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Metasideronatrite

Big Photo

Chuquicamata Mine, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© Robert O. Meyer

Show Metasideronatrite Photos (3)
Formula:
Na
 
4
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Golden yellow, straw ...
Hardness:1½ - 2½
Name:From the Greek for meta, signifying a lower hydrate and the mineral sideronatrite.


A rare sodium-iron-sulphate occurring in arid regions.

Reversibly rehydrates to sideronatrite depending on relative humidity and exposure to sunlight.

Recent single-crystal structure solution shows that the formula contains two water molecules per formula unit (U. Kolitsch, 2008, to be submitted).

Classification of Metasideronatrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.15-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DF.20

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:31.8.4.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.11.3

25 : Sulphates
11 : Sulphates of Fe and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Metasideronatrite

Type Locality:Sierra Gorda District, Tocopilla Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1938

Occurrences of Metasideronatrite

Geological Setting:Weathering product of pyrite in arid areas, also formed in seashore environments.

Physical Properties of Metasideronatrite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Golden yellow, straw yellow; yellow in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2½
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {100} {010}
Nearly perfect on {001}
Fracture:Fibrous
Density (measured):2.68 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.68 g/cm3

Crystallography of Metasideronatrite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.357(3) Å, b = 16.002(4) Å, c = 7.102(8) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.46 : 1 : 0.444
Unit Cell Volume:V 836.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Rare crystals are prismatic [001]. Commonly in coarse to fine crystalline aggregates.

Optical Data of Metasideronatrite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.543 nβ = 1.575 nγ = 1.634
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.091

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:Strong
Comments:X = a = Colourless
Y = b = Pale yellow
Z = c = Brownish yellow

Chemical Properties of Metasideronatrite

Formula:
Na
 
4
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, Na, O, S
Empirical Formula:
Na
 
4
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O

Relationship of Metasideronatrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
7.DF.05Uklonskovite
NaMg[F|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.10Kainite
KMg[Cl|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.15Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.20Sideronatrite
Na
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OH·3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Despujolsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
4+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Fleischerite
Pb
 
3
Ge[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Schaurteite
Ca
 
3
Ge[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Mallestigite
Pb
 
3
Sb
5+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|AsO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.30Slavíkite
NaMg
 
2
Fe
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
(OH)
 
6
·33H
 
2
O
7.DF.35Metavoltine
Na
 
6
K
 
2
FeFe
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
O
 
2
·18H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Lannonite
HCa
 
4
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
9
·32H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Vlodavetsite
AlCa
 
2
[F
 
2
|Cl|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.45Peretaite
Ca(SbO)
 
4
[(OH)|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.50Gordaite
NaZn[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|Cl] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DF.55Clairite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
7.DF.60Arzrunite
near Cu
 
4
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
Cl
 
6
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
7.DF.65Elyite
Pb
 
4
Cu(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.DF.70Yecoraite
Fe
3+
3
(BiO)
 
5
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.DF.75Riomarinaite
Bi(OH)(SO
 
4
) * H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
25.11.1Natrojarosite
NaFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.11.2Sideronatrite
Na
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OH·3H
 
2
O
25.11.4Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
25.11.5Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.11.6Yavapaiite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.7Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
25.11.8Goldichite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
25.11.9Jarosite
KFe
3+
 
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.11.10Voltaite
K
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
25.11.11Ungemachite
K
 
3
Na
 
8
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.11.12Metavoltine
Na
 
6
K
 
2
FeFe
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
O
 
2
·18H
 
2
O
25.11.13Sabieite
NH
 
4
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.14Ammoniojarosite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.11.15Clairite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
25.11.16Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.11.17Lonecreekite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.11.18Godovikovite
NH
 
4
(Al,Fe)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.11.19Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
25.11.21Slavíkite
NaMg
 
2
Fe
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
(OH)
 
6
·33H
 
2
O
25.11.23Sturmanite
Ca
 
6
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|B(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 25H
 
2
O
25.11.24Millosevichite
(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.11.25Aluminocopiapite
Al
 
2/3
Fe
3+
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
25.11.26Halotrichite
FeAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
25.11.27Idrizite
(Mg,Fe)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·15H
 
2
O or near
25.11.28Lishizhenite
ZnFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·14H
 
2
O
25.11.29Zincovoltaite
K
 
2
Zn
 
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O

Other Names for Metasideronatrite

German names:
Metasideronatrit
Spanish names:
Metasideronatrita

Other Information

Other Information:Decomposes in boiling water and is insoluble in cold water. Soluble in dilute acids. Reversibly alters to sideronatrite depending upon humidity and light exposure.
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 Metasideronatrite

Reference List:Bandy (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 733.

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.: 603-604.

Scordari, F., Stasi, F., and Milella, G. (1982) Concerning metasideronatrite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1982): 8: 341-347.

Internet Links for Metasideronatrite

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    Localities for Metasideronatrite

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    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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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.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
    		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.: 457, 604; Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols.
      • Tocopilla Province
    		NJMM (1982), 255
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Pampa del Tamarugal
    		Peter G. Seroka collection
    China
     
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Prefecture
        • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Co.
    		www.xj305.gov.cn/zy/33.doc
    Germany
     
    • Saxony
      • Dresden
    		Thalheim, K.; Reichel, W. & Witzke, T. (1991): Die Minerale des Döhlener Beckens.- Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, Nr. 3
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Kerry
    		Moreton et al. (1995) Irish J. Earth Sciences, 14, 1-5..
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Almería
        • Níjar
    		A. Arribas, F. Hernández, M. A. Fernández Périz, J. Gröbner, G. Leal (2005): Rodalquilar - El oro del capo del ágata. BOCAMINA 15, 12-88.
    G. Leal, Antonio Arribas, Miguel A. Fernandez, Joachim Grobner, Francisco Hernandez (2005): Rodalquilar : El oro del Cabo del Agata. Bocamina, 15, 14-79.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Hampshire
    		MinMag 63:757
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Coconino Co.
        • Cameron District
    		No reference listed
            • Huskon Mines
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 295.
    • Colorado
      • Montrose Co.
        • Bull Canyon District
          • Radium Hill Group
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Beowawe District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
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