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Mendozite

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Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© 2007, J. Weissman

Show Mendozite Photos (2)
Formula:
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless (turns white ...
Hardness:3
Name:After the supposed type locality of St. Juan near Mendoza, Argentina.


Closely related to the members of the Alum Group.

Classification of Mendozite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.13-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.15

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:29.5.4.1

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
5 : AB(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.6.13

25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
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Type Occurrence of Mendozite

Type Locality:San Juan, Mendoza, Argentina
Year of Discovery:1868

Physical Properties of Mendozite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless (turns white upon exposure); colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
{100}, good; {001} and {010}, indistinct.

Crystallography of Mendozite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 21.75Å, b = 9.1Å, c = 8.29Å
β = 92.47°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.39 : 1 : 0.911
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,639.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Artificial crystals are prismatic [001] with large {100}; also pseudo-rhombohedral with {100} and {_211}. Fibrous masses.

Optical Data of Mendozite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.449 nβ = 1.461 nγ = 1.463
2V:Measured: 56° , Calculated: 44°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

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

Chemical Properties of Mendozite

Formula:
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Na, O, S
Analytical Data:Soluble in water. Dehydrates and alters to white tamarugite.
Relationship of Mendozite to other Species
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.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
·4H
 
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.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.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:

- + 
25.6.1Rostite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.2Jurbanite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.3Khademite
Al[F|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.4Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.5Aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
25.6.6Meta-alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·12H
 
2
O
25.6.7Alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·17H
 
2
O
25.6.8Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.6.9Basaluminite
25.6.10Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 12-36H
 
2
O
25.6.11Zaherite
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
26
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 20H
 
2
O
25.6.12Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.6.14Alum-(Na)
NaAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.15Natroalunite
(Na,K)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.16Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
25.6.17Alum-(K)
KAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.18Alunite
KAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.19Minamiite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
,K)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Other Names for Mendozite
Synonyms:
Native Soda-AlumNatrumalaunSoda-Alum
Other Languages:
German:Mendozit
Natronalaun
Russian:Мендоцит
Spanish:Mendozita
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 Mendozite
Reference List:Thomson (1828) Annals Lyceum Natural History, New York: 3: 19 (as native Soda-Alum).



Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York.: 653.



Divers (1881) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 44: 218.



Soret (1884) Arch. sc. phys. nat. Genève: 11: 63.



Surganov (1909) Academy of Sciences St. Petersburg, Bull.: 3: 1057.



Keller (1935) American Mineralogist: 20: 537.



Bandy (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 722.



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.: 469.



American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 1081.


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    Localities for Mendozite
    






    


    

    
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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.

    Argentina
     
    

    • Mendoza
    
    		AmMin 57:1081 (1972)
    Canada
     
    

    • British Columbia
    

      • Kamloops Mining Division
    
    		 Schmetzer, K. & Medenbach, O. (1983): Challantite from Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada - a second occurrence. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1983, 158-162.
    Chile
     
    

    • Antofagasta Region
    

      • El Loa Province
    

        • Calama
    

          • Chuquicamata District
    
    		R.B. Cook: \"Famous mineal locality; Chuquicamata, Chile\": Mineralogical Record, sept.-oct. 1973
    

    • Tarapacá Region
    

      • Iquique Province
    

        • Pampa del Tamarugal
    
    		Peter G. Seroka collection
    Germany
     
    

    • North Rhine-Westphalia
    

      • Ruhr Coal Mining area
    

        • Herne
    
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    Hungary
     
    

    • Heves Co.
    

      • Mátra Mts.
    

        • Recsk
    
    		ACTA MIN. PETR. Suppl. Tomus XXXVIII., 1997
    



Szakáll & Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary, 1995
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Phlegrean Volcanic Complex
    

        • Naples Province
    

          • Phlegrean Fields
    

            • Pozzuoli
    
    		http://70.1911encyclopedia.org/V/VO/VOLCANO.htm.
    

    • Sicily
    

      • Messina Province
    

        • Lipari
    

          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
    

            • Vulcano Island
    
    		PANICHI U. (1924): Contributo allo studio dei minerali dell'Isola di Vulcano. - Memorie della  Società Italiana delle Scienze (detta dei XL) - serie 3 - 19, 3-55.
    Norway
     
    

    • Oppland
    

      • Ringebu
    

        • Fåvang
    
    		Broch (1931, p. 119); Neumann (1985, p. 110).
    Slovakia
     
    

    • Banská Bystrica Region
    

      • Kremnica Mts
    
    		Ďuďa R., 1993 : Die mineralien der Gold und Silber - lagersttäte von Kremnitz ( Kremnica) in der Slowakei. Mineralien Welt /Haltern,Nemecko/,5, s. 20 - 32
    USA
     
    

    • Colorado
    

      • Eagle Co.
    

        • Gilman District (Battle Mountain District; Red Cliff District)
    
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    

    • Georgia
    

      • Rabun Co.
    
    		Minerals of Georgia: Their properties and occurrences. Robert Cook GGWRD Bull 92
    
AmMin. 20:229
    


      • Callaway Co.
    

        • Fulton
    
    		Rocks & Min., March 1998.
    


      • St. Louis Co.
    
    		R&M 73:2 pp 98-117
    

    • Nevada
    

      • Esmeralda Co.
    
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    

    • New Mexico
    

      • Guadalupe Co.
    
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    


      • Torrance Co.
    
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    

    • Virginia
    

      • Chesterfield Co.
    
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    

    • Washington
    

      • Yakima Co.
    

        • Mount Adams
    
    		Cannon, B. (1975): Minerals of Washington, p.120
    

    


    

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