Gwihabaite
Encyclopedia
Gwihabaite is a rare ammonium
potassium
nitrate
mineral (NH4,K)(NO3). It is named after its type locality at the Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns). It is orthorhombic in form, colorless with a vitreous luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 and a specific gravity
of 1.77. It is deliquescent and water soluble. The mineral is also known as nitrammite. It was first described in 1996 for an occurrence in Gcwihaba Cave, Botswana
. It occurs as incrustations and efflorescence
s on cave
surfaces formed by bacterial action on bat guano.
Ammonium
The ammonium cation is a positively charged polyatomic cation with the chemical formula NH. It is formed by the protonation of ammonia...
potassium
Potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...
nitrate
Nitrate
The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...
mineral (NH4,K)(NO3). It is named after its type locality at the Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns). It is orthorhombic in form, colorless with a vitreous luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 and a specific gravity
Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a volume of the substance to the weight of an equal volume of the reference substance. The reference substance is nearly always water for...
of 1.77. It is deliquescent and water soluble. The mineral is also known as nitrammite. It was first described in 1996 for an occurrence in Gcwihaba Cave, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
. It occurs as incrustations and efflorescence
Efflorescence
In chemistry, efflorescence is the loss of water of crystallization from a hydrated or solvated salt to the atmosphere on exposure to air.-Examples:...
s on cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
surfaces formed by bacterial action on bat guano.