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Aphthitalite

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Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© Geol. Coll. U.C.L.

Show Aphthitalite Photos (3)
Formula:
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless (rare), ...
Hardness:3
Name:From the Greek for "unalterable" and "salt" in allusion to its stability in air.


Occurs in two widely diversified environments, both as an incrustation in volcanic fumaroles and as a constituent of oceanic and lacustrine salt deposits.

Classification of Aphthitalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AC.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:28.2.2.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
2 : A2XO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.7

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

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1835
Geological Setting of type material:Volcanic fumaroles
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ThenarditeSylviteJarositeHematite

Physical Properties of Aphthitalite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Colourless (rare), white, grey, bluish, greenish, reddish; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {1010} fair; on {0001} poor.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.656 - 2.71 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Aphthitalite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.67Å, c = 7.33Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.293
Unit Cell Volume:V 204.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals commonly thin to thick tabular with pronounced trigonal development. Distorted pseudo-orthorhombic forms. Bladed aggregates; mammilary; crusts; massive.
Twinning:On {0001} or on {1120}, repeated. Twinned groups on {1120}, similar to aragonite twins.
Crystal Atlas:
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Aphthitalite no.97 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Aphthitalite no.116 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Aphthitalite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.487 - 1.491 nε = 1.492 - 1.499
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.005

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

Chemical Properties of Aphthitalite

Formula:
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Essential elements:K, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:K, Na, O, S

Relationship of Aphthitalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AC.05Vanthoffite
Na
 
6
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
7.AC.10Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.10Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.10Manganolangbeinite
K
 
2
Mn
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.15Yavapaiite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.15Eldfellite
NaFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.20Godovikovite
NH
 
4
(Al,Fe)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.20Sabieite
NH
 
4
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.25Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AC.30Metathenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
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
25.1.8Mascagnite
(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 Aphthitalite

Synonyms:
AphtaliteGlaseriteVesuvian Salt
Other Languages:
French:Aphthalose
German:Aftitalit
Aphtalith
Aphthitalith
Aphtitalith
Glaserit
Schwefelkalisalz
Italian:Aftalosa
Aftalosia
Aftalosio
Aftitalite
Solfato potassico
Latin:Sal polychrestum Glaseri
Russian:Афтиталит
Spanish:Aftitalita
Aphtalita
Aphthitalita
Glaserita
Varieties:
Ammonium-AphthitaliteCuprian Manganoan Aphthitalite

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water and in acids.
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 Aphthitalite

Reference List:Smithson (1813) Royal Society of London, Philosophical Transactions: 256 (as Vesuvian Salt).

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 477 (as Aphthalose).

Shepard C.U. (1832) Treatise on Mineralogy. First edition: vol. 1, New Haven: 36.

Glocker, E.F. (1839) Handbuch der Mineralogie, 2nd. edition, Nürnberg: 676 (as Schwefelkalisalz).

Breithaupt, A. (1841) Vollständige Handbuch der Mineralogie. Vol. 2: 106.

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition, vol. 2, in two parts: 1137 (as Glaserite).

Bücking (1889) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 15: 561.

Nacken (1907) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 24: 21.

Nacken (1910) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 262.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 4: 41.

Foshag (1920) American Journal of Science: 49: 367.

Washington and Merwin (1921) American Mineralogist: 6: 121.

Zambonini (1921) Rendus comitato geologico d’Italia, Rome, Bollettino: 48(3).

Gossner (1928) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Beil.-Bd., Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 57: 89.

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 3696.

Koechlin (1934) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 256.

Laskiewicz (1934) Arch. Min. Soc. Warsaw: 10: 117.

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana. Second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 133.

Bianchini (1937) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: [4] 7: 43.

Wells (1937) USGS Bull. 878: 120.

Druzhinin (1938) Academy of Sciences of the USSR Bull., Ser. Chim.: 1141.

Minguzzi (1938) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 9: 359.

Perrier and Bellanca (1940) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 11: 163.

Bellanca (1942) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 13: 21.

Bellanca A.(1944 [1943?]) Sulla struttura dell'aftitalite. . Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma: 14: 67-96.

Bellanca, A. (1946) Ric. sci. e ricostr.: 16: 1254.

Frondel (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 596.

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: 400-403.

Moore, P.B. (1981) Complex crystal structures related to glaserite, K3Na[SO4]2: evidence for very dense packings among oxysalts. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 104: 536-547.

Egorov-Tismenko, Yu.K., Sokolova, E.V., Smirnova, N.L., and Yamnova, N.A. (1984) The crystal chemistry of the glaserite-type structures. Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal, Kiev: 6(6): 3-9 (in Russian).

Acta Crystallographica: B36: 919-921.

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    Localities for Aphthitalite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
        • Madura Motel
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1977): 41: 33-35.
      • Lake Rason
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39: 346-348.
      • Nullarbor Plain
        • Eucla
    Mineral. Mag. , G.B. , 1973, 39, pp. 346-348.
    Austria
     
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Innsbruck
            • Hall
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    China
     
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Xigazê (Rikaze; Shigatse) Prefecture
        • Zhongba Co.
    		Yong-Sheng Zhang, Mian-Ping Zheng, Zhen Nie, and Ling-Zhong Bu (2005): Sea-lake Salt and Chemical Industry [Yanye Yu Huagong] 34(4), 1-5.
    France
     
    • Nord-Pas-de-Calais
      • Pas-de-Calais
    		Naze-Nancy Masalehdani, M., Mees, F., Dubois, M., Coquinot, Y., Potdevin, J.-L., Fialin, M. & Blanc-Valleron, M.-M. (2009): Condensate minerals from a burning coal-waste heap in Avion, Northern France. Can. Mineral. 47, 573-591.
    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
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
        • Stassfurt
    		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: 447.
        • Westeregeln
    		Naumann, Zirkel: "Elemente der Mineralogie", 13th Ed., 1898; 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: 402.
    • Thuringia
      • Thuringian Forest
        • Bad Salzungen
    		W.I. Borrisenkow (1968) Zeitschr. für angewandte Geologie 14, 7-10
    Iceland
     
    • Vestmannaeyjar archipelago (Westman islands)
      • Heimaey island
        • Heimaey
    		Mitolo, D., Garavelli, A., Pedersen, L., Balić-Žunić, T., Jakobsson, S.P., Vurro, F. (2008): Mineralogy of actually forming sublimates at Eldfell Volcano, Heimaey (Vestmannaeyjar archipelago), Iceland. Plinius, 34, 322.
      • Surtsey Island
    		Jacobsson et al (1992) Encrustations from Lava Caves in Surtsey, Iceland. A Preliminary Report: Surtsey Research Progress Report X: 73-78 Reykjevik, Iceland.
    Iran
     
    • Qom (Ghom) Province
    		Rob Lavinsky.
    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: 402, 404, 435.
    • Sicily
      • Catania Province
        • Etna Volcanic 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: 402.
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Iburi Province
    The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) Matsubara
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
    		Hansteen, T.H. & Burke, E.A. (1994): Aphthitalite in high-temperature fluid inclusions in quartz from the Eikeren-Skrim granite complex, the Oslo paleorift. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 74 (4), 238-240
    Peru
     
    • La Libertad Department
      • Trujillo Province
        • Virù
    		[var: Ammonium-Aphthitalite] Frondel, C. (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 596. Palache et al (1951) Dana's Sys. Mineralogy, 7th. ed.: 402.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
        • Tolbachik volcano
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Saudi Arabia
     
    • Mintaqah Makkah
    		Saudi Geological Survey Open-File Report SGS-OF-2004-12, 68 p.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Co. Durham
        • Billingham
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 172-175.
    Ukraine
     
    • Ivanovo-Frankovsk Oblast'
    		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: 402.
    • L'viv Oblast' (Lviv Oblast'; Lwiw Oblast')
      • Drohobych
    		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: 402, 443.
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Bernardino 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: 402, 629.
    • Hawaii
      • Hawaii Co. (Hawaii Island)
        • Kau Desert
    		American Mineralogist (1921): 6: 121.
    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: 402.
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • 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: 402.
    Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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