Meridianiite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Meridianiite
Meridiani Planum, Mars
Formula:
MgSO4 · 11H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white
Specific Gravity:
1.512 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
The compound was originally synthesized in 1837 and is known as Fritzsche's salt. The mineral was named by Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W.,Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. in 2007 for Meridiani Planum, 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 in ice cores) and is suspected of existing on Mars.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
31726
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:31726:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
e6804acf-4207-4c5d-ae3b-503f88465e58
IMA Classification of Meridianiite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg(SO4) · 11H2O
Approval year:
2007
First published:
2007
Classification of Meridianiite
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
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.6.8
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mdn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Meridianiite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white
Streak:
White
Density:
1.512 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Meridianiite
Mindat Formula:
MgSO4 · 11H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Meridianiite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.7459 Å, b = 6.8173 Å, c = 17.299 Å
α = 88.137°, β = 89.481°, γ = 62.719°
α = 88.137°, β = 89.481°, γ = 62.719°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.99 : 1 : 2.538
Unit Cell V:
706.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009132 | Meridianiite | 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 | 2008 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009133 | Meridianiite | 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 | 2008 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.73 Å | (35) |
| 5.62 Å | (56) |
| 5.41 Å | (54) |
| 4.91 Å | (84) |
| 4.85 Å | (90) |
| 2.988 Å | (58) |
| 2.958 Å | (100) |
| 2.940 Å | (67) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] |
Type Occurrence of Meridianiite
General Appearance of Type Material:
White granular.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Ponds at an abandoned MgSO4 mine, in winter.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007) Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. American Mineralogist: 92: 1756-1759.
Synonyms of Meridianiite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | (Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Boyleite | (Zn,Mg)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | (Mn,Zn,Fe)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | FeSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | MgSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Moorhouseite | Co(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | CuSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | MnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Zincmelanterite | (Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu)(SO4) · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | 3CdSO4 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Rhomboclase | (H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Raisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.57 | Caichengyunite | Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2O |
| 7.CB.60 | Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.65 | Quenstedtite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 11H2O |
| 7.CB.70 | Lausenite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Dietrichite | (Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | (Fe2+,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | (Co,Mg,Ni)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Stable only below 2° C. Above that temperature it melts incongruently to a slurry of epsomite and water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Must be stored below 2° C.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Meridianiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-31726.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Meridianiite
Localities for Meridianiite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Genceli et al. (2009) |
Canada (TL) | |
| Peatfield (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Genceli et al. (2009) |
Quick NavTopAbout MeridianiiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Basque claims, Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada