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Kainite

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Brefeld, Tarthun, Egeln, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless; yellow, ...
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:From Greek καιυος = "recent," in allusion to its recent formation as a secondary mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Kainite.

Classification of Kainite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.18-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DF.10

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:31.7.1.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:26.14

26 : Sulphates with Halide
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Type Occurrence of Kainite

Type Locality:Leopoldshall, Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1865
Geological Setting of type material:Potash deposit of oceanic origin.

Physical Properties of Kainite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless; yellow, brownish, greyish-green, red, violet, blue; colourless in transmitted light.
Comment:Tints due to included matter. Violet-coloured material is decolourized at 150°C. H2S identified in blue material (Leonhardt and Kühn).
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
{001}, perfect.
Fracture:Splintery
Density (measured):2.15 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.24 g/cm3

Crystallography of Kainite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 19.72Å, b = 16.23Å, c = 9.53Å
β = 94.92°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.215 : 1 : 0.587
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,038.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals thick tabular {100} to equidimensional; often exhibiting numerous forms. Occurs as crystalline coatings and clusters in cavities or fissures in which single crystals may reach several centimeters; granular massive.
Crystal Atlas:
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Kainite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Kainite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Kainite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.494 nβ = 1.505 nγ = 1.516
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:weak
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Violet
Y = Blue
Z = Yellowish

Observed on blue or violet material only.

Chemical Properties of Kainite

Formula:
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cl, H, K, Mg, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, K, Mg, O, S

Relationship of Kainite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DF.05Uklonskovite
NaMg(SO
 
4
)F · 2H
 
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.55Clairite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
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:

- +
26.1Kogarkoite
Na
 
3
(SO
 
4
)F
26.2Sulphohalite
Na
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
FCl
26.3Schairerite
Na
 
3
(SO
 
4
)(F,Cl)
26.4Galeite
Na
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
F
 
4
Cl
26.5Connellite
Cu
 
19
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
26.6Chlorothionite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
26.7Kamchatkite
KCu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OCl
26.8Spangolite
Cu
 
6
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
Cl · 3H
 
2
O
26.9Aubertite
CuAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
26.10Magnesioaubertite
(Mg,Cu)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
26.11Svyazhinite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 14H
 
2
O
26.12D'Ansite
Na
 
21
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
10
Cl
 
3
26.13Anhydrokainite
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl
26.15Mosesite
(Hg
 
2
N)(Cl,SO
 
4
,MoO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
26.16Kleinite
(Hg
 
2
N)(Cl,SO
 
4
) · nH
 
2
O
26.17Wilcoxite
MgAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 18H
 
2
O
26.18Creedite
Ca
 
3
SO
 
4
Al
 
2
F
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
26.19Lannonite
HCa
 
4
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
9
 · 32H
 
2
O
26.20Chukhrovite-(Y)
Ca
 
3
(Y,Ce)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
26.21Chukhrovite-(Ce)
Ca
 
3
(Ce,Y)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
26.22Grandreefite
Pb
 
2
(SO
 
4
)F
 
2
26.23Pseudograndreefite
Pb
 
6
(SO
 
4
)F
 
10
26.24Sundiusite
Pb
 
10
(SO
 
4
)O
 
8
Cl
 
2
26.25Caracolite
Na
 
3
Pb
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
26.26Mammothite
Pb
 
6
Cu
 
4
AlSb(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
Cl
 
4
26.27Atlasovite
K(BiO)Cu
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
O
 
3
Cl
26.28Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)Cl · 6H
 
2
O
26.29Nabokoite
KCu
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)OCl

Other Names for Kainite

Synonyms:
CaeniteCenite
Other Languages:
Catalan:Cainita
Dutch:Kaïniet
German:Kainit
Caenit
Cainit
Cenit
Italian:Kainite
Polish:Kainit
Portuguese:Cainite
Russian:Каинит
Simplified Chinese:钾盐镁矾
Spanish:Caenita
Cainita
Cenita
Kainita
Ukrainian:Каїніт

Other Information

Other Information:Decomposed by water into Epsomite and Sylvite.
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 Kainite

Reference List:

- +
Zincken, C. (1865): Mittheilung an Prof. H.B. Geinitz vom 18.März 1865 [Über ein neues Mineral, Kainit].- Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, 310.

Zincken, C. (1865): Ueber die Zusammensetzung des Kainits von Leopoldshall bei Stassfurth.- Berg- und hüttenmännische Zeitung 24, 288.

Groth (1869) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 137: 442.

Bücking (1889) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 15: 569.

Meyerhoffer (1903) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 34: 145.

Baumgärtel (1905) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 449.

Boeke (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 388.

Rózsa (1916) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 505.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 1.

Hintze, Carl (1930) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 4551.

Schaller and Henderson (1932) USGS Bull. 833: 38.

Leonhardt and Kühn (1935) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 193.

Schlesinger, Zorkin and Petuchova (1940) Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad, C.r.: 27: 466.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 594-596.

American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 1325-1332.

Internet Links for Kainite

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    • Localities for Kainite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Upper Austria
      • Bad Ischl
        • Perneck
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    China
     
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Bayin'gholin (Bayingolin; Bayinguoleng) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Ruoqiang (Qakilik; Chaqiliq) Co.
          • Lop Nur (Lop Nuur; Lop lake; Luobu lake; Luobubo)
    		Yanling Tang (2005): Non-metallic deposits of Xinjiang, China [Zhongguo Xinjiang Fei Jinshu Kuangchuang]. Geological Publishing House (Beijing), 289 pp.
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Fulda
        • Neuhof
    		Krah, O., (1988): Beobachtungen beim Durchbruch eines Basaltganges durch das Kalilager vom Werk Neuhof-Ellers, Der Aufschluss Vol. 39 (2), 103-113
      • Werra Valley
        • Heringen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
        • Phillippsthal
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Celle
        • Hänigsen
    		Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" from 1989 ISBN 3-925094-24-5 Pg.9
        • Wathlingen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Hanover
        • Lehrte
    		Weiss: "Mineralienfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Hildesheim
        • Giesen
    		Aufschluss 1987(4), 114
      • Vienenburg
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
        • Aschersleben
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 376.
        • Egeln
          • Tarthun
    		No reference listed
    Naumann, Zirkel: "Elemente der Mineralogie", 13th Ed., 1896
        • Stassfurt
    		C. Zinken (1865) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, 310; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 380.
    • Thuringia
      • Thuringian Forest
        • Bad Salzungen
    		W.I. Borrisenkow (1968) Zeitschr. für angewandte Geologie 14, 7-10
    Iceland
     
    • Vestmannaeyjar archipelago (Westman islands)
      • Surtsey Island
    		Jacobsson et al (1992) Encrustations from Lava Caves in Surtsey, Iceland. A Preliminary Report: Surtsey Research Progress Report X: 73-78 Reykjevik, Iceland.
    Iran
     
    • Zanjan Province
      • Dandy to Mahneshan road
    		Talbot, C., farhadi, R., and Aftabi, P. (2009): Ore Geology Reviews 35, 352-366.
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Caltanissetta Province
    AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    Mars
     
    • Aeolis quadrangle
      • Gusev Crater
    		SILICA-RICH DEPOSITS AND HYDRATED MINERALS AT GUSEV CRATER, MARS. M. S. Rice1, J. F.
    Poland
     
    • Wielkopolskie
    		Jirásek, J.: Solný důl Kłodawa (Polsko). Minerál, 2004, roč. 12, č. 2, s. 98-102. ISSN 1213-0710 (excerpted from unpublished thesis Hanczke, T.: Mineralogia i petrografia soli czechstyńskich kopalni "Kłodawa". Doktroská práce, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Instytut nauk geologicznych, 1967.)
    Russia
     
    • Povolzhsky Region
      • Samaraskaya Oblast' (Samara Oblast')
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 595.
      • Saratov Oblast'
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 94.
    Ukraine
     
    • Ivano-Frankivs'k Oblast' (Ivanovo-Frankovsk Oblast')
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 595.
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 595.
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • Eddy and Lea Counties
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 595; Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    • Utah
      • Tooele Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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