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Thermessaite

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Big Photo

La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
© luigi chiappino

Show Thermessaite Photos (8)



Formula:
K
 
2
(AlF
 
3
)(SO
 
4
)
System:OrthorhombicColour:colourless to white
Name:
Named after Thermessa, an ancient Greek name of the island of Vulcano meaning "the warm island".


The K-analogue of thermessaite-(NH4).

This mineral contains linear infinite chains of repeating (AlF3) units, classifying it as a so-called ino-fluoro-aluminate.


Classification of Thermessaite

IMA status:Approved 2007
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CG.25

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
G : Aluminofluorides with CO3, SO4, PO4
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Type Occurrence of Thermessaite

Type Locality:La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:sharp translucent crystals up to 0.25 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Referece Collection of Dipartimento di Chimica Strutturale e Stereochimica Inorganica of Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Geological Setting of type material:An altered pyroclastic breccia in active medium- to high-temperature fumaroles at the rim of La Fossa crater.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SassoliteMetavoltineAnhydriteAlunite

Physical Properties of Thermessaite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:colourless to white
Streak:white
Hardness Data:Could not be measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:None observed
Density (measured):2.77(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.790 g/cm3
Comment:from flotation at 25°C in bromoform-chloroform

Crystallography of Thermessaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbcn {P21/b 2/c 21/n}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.81Å, b = 8.336Å, c = 6.822Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.297 : 1 : 0.818
Unit Cell Volume:V 614.75 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Prismatic with {110} and the pinacoid {100} as the dominant forms, terminated by minor {111}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.631 (70)
5.429 (14)
3.317 (28)
2.983 (100)
2.702 (82)
2.648 (14)
2.208 (30)
1.712 (58)

Chemical Properties of Thermessaite

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

Relationship of Thermessaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CG.05Stenonite
(Sr,Ba,Na)
 
2
Al(CO
 
3
)F
 
5
3.CG.10Chukhrovite-(Ce)
Ca
 
3
(Ce,Y)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
3.CG.10Chukhrovite-(Y)
Ca
 
3
(Y,Ce)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
3.CG.10Meniaylovite
Ca
 
4
[F|SO
 
4
|SiF
 
6
|AlF
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
3.CG.10Chukhrovite-(Nd)
Ca
 
3
(Nd,Y)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)F
 
13
·12H
 
2
O
3.CG.15Creedite
Ca
 
3
SO
 
4
Al
 
2
F
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.CG.20Bøggildite
Na
 
2
Sr
 
2
Al
 
2
PO
 
4
F
 
9

Other Names for Thermessaite

Synonyms:
IMA2007-030
Other Languages:

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:none observed under both short- and long-wave
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 Thermessaite

Reference List:

- +
Demartin, F., Gramacciolo, C.M., Campostrini, I. & Orlandi, P. (2008): Thermessaite, K2[AlF3|SO4], a new ino-aluminofluoride-sulfate from La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Canadian Mineralogist 46, 693-700.

Internet Links for Thermessaite

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    • Localities for Thermessaite

    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.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Aachen
        • Alsdorf
    		U. Kolitsch (unpubl. data on material collected by Frank de Wit)
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
    		Demartin, F., Gramacciolo, C.M., Campostrini, I. & Orlandi, P. (2008): Thermessaite, K2[AlF3|SO4], a new ino-aluminofluoride-sulfate from La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Canadian Mineralogist 46, 693-700.
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    Updated Mineral Entry: LeakeiteFrom Uwe Kolitsch, 13th Feb 2012 17:52:20