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Goldichite

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Dexter No. 7 Mine, Calf Mesa, San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell), Emery Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Pale yellowish green
Hardness:2½
Name:After Dr. Samuel Stephen Goldich (1909-2000), American mineralogist, University of Minnesota.
This page provides mineralogical data about Goldichite.

Classification of Goldichite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.16-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.40

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:29.5.2.1

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
5 : AB(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.11.8

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

Type Locality:Dexter No. 7 Mine, Calf Mesa, San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell), Emery Co., Utah, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, USA
Year of Discovery:1955

Occurrences of Goldichite

Geological Setting:Oxidation of pyrite, rarely fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Goldichite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Pale yellowish green
Comment:Lavender tint in artificial light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100}
Density (measured):2.43 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.461 g/cm3

Crystallography of Goldichite

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}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.387(6) Å, b = 10.486(6) Å, c = 9.086(5) Å
β = 101.68(7)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.991 : 1 : 0.866
Unit Cell Volume:V 969.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Crystal Atlas:
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Goldichite - {100}, {110}, {011},

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Structure
  Reference
Graeber E J Rosenzweig A (1971) The crystal structures of yavapaiite, KFe(SO4)2, and goldichite, KFe(SO4)2.4H2O. American Mineralogist 56:1917-1933.

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Optical Data of Goldichite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.582 - 1.584 nβ = 1.602(2) nγ = 1.629 - 1.639
2V:Measured: 82° , Calculated: 75° to 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.047 - 0.055

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

Chemical Properties of Goldichite

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

Relationship of Goldichite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
7.CC.05Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
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.30Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
7.CC.35Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
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.60Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·5H
 
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.65Wattevillite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O (?)
7.CC.70Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
25.11.1Natrojarosite
NaFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
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
·3H
 
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
25.11.9Jarosite
KFe
3+
 
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
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(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.14Ammoniojarosite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.11.15Clairite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
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,Fe)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.19Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
25.11.21Slavíkite
NaMg
 
2
Fe
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
(OH)
 
6
·33H
 
2
O
25.11.23Sturmanite
Ca
 
6
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|B(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 25H
 
2
O
25.11.24Millosevichite
(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.11.25Aluminocopiapite
Al
 
2/3
Fe
3+
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
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 Goldichite

German names:
Goldichit
Russian names:
Гольдичит
Spanish names:
Goldichita

Other Information

Other Information:Slightly soluble in cold water. Soluble in hot water with hydrolysis.
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 Goldichite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 40: 469-480.

American Mineralogist: 56: 1917-1933.

Internet Links for Goldichite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Goldichite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Goldichite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Goldichite

    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • Jujuy
      • El Palmar District
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/goldichite.pdf.
    Chile
     
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Pampa de Tamarugal
    		Peter G. Seroka collection
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Phlegrean Fields
          • Pozzuoli
    		De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol
    Netherlands Antilles
     
    Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Sakhalinskaya Oblast'
        • Maritime Province
          • Kuril Islands
            • Iturup Island
    		http://maurice.strahlen.org/kurilles/kurilles.htm
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • Emery Co.
        • San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell)
          • Calf Mesa
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Amer.Min.(1955) 40, 469-480; Min Rec 19:331-338
    Mineral and/or Locality
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