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Tachyhydrite

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

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Formula:
CaMg
 
2
Cl
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, light yellow
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2
Name:From Greek ταχίς quick, and ϋδωρ, water, alluding to its ready deliquescence.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tachyhydrite.

Classification of Tachyhydrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/C.08-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.BB.35

3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:11.5.5.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
5 : AmBX6
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.4.6

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Tachyhydrite

Type Locality:Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1856
Geological Setting of type material:Oceanic-type, potash-rich saline deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
KainiteCarnallite

Occurrences of Tachyhydrite

Geological Setting:Oceanic type potash-rich saline deposits.

Physical Properties of Tachyhydrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Perfect
On {10_11}.
Density (measured):1.667 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tachyhydrite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Morphology:Massive; in rounded masses. Crystals rhombohedral with {0001} (artificial crystals).
Twinning:Exhibits twin lamellae at times; probably secondary and due to pressure.

Optical Data of Tachyhydrite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.520 nε = 1.512
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic
Comments:Not dichroic.

Chemical Properties of Tachyhydrite

Formula:
CaMg
 
2
Cl
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, Cl, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Cl, H, Mg, O
Analytical Data:Very deliquescent.
Relationship of Tachyhydrite to other Species
Common Associates:
SylviteKieseriteKainiteHaliteCarnallite
BischofiteAnhydrite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
3.BB.05Eriochalcite
CuCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.10Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.15Bischofite
MgCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.BB.20Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
3.BB.25Sinjarite
CaCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.30Antarcticite
CaCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
8.4.1Sellaite
MgF
 
2
8.4.2Neighborite
NaMgF
 
3
8.4.3Bischofite
MgCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.4.4Korshunovskite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl] · 4H
 
2
O
8.4.5Carnallite
KMgCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.4.7Fluorite
CaF
 
2
8.4.8Sinjarite
CaCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.4.9Antarcticite
CaCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.4.10Chlorocalcite
KCaCl
 
3
8.4.11Rorisite
CaFCl
8.4.12Jarlite
Na(Sr,Na)
 
7
MgAl
 
6
F
 
32
(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
2
8.4.13Calcjarlite
Na(Ca,Sr)
 
3
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
2
F
 
14
8.4.14Tikhonenkovite
Sr[AlF
 
4
(OH)(H
 
2
O)]
8.4.15Acuminite
Sr[AlF
 
4
(OH)(H
 
2
O)]
8.4.16Frankdicksonite
BaF
 
2
8.4.17Usovite
Ba
 
2
CaMgAl
 
2
F
 
14
8.4.18Bøgvadite
Na
 
2
SrBa
 
2
[Al
 
4
F
 
20
]
Other Names for Tachyhydrite
Other Languages:
German:Tachyhydrit
Russian:Тахигидрит
Spanish:Tachyhydrita
Other Information
Other Information:Readily 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.
Industrial Uses:Source of potassium.
References for Tachyhydrite
Reference List:Rammelsberg (1856) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 98: 261.



Des Cloizeaux, A. (1867) Nouvelles recherches sur les propriétés optique des cristaux, naturels ou artificiels, et sur les variations que ces propriétés éprouvent sous l’influence de la chaleur. 222pp., Paris. (Institut imperial de France, Mémoires 18): 74.



Groth, P. (1874) Tabellarische Übersicht der Mineralien nach ihren krystallographish-chemischen Beziehungen. Braunschweig. 1st. edition: 74.



de Schulten (1890) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 111: 928.



Boeke (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 354.



Kling (1915) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 14, 44. 



Jung (1926) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 274.



Doelter, C. (1928) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4[2]: 1219.



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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 95-96.



Acta Crystallographica (1980): B36: 2736-2739.


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    Localities for Tachyhydrite
    






    


    

    
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    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the  symbol to view information about a locality. 
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    (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
     
    

    • Salzburg
    

      • Hallein
    

        • Dürrnberg
    
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989
    Germany
     
    

    • 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
    


      • Göttingen
    

        • Reyershausen
    
    		Niemann, H. (1960): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 7, 137-165.
    


      • Nordhorn
    

        • Frenswegen
    
    		Füchtbauer, H., and Goldschmidt, H. (1956): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 5(3), 187-203.
    


      • Peine
    
    		Dana 6: Appendix 3: 40; 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: 91.
    


      • Vienenburg
    
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    

    • Saxony-Anhalt
    

      • Halle
    

        • Teutschenthal
    
    		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: 95.
    


      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
    
    		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: 95; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    



        • Tarthun
    
    		No reference listed
    UK
     
    

    • England
    

      • Co. Durham
    

        • Billingham
    
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 172-175.
    USA
     
    

    • New Mexico
    

      • Eddy Co.
    
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    

    


    

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