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Boussingaultite

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Anna Mine, Alsdorf, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, ...
Hardness:2
Member of:Picromerite Group
Name:
After Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802-1887), French chemist.


Picromerite Group, Boussingaultite-Mohrite Series.

May originate as an alteration (hydration) product of efremovite.

Classification of Boussingaultite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.19-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.60

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.3.7.2

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.3.17

25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Boussingaultite

Type Locality:Travale, Montieri, Cecina Valley, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy
Year of Discovery:1864
Geological Setting of type material:Boric acid fumaroles.

Occurrences of Boussingaultite

Geological Setting:Geysers; anthracite mine dump fires (anthropogenic).

Physical Properties of Boussingaultite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, yellowish-pink; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Perfect
{_201}, perfect.
Density (measured):1.722 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.722 g/cm3
Comment:Measured on artificial material.

Crystallography of Boussingaultite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Space Group Setting:P21/a
Cell Parameters:a = 9.324(7) Å, b = 12.597(9) Å, c = 6.211(5) Å
β = 107.1°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.74 : 1 : 0.493
Unit Cell Volume:V 697.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Short prismatic [001] with {001} prominent. Massive, crusts, stalactites.
Comment:Synthetic

Optical Data of Boussingaultite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.472 nβ = 1.473 nγ = 1.479
2V:Measured: 51°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.007

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:perceptible r > v

Chemical Properties of Boussingaultite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, N, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, N, O, S
Analytical Data:Water soluble.
Relationship of Boussingaultite to other Species
Series:Forms a series with Mohrite (see here)
Member of:Picromerite Group
Other Members of Group:

- + 
Boussingaultite-Mohrite Series
Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Nickelboussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ni(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
7.CC.05Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.15Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
7.CC.15Mendozite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lonecreekite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Alum-(K)
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Alum-(Na)
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lanmuchangite
Tl
+
 
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Voltaite
K
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Zincovoltaite
K
 
2
Zn
 
5
Fe
3+
3
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Pertlikite
K
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Mg
 
4
Fe
3+
2
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Ammoniomagnesiovoltaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.30Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.CC.35Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.CC.40Goldichite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.45Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
7.CC.50Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Nickelblödite
Na
 
2
(Ni,Mg)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Changoite
Na
 
2
Zn(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Zincblödite
7.CC.55Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.55Mereiterite
K
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Nickelboussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ni(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.65Polyhalite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.CC.70Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.CC.75Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CC.80Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CC.85Wattevilleite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O (?)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
25.3.1Kieserite
MgSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.3.2Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.3Starkeyite
MgSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.4Pentahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.3.5Hexahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.3.6Epsomite
MgSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.3.7Caminite
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.3.8Vanthoffite
Na
 
6
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
25.3.9Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.10Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.3.11Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
25.3.12Uklonskovite
NaMg(SO
 
4
)F · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.13Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.14Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.15Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.3.16Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.18Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
Other Names for Boussingaultite
Other Languages:
German:Boussingaultit
Cerbolit
Russian:Буссенготит
Spanish:Boussingaultita
Other Information
Other Information:Sharply astringent and saline taste
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 Boussingaultite
Reference List:

- + 
Bechi (1864) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 58: 583.



Popp (1872) Annalen der Chemie, Leipzig (Justus Liebig’s), Suppl. Bd.: 8: 1. (as Cerbolit).



Goldsmith (1873) Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia: 28: 264.



Tutton (1905) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 41: 328.



Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 1: 227.



Larsen, E.P., and Shannon (1920) American Mineralogist: 5: 127.



Hofmann (1931) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 78: 279.



Benrath and Thiemann (1932) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 208: 179.



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.: 455-456.



Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 117: 344-357.
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    • Localities for Boussingaultite
    






    


    

    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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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.

    Botswana
     
    

    • North-West District
    

      • Ngamiland West District
    
    		[AmMin 84:194]
    Czech Republic
     
    

    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
    

      • Central Bohemia Region
    

        • Kladno
    

          • Libušin
    
    		Hyrsl J., Korbel P.; Tschechien & Slowakei, Mineralien und Fundstellen. Bode Verlag, 2008. Page  268-273
    


Zacek, V., Oplustil, S., Mayova, A. & Meyer, F. R. (1995): Die Mineralien von Kladno in Mittelböhmen, Tschechische Republik. Mineralien-Welt 6 (1), 13-30 (in German).      
    


      • Hradec Králové Region
    

        • Trutnov (Trautenau)
    

          • Radvanice
    
    		Jirásek, J.: Thermal Changes of the Rocks in the Dump Pile of the Kateřina Colliery in Radvanice (Eastern Bohemia). Ostrava: VSB – Technical University of  Ostrava, Institute of Geological Engineering - 541, 2001. 69 p.    
    Germany
     
    

    • North Rhine-Westphalia
    

      • Aachen
    

        • Alsdorf
    
    		Blaß, G. and Strehler, H. (1993): Mineralbildungen in einer durch Selbstentzündung brennenden Bergehalde des Aachener Steinkohlenreviers. Mineralien-Welt 4 (4), 35-42. (in German) 
    

    • Thuringia
    

      • Gera
    

        • Ronneburg U deposit
    
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    



T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Hungary
     
    

    • Baranya Co.
    

      • Mecsek Mts.
    

        • 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.
    Italy
     
    

    • Sicily
    

      • Messina Province
    

        • Lipari
    

          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
    

            • Vulcano Island
    
    		Campostrini I. et al - Vulcano: ein aussergewohnlicher Fundpunkt von neuen und seltenen Mineralien - MineralienWelt 2010 - nr.3 - p.40-57
    






              • Porto Levante
    
    		GARAVELLI A., GRASSO M.F., VURRO F. (1996): Mineral occurrence and depositional processes at Baia di Levante area (Vulcano Island, Italy). - Mineralogica et Petrographica Acta - 39, 251- 261.
    

    • Tuscany
    

      • Grosseto Province
    

        • Cecina Valley
    

          • Montieri
    
    		[C.R.Acad.Sci.Paris (1864) 58, 583; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
    Japan
     
    

    • Hokkaido
    

      • Sorachi Province
    

        • Mikasa City
    
    		Shimobayashi, N., Ohnishi, M., Miura, H. (2011) Ammonium sulfate minerals from Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan: boussingaultite, godovikovite, efremovite and tschermigite. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 106, (in press).
    Netherlands
     
    

    • Limburg
    

      • Kerkrade
    

    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
    
    		Lukasz Kruszewski 2005: Minerals arising in cause of underground fires of "Skalny" coal mine dump in Laziska (Upper Silesia, Poland). Mag. Thesis (unpublished); 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]
    Russia
     
    

    • Urals Region
    

      • Southern Urals
    

        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
    
    		Cesnokov, B., Kotrly, M. and Nisanbajev, T. (1998): Brennende Abraumhalden und Aufschlüsse im Tscheljabinsker Kohlenbecken - eine reiche Mineralienküche. Mineralien-Welt, 9 (3), 54-63 (in German).
    





            • Kopeisk
    
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Tajikistan
     
    

    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad)
    

      • Zeravshan Range
    

        • Yagnob River
    
    		D.I.Belakovskiy data
    USA
     
    

    • California
    

      • Inyo Co.
    

        • Coso Mts (Coso Range)
    

          • Coso District (New Coso District)
    

            • China Lake Naval Ordnance Test Station
    
    		Mineralogical Record: 9: 113
    


      • Sonoma Co.
    

        • Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts)
    

          • West Mayacmas District
    
    		Goldsmith, E. (1877), On boussingaultite and other minerals from Sonoma County, California: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Proceedings: 28: 264; Allen, Eugene T. & Arthur L. Day (1927), Steam wells and other thermal activity at “The Geysers,” California: Carnegie Institute Washington Publication 378: 45;Vonsen, Magnus (1946), Minerals at “The Geysers,” Sonoma County, California: California Division Mines Report 42: 289; 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.: 399; Smith, Robert Leland (1958), Some new occurrences of sassolite in the United States: American Mineralogist: 43: 1204-1205; Dunning, Gail E. and J.F. Cooper (1969a) Letovicite from The Geysers, Sonoma County, California. California Division Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22: 135; American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 2103-2104; Mineralogical Record (1993): 24: 349.
    





Goldsmith, E. (1877), On boussingaultite and other minerals from Sonoma County, California: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Proceedings: 28: 265; Vonsen, Magnus (1946), Minerals at “The Geysers,” Sonoma County, California: California Division Mines Report 42: 288; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 257.
    


      • Ventura Co.
    

        • Santa Paula
    
    		Larsen, Esper Signius & Shannon, Earl V. (1920), Boussingaultite from South Mountain near Santa Paula California American Mineralogist: 5: 127-129; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 270; 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, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 455.
    

    • Pennsylvania
    

      • Luzerne Co.
    
    		Reed, Juliet C. (1976), Annotated Biblio. of Minerals New to the Pennsylvania List 1965-1974, The Mineralogical Society of PA, Inc.: 21-22; Grant, R.W. (Sep, 1974) PA Mins. (PM) (141), Keystone Newsletter.
    


      • Schuylkill Co.
    
    		Palache, et al (1951), Dana 7:II: 456; Reed, Juliet C. (1976), Annotated Biblio. of Minerals New to the Pennsylvania List 1965-1974, The Mineralogical Society of PA, Inc.: 21; Grant, R.W. (Jul, 1974) PA Mins. (PM) (139), Keystone Newsletter; Roberts, et a
    

    


    

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