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Mercallite

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Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
KHSO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, sky-blue; ...
Lustre:Vitreous
Name:After Giuseppe Mercalli (1850-1914), former Director of the Vesuvius Observatory.
This page provides mineralogical data about Mercallite.

Classification of Mercallite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AD.10

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:28.1.1.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
1 : Anhydrous Acid Sulfates
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.5

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Physical Properties of Mercallite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, sky-blue; colourless in transmitted light
Cleavage:None Observed
Density (measured):2.31 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mercallite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 9.79Å, b = 18.96Å, c = 8.41Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.516 : 1 : 0.444
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,561.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Stalactites composed of minute tabular crystals. Crystals tabular {001} and elongated [100] at times (artificial).

Optical Data of Mercallite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.445 nβ = 1.460 nγ = 1.491
2V:Measured: 56° , Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.046

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

Chemical Properties of Mercallite

Formula:
KHSO
 
4
Essential elements:H, K, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, K, O, S

Relationship of Mercallite 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.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
SO
 
4
SeO
 
4
7.AD.35Kerstenite
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
25.1.6Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
25.1.7Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.8Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.9Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.10Ammonioalunite
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Mercallite

German names:
Mercallit
Russian names:
Меркаллит
Spanish names:
Mercallita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water, yielding an acidic solution.
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 Mercallite

Reference List:Marignac (1856) Annales des mines [5]: 9: 6 (artificial).

Marignac (1856) Oeuvres: 1: 436 (artificial).

Lang (1858) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Sitzber.: 51: 95.

Gossner (1904) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 39: 381.

Groth, P. (1908) Chemische Krystallographie. Leipzig. 5 volumes: vol. 2: 313 (artificial).

Carobbi (1935) Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rendus, Rome: 21: 385.

Carobbi (1936) Acc. Litt. Arti, Modena, Att.: (5): 1: 33.

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: 395.

Acta Crystallographica (1977): B32: 1875-1879.

Internet Links for Mercallite

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    Localities for Mercallite

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    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		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: 395; Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI; Accad. Lincei. Rend. Cl. Sci. fis. mat. nat. Roma (1935).
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