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Anhydrite

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Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Anhydrite Photos (119)
Formula:
CaSO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, bluish, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, PearlyHardness:3 - 3½
Name:Named from the Greek άυ-νδρος meaning "without" and "water", in alluson to the lack of water in the composition.


Isostructural with Ferruccite; isostructural and isomorphous with α-BaSO4 and α-SrSO4.

Classification of Anhydrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.08-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AD.30

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:28.3.2.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : AXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.4.1

25 : Sulphates
4 : Sulphates of Ca, Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Anhydrite

Type Locality:Salt mine, Hall, Innsbruck, Inn valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany 16538
Year of Discovery:1804

Occurrences of Anhydrite

Geological Setting:Sedimentary evaporite deposits, cap rock of salt domes.

Physical Properties of Anhydrite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on {010}
Colour:Colourless, bluish, blue-grey, violet, burgundy-red, white, rose-pink, brownish, reddish, grey, dark grey; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White, off-white, greyish
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010} perfect; on {100} nearly perfect; on {001} good to imperfect.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Density (measured):2.98(1) g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.95 g/cm3

Crystallography of Anhydrite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.245(1) Å, b = 6.995(2) Å, c = 6.993(2) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.893 : 1 : 1
Unit Cell Volume:V 305.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals equant, or nearly so, with large pinacoidal faces. Also Thick tabular on {010}, {100}, or {001}; elongated [100] or [001]. Massive. Fine granular to scaly; fibrous (either parallel, radiated or plumose) and frequently curved. Contorted concretionary forms (bowel stone).
Twinning:1.) On {011} as contact twins and polysynthetic lamellae (may be produced by heating or pressure); 2.) On {120} as contact twins, rare.
Crystal Atlas:
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Anhydrite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Anhydrite no.6 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Anhydrite no.19 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Anhydrite no.28 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Anhydrite no.32 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Anhydrite no.37 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Anhydrite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.567 - 1.574 nβ = 1.574 - 1.579 nγ = 1.609 - 1.618
2V:Measured: 36° to 45°, Calculated: 44°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.042 - 0.044

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:Strong r < v
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Violet coloured material: X = colourless to very light yellow or rose; Y = light violet or rose; Z = violet.

Chemical Properties of Anhydrite

Formula:
CaSO
 
4
Essential elements:Ca, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Ca, O, S
Common Impurities:Sr,Ba,H2O

Relationship of Anhydrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AD.05Arcanite
K
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AD.05Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AD.10Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
7.AD.15Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
7.AD.20Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.25Glauberite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.35Anglesite
PbSO
 
4
7.AD.35Baryte
BaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Celestine
SrSO
 
4
7.AD.35Olsacherite
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
SeO
 
4
7.AD.40Kalistrontite
K
 
2
Sr(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.40Palmierite
(K,Na)
 
2
Pb(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.4.2Bassanite
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
25.4.3Gypsum
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.4.4Glauberite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.4.5Cesanite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.4.6Eugsterite
Na
 
4
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
25.4.7Hydroglauberite
Na
 
10
Ca
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
25.4.8Syngenite
K
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
25.4.9Görgeyite
K
 
2
Ca
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
25.4.10Polyhalite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.4.11Koktaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
25.4.12Ye'elimite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
6
[O
 
12
|SO
 
4
]
25.4.13Ettringite
Ca
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
25.4.14Bentorite
Ca
 
6
(Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
25.4.15Celestine
SrSO
 
4
25.4.16Kalistrontite
K
 
2
Sr(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.4.17Baryte
BaSO
 
4

Other Names for Anhydrite

Synonyms:
Anhydrous GypsumAnhydrous Sulfate of LimeCube SparKarsteniteMuriacite
Siliceous Anhydrous Gypsum
Other Languages:
Basque:Anhidrita
Catalan:Anhidrita
Czech:Anhydrit
Dutch:Anhydriet
Esperanto:Anhidrito
French:Anhydrite
Chaux sulfatée anhydre
Chaux sulfatée quartzifère
Soude muriatée gypsifère
German:Anhydrit
Anchydrit
Anidrit
Gekrösstein
Karstenit
Metanhydrit
Muriacit
Muriazit
Salzsaurer Kalk
Würfelgips
Würfelgyps
Würfelspat
Hebrew:אנהידריט
Hungarian:Anhidrit
Italian:Anidrite
Bardiglione
Marmor Bardiglio di Bergamo
Japanese:硬石膏
Lithuanian:Anhidritas
Polish:Anhydryt
Portuguese:Anidrita
Russian:Ангидрит
Serbian (Cyrillic Script):Анхидрит
Slovak:Anhydrit
Slovenian:Anhidrit
Spanish:Anhidrita
Anhydrita
Anidrita
Muriacita
Swedish:Anhydrit
Ukrainian:Ангідрит
Varieties:
AngeliteBowel StoneVulpinite

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Inverts to α-CaSO4 at 1193°. Melting Point = ~ 1450°.
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 Anhydrite

Reference List:Abbé Nicolaus Poda von Neuhaus, in: Fichtel, Johann Ehrenreich von (1794) Mineralogische Aufsätze, Wien: 228 (as Muriazit; Salzsaurer Kalk).

Werner (1800) (as Würfelspath).

Haüy, R.J. (1801) Traité de minéralogie. First edition: in 4 volumes with atlas in fol.: 2 (as Soude muriatée gypsifère (of Hall) [from Klaproth's analysis in Beiträge: 1: 307 (1795)].

Haüy, R.J. (1801) Traité de minéralogie. First edition: in 4 volumes with atlas in fol.: 4 [as Chaux sulfatée anhydre (from Bex) Vauquelin].

Ludwig, C.F. (1803) Handbuch der Mineralogie nach A.G. Werner. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 1: 51, 166 (as Cube Spar).

Ludwig, C.F. (1804) Handbuch der Mineralogie nach A.G. Werner. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 2: 170 (as Kieselgyps; Vulpinit).

Werner (1803) (as Anhydrit).

Ludwig, C.F. (1804) Handbuch der Mineralogie nach A.G. Werner. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 2: 169 (as Würfelgyps).

Klaproth, M.H. (1807) Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörpers, vol. 4: 231 (as Anhydrit; Pierre de tripes).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: 880 (as Karstenit).

Schrauf (1860) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzber. Vienna: 39: 887.

Hessenberg (1872) Senck. Ges. Frankfurt, Abh.: 8: 1.

Mügge (1883) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 258.

Danker (1886) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Beil.-Bd., Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 4: 272.

Goldschmidt, V. (1886) Index der Krystallformen der Mineralien. 3 volumes: vol. 1, 601pp.: 211.

Mülheims (1888) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 14: 228.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 910.

Zimányi (1893) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 22: 341.

Mügge (1898) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 71.

Vater (1899) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 31: 571.

Sommerfeldt (1907) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 139 (as Metanhydrit).

Sommerfeldt (1909) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 22: 189 (as Metanhydrit).

Kolb (1911) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 49: 14, 25.

Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 1: 56.

Emerson (1916) American Journal of Science: 42: 233.

Butler (1919) Economic Geology: 14: 581.

Veit (1922) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Beil.-Bd., Stuttgart: 45: 133.

Kinoshita (1925) Journal of the Geological Society of Tokyo: 32: 9.

Basche and Mark (1926) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 64: 22.

Dickson and Binks (1926) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 2: 114.

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 (3B): 3735, 3780.

Schaller (1932) USGS Bulletin 832.

Berek and Strieder (1933) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 86: 212.

Tertsch (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 87: 326.

Przibram (1936) Kali: 30: 61.

Posnjak (1940) American Journal of Science: 238: 559.

Engelhardt (1945) Chemie der Erde, Jena: 15: 424.

Zimmer (1947) American Mineralogist: 32: 647.

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: 407, 424-428.

Groves, A.W. (1958), Gypsum and Anhydrite, 108 p. Overseas Geological Surveys, London.

Hardie, L.A. (1967), The gypsum-anhydrite equilibrium at one atmosphere pressure: American Mineralogist: 52: 171-200.

Canadian Mineralogist (1975): 13: 289-292.

Majzlan, J., Navrotsky, A., and Neil, J.M. (2002) Energetics of anhydrite, barite, celestine, and anglesite: a high-temperature and differential scanning calorimetry study. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 66: 1839-1850.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 25.

Walter, F. (2005): Anhydrit als Einschluß in alpinen Quarzen der Ostalpen. Carinthia II, 195./115., 85-96.

Walter, F. (2008): Anhydrit in Quarzkristallen aus den Ostalpen. Schweizer Strahler, 3/2008, 10-14.

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    Localities for Anhydrite

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