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Leonite

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Riedel Potash Works, Hänigsen, Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany
© Elmar Lackner

Show Leonite Photos (11)
Formula:
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, pale yellow; ...
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:After Leo Strippelmann, Director of the salt works at Westerregeln, Germany.


The magnesium analogue of Mereiterite.
May occur as a dehydration product of Picromerite.

Classification of Leonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.18-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.55

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:29.3.3.3

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.3.14

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

Type Locality:Westeregeln, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1896

Occurrences of Leonite

Geological Setting:Oceanic potash deposits.

Physical Properties of Leonite

Lustre:Vitreous, Waxy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, pale yellow; colourless (transmitted light).
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.201 g/cm3

Crystallography of Leonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.78Å, b = 9.53Å, c = 9.88Å
β = 95.4°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.236 : 1 : 1.037
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,104.24 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals tabular {100} and elongated [001]. Usually anhedral.
Twinning:On {100} - artificial crystals. Lamellar twinning observable under magnification.

Optical Data of Leonite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.479 nβ = 1.482 nγ = 1.487
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Leonite

Formula:
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, K, Mg, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, K, Mg, O, S
Analyical Data:Readily soluble in water. Turns white upon alteration/dehydration to picromerite if left exposed.
Relationship of Leonite 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.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.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.65Wattevilleite
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:
25.3.1Kieserite
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
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 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[F|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.13Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.15Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.3.16Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.17Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.3.18Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
Other Names for Leonite
Synonyms:
Leonite (of Tenne)
German names:
Kalium-AstrakanitKalium-BlöditLeonit
Russian names:
Леонит
Spanish names:
Leonita
Other Information
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 Leonite
Reference List:van der Heide (1893) Berichte deutsche chemische Gesellschaft: 26: 414 (as Kalium-Astrakanit).



Naupert and Wense (1893) Berichte deutsche chemische Gesellschaft: 26: 873 (as Kaliastrakanit).



Tenne (1896) Zeitschrift der Deutsche geologische Gesellschaft, Berlin: 48: 632 (as Kalium-Blödit, Leonit). 



Strandmark (1902) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 36: 461.



Görgey (1910) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 29: 207.



Schaller and Henderson (1932) USGS Bull. 833: 44.



Anspach (1939) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 39: 101.



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.: 450.



Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1985): 173: 75-79.


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    Localities for Leonite
    
	






    


    

    
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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
     
    

    • Upper Austria
    

      • Hallstatt
    
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    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
    


      • North Hesse
    

        • 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
    


      • Schwarmstedt
    

    

    • Saxony-Anhalt
    

      • 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: 451.
    



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: 451.
    



        • Tarthun
    
    		No reference listed
    


Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    

    • Thuringia
    

      • Thuringian Forest
    

        • Bad Salzungen
    
    		W.I. Borrisenkow (1968) Zeitschr. für angewandte Geologie 14, 7-10
    Romania
     
    

    • Maramures Co.
    

      • Rodnei Mts
    
    		Mineralogical Magazine: 65(1): 1-7.
    USA
     
    

    • New Mexico
    

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

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: 451; Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    

    


    

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