2H2O), and natron (Na2CO3 · 10H2O) in evaporitic deposits of alkaline lakes formed in arid climates (soda lakes). It can also form as an exhalative product of fumaroles or from alteration of natrite. Detection of thermonatrite on Mars or other planetary surfaces could be an indication that alkaline or hypersaline lakes had formed in the past under reducing and dry environments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université du Québec à Montréal, GEOTOP Research Center for Geochemistry and Geodynamics, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, H3C 3P8, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Daniele L. Pinti

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  1. Daniele L. Pinti
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Correspondence to Daniele L. Pinti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Pinti, D.L. (2014). Thermonatrite. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1582-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1582-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Thermonatrite
    Published:
    04 December 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1582-4

  2. Original

    Thermonatrite
    Published:
    05 May 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1582-3

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