What is "shortite"

n. (context mineralogy English) A saline evaporite, consisting of a mixed sodium and calcium carbonate, with the chemical formula sodium₂calcium₂(carbonoxygen₃)₃.

Shortite is a sodium- calcium carbonate mineral, with the chemical formula NaCa(CO). It was discovered by J. J. Fahey in well cuttings from the Green River Formation, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, US, and was named to honor Maxwell N. Short (1889–1952), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Arizona.

Shortite is associated with commercial trona ores, and some care must be taken when beneficiating crude trona to avoid contamination with shortite.