Dawsonite is a mineral composed of sodium aluminium carbonate hydroxide, chemical formula NaAlCO₃(OH)₂. It crystalizes in the orthorhombic system. It is not mined for ore. Discovered in 1874 during the construction of the Redpath Museum in a feldspathic dyke on the campus of McGill University on the Island of Montreal, Canada. It is named after geologist Sir John William Dawson. General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Series alkali metal Group, Period, Block 1 (IA), 3, s Density, Hardness 968 kg/m3, 0. ... General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13 (IIIA), 3, p Density, Hardness 2700 kg/m3, 2. ... Carbonate is an anion with a charge of -2 and an empirical formula of CO32-. An aqueous solution of carbon dioxide contains a minute amount of H2CO3, called carbonic acid, which dissociates to form hydrogen ions and carbonate ions. ... Hydroxide is a polyatomic ion consisting of oxygen and hydrogen: −O−H It has a charge of −1. ... 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Redpath Museum is a museum of natural history belonging to McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... McGill University is a publicly funded, research-intensive, non-denominational, co-educational university located in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... The Island of Montreal (in French, île de Montréal), in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. ... Sir John William Dawson (October 30, 1820 – November 20, 1899), was a Canadian geologist, born in Pictou, Nova Scotia. ...

The type material is preserved in the collection of the Redpath Museum.

External links

• web mineral site
• MinDat mineral data