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Mascagnite

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Shamokin, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, USA
© 2008, JGW

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, grey, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, DullHardness:2 - 2½
Name:
After Paolo Mascagni (1755-1815), Professor of Anatomy, University of Siena, who first described the natural material.


Arcanite-Mascagnite Series. Slightly hygroscopic.

Occurs at active volcanic fumaroles, hot springs, and on burning coal mine dumps.

Classification of Mascagnite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.07-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AD.05

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:28.2.1.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
2 : A2XO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.8

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Type Occurrence of Mascagnite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1800

Occurrences of Mascagnite

Geological Setting:Sublimation product from fumeroles, solfataras, burning coal seams.

Physical Properties of Mascagnite

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Colourless, grey, yellowish-grey, yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {001}.
Parting:Twin gliding with K1(110), K2(130).
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):1.768 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.769 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mascagnite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.782Å, b = 5.993Å, c = 10.636Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.299 : 1 : 1.775
Unit Cell Volume:V 496.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Well-formed natural crystals are rare. Mealy crusts and stalactitic forms. Artificial crystals equant to short prismatic [001], frequently flattened {010}; also prismatic [100]; also flattened {100}, rare.
Twinning:On {101} common, often repeated yielding a pseudo-hexagonal habit; also polysynthetic.
Comment:Synthetic

Optical Data of Mascagnite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.520 nβ = 1.523 nγ = 1.533
2V:Measured: 52° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013

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

Chemical Properties of Mascagnite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
Essential elements:H, N, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, N, O, S

Relationship of Mascagnite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Arcanite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AD.05Arcanite
K
 
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.30Anhydrite
CaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Anglesite
PbSO
 
4
7.AD.35Baryte
BaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Celestine
SrSO
 
4
7.AD.35Olsacherite
Pb
 
2
(SeO
 
4
)(SO
 
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:

- +
25.1.1Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.2Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.1.3Mirabilite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
25.1.4Arcanite
K
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.5Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
25.1.6Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
25.1.7Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.9Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.10Ammonioalunite
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6

Other Names for Mascagnite

Synonyms:
MascagnineSulfate of Ammonia
Other Languages:
French:Alkali volatil vitriolé
Ammoniaque sulfatée
Sel ammoniac vitriolique
German:Mascagnin
Mascagnit
Schwefelsaures Ammoniak
Italian:Sale ammoniacale composto d'acido sulfureo
Latin:Sal ammoniacum secretum Glauberi
Russian:Масканьит
Spanish:Mascagnita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Melts when heated in air and decomposes at a low temperature.
Other Information:Slightly hygroscopic. Soluble in water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:		Slightly hygroscopic.
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 Mascagnite

Reference List:

- +
Sage, B.G. (1777) Eléméns de minéralogie docimastique, second edition, 2 volumes: 1: 62 (as Sel ammoniac vitriolique).

Mascagni (1779) Dei Lagoni del Senese..., Sienna: 36 (as Sale ammoniacale composto d'acido sulfureo)

Karsten, D.L.G. (1800) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. First edition: 40, 75 (as Maskagnin).

Haüy, R.J. (1822) Traité de minéralogie, second edition, 4 volumes, with fol. Atlas: 2: 220 (as Ammoniaque sulfatée).

Mitscherlich (1830) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 18: 169 (artificial crystals).

Tutton (1904) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 38: 602.

Groth, P. (1908) Chemische Krystallographie. Leipzig. 5 volumes: vol. 2: 322.

Fischer (1911) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Beil.-Bd., Stuttgart: 32: 1.

Goldschmidt, V. (1920) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 6: 10.

Ogg (1928) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 5: 354.

Taylor and Boyer (1928) Memoires of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society: 72: 125.

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: 398-399.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan: 50: 1266-1274.

Periodico di Mineralogia (1985): 54: 32.

Internet Links for Mascagnite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Mascagnite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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