Trona
A variety of Minerals
What is Trona?
Trona (trisodium hydrogendicarbonate dihydrate, also sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate, Na2CO3•NaHCO3•2H2O) is a non-marine evaporite mineral. It 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.
Etymology & Origins
The word entered English by way of either Swedish (trona) or Spanish (trona), with both possible sources having the same meaning as in English. Both of these derive from the Arabic trōn, which in turn derives from the Arabic natron, and Hebrew נטרן (natruna), which comes from ancient Greek νιτρον (nitron), derived ultimately from ancient Egyptian ntry (or nitry'’).
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Trona before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Trona Localities Map
See where Trona is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Composition of Trona
The crystal structure of trona was first determined by Brown et al. (1949). The structure consists of units of 3 edge-sharing sodium polyhedra (a central octahedron flanked by septahedra), cross-linked by carbonate groups and hydrogen bonds. Bacon and Curry (1956) refined the structure determination using two-dimensional single-crystal neutron diffraction, and suggested that the hydrogen atom in the symmetric (HC2O6) anion is disordered. The environment of the disordered H atom was later investigated by Choi and Mighell (1982) at 300 K with three-dimensional single-crystal neutron diffraction: they concluded that the H atom is dynamically disordered between two equivalent sites, separated from one another by 0.211(9) Å. The dynamically disordered H atom was reinvestigated at low temperature by O'Bannon et al. 2014 and they concluded that it does not order at temperatures as low as 100K.
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Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Colourless, gray-white, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.14 g/cm³
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
- Elements
- C, H, Na, O
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Trona FAQs
How do I identify Trona?
Trona can be identified by its hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale, Colourless color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Trona?
Trona typically appears in Colourless, gray-white, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Trona?
Trona has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.
What is the composition of trona of Trona?
The crystal structure of trona was first determined by Brown et al. (1949). The structure consists of units of 3 edge-sharing sodium polyhedra (a central octahedron flanked by septahedra), cross-linked by carbonate groups and hydrogen bonds. Bacon and Curry (1956) refined the structure determination using two-dimensional single-crystal neutron diffraction, and suggested that the hydrogen atom in the symmetric (HC2O6) anion is disordered. The environment of the disordered H atom was later investigated by Choi and Mighell (1982) at 300 K with three-dimensional single-crystal neutron diffraction: they concluded that the H atom is dynamically disordered between two equivalent sites, separated from one another by 0.211(9) Å. The dynamically disordered H atom was reinvestigated at low temperature by O'Bannon et al. 2014 and they concluded that it does not order at temperatures as low as 100K.
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