Sasaite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Sasaite
South African Speleological Association
Formula:
(Al,Fe3+)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7 ¡ 83H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white
Lustre:
Earthy
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for SASA, the acronym for the South African Speleological Association. Their members first explored the West Driefontein Cave and discovered the mineral.
Water content varies with humidity.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3539
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3539:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
34b5187b-e948-49ab-995b-70e4a90b722e
IMA Classification of Sasaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Al6(PO4)5(OH)3 ¡ 36H2O
Approval year:
1977
First published:
1978
Classification of Sasaite
8.DB.55
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 1:1
43.5.4.1
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
22.3.21
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
3 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphates
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
3 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sas | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Sasaite
Earthy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white
Streak:
White
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Optical Data of Sasaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.465 nβ = 1.473 nγ = 1.477
2V:
Measured: 15° , Calculated: 70°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Chemistry of Sasaite
Mindat Formula:
(Al,Fe3+)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7 ¡ 83H2O
Crystallography of Sasaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 21.5 Å, b = 30.04 Å, c = 92.06 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.716 : 1 : 3.065
Unit Cell V:
59,457.87 Ă
Âł (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Originally given cell: a = 10.75, b = 15.02, c = 46.03 A, with Z=6.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.52 Ă | (100) |
| 7.51 Ă | (22) |
| 6.99 Ă | (23) |
| 6.30 Ă | (21) |
| 4.214 Ă | (18) |
| 3.262 Ă | (18) |
| 2.901 Ă | (42) |
Comments:
Fully hydrated material.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Sasaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Soft white chalky nodules, up to 2 cm in diameter, and as efflorescence
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of the Geological Survey, Pretoria, South Africa
Reference:
Martini, J. (1978) Sasaite, a new phosphate mineral from West Driefontein Cave, Transvaal, South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine: 42: 401â404.
Synonyms of Sasaite
Other Language Names for Sasaite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DB. | Arangasite | Al2F(PO4)(SO4) ¡ 9H2O |
| 8.DB. | Camaronesite | [Fe3+(H2O)2(PO3OH)]2(SO4) ¡ 1-2H2O |
| 8.DB. | HÜslite | Fe3+3(VO4)2(SO4)(OH)(H2O)4 ¡ 3H2O |
| 8.DB.05 | Diadochite | Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) ¡ 6H2O |
| 8.DB.05 | Pitticite | (Fe, AsO4, H2O) (?) |
| 8.DB.05 | Destinezite | Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) ¡ 6H2O |
| 8.DB.07 | Wilhelmgßmbelite | ZnFe2+Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O)5 ¡ 2H2O |
| 8.DB.07 | Schmidite | [Zn2(Fe3+,Mn2+)2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6] ¡ 2H2O |
| 8.DB.07 | Wildenauerite | Zn(Fe3+,Mn2+)2MnFe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6 ¡ 2H2O |
| 8.DB.10 | Vashegyite | Al11(PO4)9(OH)6 ¡ 38H2O |
| 8.DB.15 | Schoonerite | ZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 ¡ 9H2O |
| 8.DB.20 | Sinkankasite | Mn2+Al(PO3OH)2(OH) ¡ 6H2O |
| 8.DB.25 | Mitryaevaite | Al6(PO4)((P,S)O3(OH,O))2F2(OH)2 ¡ 14.5H2O |
| 8.DB.30 | Sanjuanite | Al2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) ¡ 9H2O |
| 8.DB.35 | Sarmientite | Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) ¡ 5H2O |
| 8.DB.40 | Bukovskýite | Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) ¡ 9H2O |
| 8.DB.40 | Flurlite | Zn3Mn2+Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 ¡ 9H2O |
| 8.DB.40 | Manganflurlite | ZnMn2+3Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2(H2O)7 ¡ 2H2O |
| 8.DB.42 | Bohuslavite | Fe3+4(PO4)3(SO4)(OH) ¡ nH2O |
| 8.DB.45 | Zýkaite | Fe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH) ¡ 15H2O |
| 8.DB.47 | Lapeyreite | Cu3O[AsO3(OH)]2 ¡ 0.75H2O |
| 8.DB.50 | Giniite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 ¡ 2H2O |
| 8.DB.50 | Rossiantonite | Al3(PO4)(SO4)2(OH)2(H2O)14 |
| 8.DB.52 | Arctowskite | Al9(PO4)8(OH)3 ¡ 27H2O |
| 8.DB.60 | Mcauslanite | Fe3Al2(PO4)3(PO3OH)F ¡ 18H2O |
| 8.DB.65 | Goldquarryite | CuCd2Al3(PO4)4F2(H2O,F)2 ¡ 10H2O |
| 8.DB.70 | Birchite | Cd2Cu2(PO4)2(SO4) ¡ 5H2O |
| 8.DB.75 | Braithwaiteite | NaCu5(Ti4+Sb5+)(AsO4)4(HAsO4)2O2 ¡ 8H2O |
Other Information
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 Sasaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3539.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 Sasaite
Localities for Sasaite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - 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.
Australia | |
| Birch et al. (1993) |
| Birch et al. (1993) |
Austria | |
| Landesmuseum Joanneum (Graz, Styria) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| [MinRec Vol 23:Yukon 38] | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
China | |
| Taiyi Luo et al. (2003) |
Germany | |
| RĂźger +2 other references |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Mineralogical Magazine (1978) |
| Martini et al. (1978) +1 other reference | |
| Martini (1997) |
USA | |
| NSS Bulletin 44:90-97 (1982) |
Quick NavTopAbout SasaiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Breitenau Mine, Hochlantsch, Breitenau am Hochlantsch, Bruck-MĂźrzzuschlag District, Styria, Austria