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Clairite

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Anna Mine, Alsdorf, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
© Elmar Lackner

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Yellow
Name:Named for Mrs. Claire Martini, wife of Dr. J. C. J. Martini who first described mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Clairite.

Classification of Clairite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.15-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DF.55

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:31.10.8.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.11.15

25 : Sulphates
11 : Sulphates of Fe and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Clairite

Type Locality:Lone Creek Falls cave, Sabie, Pilgrim's Rest District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Year of Discovery:1983
Geological Setting of type material:Alteration of pyrite and decaying organic material (Hyrex excreta).

Physical Properties of Clairite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Yellow
Density (measured):2.31 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.32 g/cm3

Crystallography of Clairite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.36Å, b = 9.15Å, c = 52.61Å
α = 88.15°, β = 90°, γ = 118.36°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.023 : 1 : 5.75
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,962.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Powdery aggregates.
Comment:1 or 1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
17.5 (100)
8.78 (100)
8.23 (20)
4.743 (15)
3.424 (20)
3.279 (25)
3.041 (20)

Optical Data of Clairite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 1.595 nγ = 1.607
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v or r < v
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X= pale yellow
Z'= dark yellow

Chemical Properties of Clairite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, N, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, N, O, S
Empirical Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O

Relationship of Clairite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DF.05Uklonskovite
NaMg(SO
 
4
)F · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.10Kainite
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.15Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.20Metasideronatrite
Na
 
4
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.20Sideronatrite
Na
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Despujolsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
4+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Fleischerite
Pb
 
3
Ge(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Schaurteite
Ca
 
3
Ge(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Mallestigite
Pb
 
3
Sb
5+
 
(SO
 
4
)(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.30Slavíkite
(H
 
3
O
+
 
)
 
3
Mg
 
6
Fe
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
18
 · 99H
 
2
O
7.DF.35Metavoltine
Na
 
6
K
 
2
FeFe
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
O
 
2
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Lannonite
HCa
 
4
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
9
 · 32H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Vlodavetsite
AlCa
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F
 
2
Cl · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.45Peretaite
Ca(SbO)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.50Gordaite
NaZn
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
Cl · 6H
 
2
O
7.DF.60Arzrunite
Cu
 
4
Pb
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
Cl
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O (?)
7.DF.65Elyite
Pb
 
4
Cu(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.DF.70Yecoraite
Fe
3+
3
Bi
 
5
(Te
6+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)O
 
9
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.DF.75Riomarinaite
Bi(SO
 
4
)(OH) · H
 
2
O
7.DF.80Dukeite
Bi
3+
24
Cr
6+
8
O
 
57
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.85Xocolatlite
Ca
 
2
Mn
4+
2
(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.11.1Natrojarosite
NaFe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.11.2Sideronatrite
Na
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 3H
 
2
O
25.11.3Metasideronatrite
Na
 
4
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.11.4Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.11.5Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.11.6Yavapaiite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.7Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
25.11.8Goldichite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.11.9Jarosite
KFe
3+
 
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.11.10Voltaite
K
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
25.11.11Ungemachite
K
 
3
Na
 
8
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.11.12Metavoltine
Na
 
6
K
 
2
FeFe
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
O
 
2
 · 18H
 
2
O
25.11.13Sabieite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.14Ammoniojarosite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.11.16Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.11.17Lonecreekite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.11.18Godovikovite
(NH
 
4
)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.19Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
25.11.21Slavíkite
(H
 
3
O
+
 
)
 
3
Mg
 
6
Fe
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
18
 · 99H
 
2
O
25.11.23Sturmanite
Ca
 
6
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
[B(OH)
 
4
](OH)
 
12
 · 25H
 
2
O
25.11.24Millosevichite
(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.11.25Aluminocopiapite
Al
 
2/3
Fe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
25.11.26Halotrichite
FeAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
25.11.27Idrizite
(Mg,Fe)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 15H
 
2
O or near
25.11.28Lishizhenite
ZnFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
25.11.29Zincovoltaite
K
 
2
Zn
 
5
Fe
3+
3
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O

Other Names for Clairite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-093
Other Languages:
German:Clairit
Spanish:Clairita

Other Information

Other Information:Slowly soluble in water.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Clairite

Reference List:

- +
Martini, J. E. J. (1984): Lonecreekite, sabieite, and clairite, new secondary ammonium ferric-iron sulfates from Lone Creek Fall cave, near Sabie, eastern Transvaal. Annals of the Geological Survey (South Africa), 17, 29-34.

American Mineralogist: 71: 229.

Internet Links for Clairite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Clairite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Clairite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German); WALENTA, K. (1997): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara 7. Folge. - Lapis 22 (11), 37-47.
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Aachen
        • Alsdorf
    		XRD analysis (T. Witzke)
    Hungary
     
    • Baranya Co.
      • Mecsek Mts.
        • Komló
    		Mineral Species of Hungary, 2005
        • Pécs
    		Szakáll, S. & Kristály, F. (2008): Ammonium sulphates from burning coal dumps at Komló and Pécs-Vasas, Mecsek Mts., South Hungary. Mineralogia, Special Papers, Vol. 32 (2nd Central-European Mineralogical Conference 2008 (CEMC)), 154.
    Poland
     
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
        • Katowice area
    		Parafiniuk, J. and Kruszewski, Ł. (2009): Ammonium minerals from burning coal-dumps of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). Geol. Quart., 53, 341-356. http://www.pgi.gov.pl/images/stories/G_Q/53_3/parafiniuk.pdf (esp. p. 347)]
          • Łaziska
    		Parafiniuk, J. and Kruszewski, Ł. (2009): Ammonium minerals from burning coal-dumps of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). Geol. Quart., 53, 341-356. http://www.pgi.gov.pl/images/stories/G_Q/53_3/parafiniuk.pdf]
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Pilgrim's Rest District
        • Sabie
    		Ann.Geol.Survey S.Africa,(1983) 17, 29-34
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