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Pentahydrite

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Shaft 371, Schlema-Hartenstein District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Pentahydrite Photos (3)
Formula:
MgSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Colourless, pale blue
Hardness:2½
Name:In allusion to its chemical composition having five (PENTA-) molecules of water (HYDR-) in its formula.


Chalcanthite Group

Classification of Pentahydrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CB.20

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.6.7.3

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.3.4

25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Pentahydrite

Type Locality:Cripple Creek District, Teller Co., Colorado, USA
Year of Discovery:1951

Physical Properties of Pentahydrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless, pale blue
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Pentahydrite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.33Å, b = 10.55Å, c = 6.07Å
α = 99.17°, β = 109.88°, γ = 75°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.6 : 1 : 0.575
Unit Cell Volume:V 367.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Pentahydrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.482 nβ = 1.492 nγ = 1.493
2V:Measured: 45° , Calculated: 34°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Pentahydrite

Formula:
MgSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, O, S

Relationship of Pentahydrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.CB.05Dwornikite
(Ni,Fe)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Gunningite
(Zn,Mn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Kieserite
MgSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Szmikite
MnSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Szomolnokite
FeSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Cobaltkieserite
CoSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CB.10Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Aplowite
(Co,Mn,Ni)SO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Boyleite
(Zn,Mg)SO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Ilesite
(Mn,Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Rozenite
FeSO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Starkeyite
MgSO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15IMA2002-034
CdSO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Jôkokuite
MnSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Siderotil
FeSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Bianchite
(Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Chvaleticeite
(Mn,Mg)SO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Ferrohexahydrite
FeSO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Hexahydrite
MgSO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Moorhouseite
(Co,Ni,Mn)SO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Nickelhexahydrite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)SO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.30Retgersite
NiSO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Bieberite
CoSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Mallardite
MnSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Melanterite
FeSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Zincmelanterite
(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Alpersite
(Mg,Cu)[SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Epsomite
MgSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Goslarite
ZnSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Morenosite
NiSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.45Alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·17H
 
2
O
7.CB.45Meta-alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·12H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Coquimbite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Paracoquimbite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Rhomboclase
HFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CB.60Kornelite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·7H
 
2
O
7.CB.65Quenstedtite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·10H
 
2
O
7.CB.70Lausenite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.75Lishizhenite
ZnFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·14H
 
2
O
7.CB.75Römerite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·14H
 
2
O
7.CB.80Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Apjohnite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Bílinite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Dietrichite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Halotrichite
FeAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Redingtonite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Wupatkiite
(Co,Mg,Ni)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.90Meridianiite
MgSO
 
4
·11H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.3.1Kieserite
MgSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.3.2Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.3.3Starkeyite
MgSO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
25.3.5Hexahydrite
MgSO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.3.6Epsomite
MgSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.3.7Caminite
Mg
 
7
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · H
 
2
O
25.3.8Vanthoffite
Na
 
6
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
25.3.9Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
25.3.10Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
25.3.11Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
25.3.12Uklonskovite
NaMg[F|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.13Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.14Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
25.3.15Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.3.16Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.17Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.3.18Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O

Other Names for Pentahydrite

Synonyms:
AlleniteEpsomite (of Hobbs)Magnesium Chalcanthite
Other Languages:
German:Allenit
Pentahydrit
Russian:Пентагидрит
Spanish:Allenita
Pentahydrita

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 Pentahydrite

Reference List:Hobbs (1905) American Geologist, Minneapolis (1888-1905): 36: 184 (as Epsomite).

Keller (1908) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 47: 81 (as Double Sulphate of Copper and Magnesium).

Allen and Day (1927) Carnegie Institute Washington Publication: 378: 42.

Milton and Johnston (1938) Economic geology: 33: 749.

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.: 492.

American Mineralogist (1951): 36: 641.

Acta Crystallographica: B28: 1448-1455.

Peterson, R.C., Hammarstrom, J.M., Seal, R.R., II (2006): "Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4•7H2O, a new mineral of the melanterite group, and cuprian pentahydrite: their occurrence within mine waste", American Mineralogist 91, 261-269.

Articles/Blogs about Pentahydrite

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    Localities for Pentahydrite

    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.
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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.
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Gastein valley
          • Bad Hofgastein
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Innsbruck
            • Hall
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Upper Austria
      • Hallstatt
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Germany
     
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
        • Tarthun
    		No reference listed
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schlema-Hartenstein District
    		T. Witzke (1992): Neues zu den Mineralien von Schlema-Hartenstein und der Grube König David, Schneeberg, Erzgebirge.- Mineralien-Welt 3(6), 16-18
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Hungary
     
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Recsk
    		Szakáll & Kovács,2007
    Norway
     
    • Telemark
      • Skien
        • Flakvarp
    		A. O. Larsen, 1993, "Gruver og skjerp i Skien", p. 60.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Coconino Co.
        • Grand Canyon District
    		Quick, T.J., R.G. Corbett, and B.M. Manner (1989) Efflorescent minerals occurring in the gorge of the Grand Canyon, Abstract with Programs, Geological Society of America: 21(4): 44-45; Grant, Raymond W., Bideaux, R.A., and Williams, S.A. (2006) Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995-2005: 7.
    • California
      • Sonoma 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: 492.
    • Colorado
      • Mesa Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
      • Teller 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: 492.
    • Montana
      • Mineral Co.
        • Alberton
          • Fish Creek
    		Econ Geol (2004) 99:1727-1744
    • Nevada
      • Storey 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: 492; Rocks & Minerals: 74(6): 380-390.
    • Virginia
      • Louisa Co.
        • Gold-Pyrite Belt
          • Mineral
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
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