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Meridianiite

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Formula:
MgSO
 
4
 · 11H
 
2
O
System:Triclinic
Name:Named to reflect the locality on Mars where the MER rover Opportunity observed crystal molds in sedimentary rock that are thought to be caused by minerals that have since dehydrated or dissolved.


A phase that is stable with a saturated brine or with ice and which melts above 2°C into a slurry of Epsomite and water. It has now been found occurring naturally on Earth (on the surface of a frozen pond) and is suspected of existing on Mars.

Classification of Meridianiite

IMA status:Approved 2007
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CB.90

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:29.6.6.8

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
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Type Occurrence of Meridianiite

Type Locality:Basque claims, Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada

Crystallography of Meridianiite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 6.7459Å, b = 6.8173Å, c = 17.299Å
α = 88.137°, β = 89.481°, γ = 62.719°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.99 : 1 : 2.538
Unit Cell Volume:V 706.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.73 (35)
5.62 (56)
5.41 (54)
4.91 (84)
4.85 (90)
2.988 (58)
2.958 (100)
2.940 (67)

Chemical Properties of Meridianiite

Formula:
MgSO
 
4
 · 11H
 
2
O
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, O, S

Relationship of Meridianiite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.CB.05Dwornikite
(Ni,Fe)SO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Gunningite
ZnSO
 
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.07Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
 · 2H
 
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.15Drobecite
CdSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Cranswickite
MgSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Jôkokuite
MnSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Pentahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
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.50Aluminocoquimbite
FeAl(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Coquimbite
Fe
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O, x ~0.5
7.CB.55Paracoquimbite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Rhomboclase
(H
 
5
O
 
2
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
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

Other Names for Meridianiite

Synonyms:
IMA2007-011
Other Languages:

Other Information

Other Information:Stable only below 2° C. Above that temperature it melts incongruently to a slurry of Epsomite and water.
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 Meridianiite

Reference List:

- +
Peterson, R.C., W. Nelson, B. Madu, and H.F. Shurvell (2007) Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. American Mineralogist, Volume 92, pages 1756-1759.

Minerals Approved June 2007 - IMA website.

Peterson, R.C. & Wang, R. (2006): Crystal Molds on Mars: Melting of a
possible new mineral species to create Martian chaotic terrain. Geology, 34, 957-960.

Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007): Meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O): a new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. Seventh International Conference on Mars, 3124. (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/7thmars2007/pdf/3124.pdf) [Link dead. Aug 2011]

Fortes, A.D., Wood, I.G., Knight, K.S. (2008): The crystal structure and thermal expansion tensor of MgSO4–11D2O (meridianiite) determined by neutron powder diffraction. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 35, 207-221.


F. Elif Genceli, Martin Lutz, Anthony L. Spek, Geert-Jan Witkamp (2007):
Crystallization and Characterization of a New Magnesium Sulfate Hydrate MgSO4 · 11H2O. Crystal Growth & Design 2007, Vol 7, No. 12, 2460-2466

Internet Links for Meridianiite

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    • Localities for Meridianiite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Kamloops Mining Division
        • Ashcroft
          • Venables Valley
    		Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007): Meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O): a new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. Seventh International Conference on Mars, 3124.
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