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Sasaite

Formula:
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
14
[(OH)
 
7
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
11
] · 83H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to white
Name:From SASA, the acronym for the South African Speleological Association.
This page provides mineralogical data about Sasaite.

Classification of Sasaite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.12-05
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID: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
Dana 8th edition ID:43.5.4.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.3.21

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
3 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphates
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Type Occurrence of Sasaite

Type Locality:West Driefontein cave, Carletonville, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Year of Discovery:1978

Physical Properties of Sasaite

Colour:Colourless to white

Crystallography of Sasaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 21.5Å, b = 30.04Å, c = 92.06Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.716 : 1 : 3.065
Unit Cell Volume:V 59,457.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Sasaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.465 nβ = 1.473 nγ = 1.477
2V:Measured: 15° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Sasaite

Formula:
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
14
[(OH)
 
7
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
11
] · 83H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, P, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, H, O, P, S

Relationship of Sasaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DB.05Diadochite
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)(OH)·5H
 
2
O
8.DB.05Pitticite
[Fe, SO
 
4
, AsO
 
4
, H
 
2
O] ?
8.DB.05Destinezite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]·6H
 
2
O
8.DB.10Vashegyite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
9
] · 38H
 
2
O
8.DB.15Schoonerite
ZnMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
· 9H
 
2
O
8.DB.20Sinkankasite
H
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DB.25Mitryaevaite
Al
 
6
(PO
 
4
)[(P,S)O
 
3
(OH,O)]
 
2
F
 
2
(OH)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
· 6.5H
 
2
O
8.DB.30Sanjuanite
Al
 
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.DB.35Sarmientite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DB.40Bukovskýite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DB.45Zýkaite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 15H
 
2
O
8.DB.50Giniite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DB.60Mcauslanite
HFe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 18H
 
2
O
8.DB.65Goldquarryite
CuCd
 
2
Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
F
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
10
(H
 
2
O,F)
 
2
8.DB.70Birchite
Cd
 
2
Cu
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)·5H
 
2
O
8.DB.75Braithwaiteite
NaCu
 
5
(TiSb)
 
2
O
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)[AsO
 
3
(OH)]
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.3.1Parnauite
Cu
 
9
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.3.2Ardealite
Ca
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
22.3.3Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
AsO
 
4
(AsO
 
3
OH)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·15H
 
2
O
22.3.4Clinotyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
[(OH,O)
 
10
|(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 10H
 
2
O
22.3.5Peisleyite
Na
 
3
Al
 
16
[SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
5
]
 
2
· 20H
 
2
O
22.3.6Chalcophyllite
Cu
 
18
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
9
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
 
3
· 33H
 
2
O
22.3.7Woodhouseite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.8Schlossmacherite
(H
 
3
O,Ca)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
22.3.9Svanbergite
SrAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.10Kemmlitzite
(Sr,Ce)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.11Sanjuanite
Al
 
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
] · 9H
 
2
O
22.3.12Kribergite
Al
 
5
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
22.3.13Hotsonite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
21
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 16H
 
2
O
22.3.14Weilerite
22.3.15Tsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.16Arsentsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.17Hinsdalite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.18Hidalgoite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.19Orpheite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
] (?)
22.3.20Coconinoite
Fe
3+
2
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 20H
 
2
O
22.3.22Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
22.3.23Corkite
PbFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.24Beudantite
PbFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.25Diadochite
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)(OH)·5H
 
2
O
22.3.26Sarmientite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.3.27Bukovskýite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.3.28Zýkaite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 15H
 
2
O
22.3.29Tooeleite
Fe
3+
6
(AsO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
· 4H
 
2
O
22.3.30Pitticite
[Fe, SO
 
4
, AsO
 
4
, H
 
2
O] ?
22.3.31Xiangjiangite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 22H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sasaite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-033
Other Languages:
German:Sasait
Spanish:Sasaita

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 Sasaite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 464-465.

Canadian Mineralogist (1983): 21: 497.

Internet Links for Sasaite

Search Engines:
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  • Look for Sasaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Sasaite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Sasaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Sasaite

    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.
    (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.
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • Corangamite Shire
        • Skipton
          • Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill)
    Birch, W.D. & D.A. Henry (1993), Phosphate Minerals of Victoria (The Mineralogical Society of Victoria - Special publication No.1:
      • Parish of Edi
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Fischbacher Alpen Mts
        • St. Jakob-Breitenau
          • Hochlantsch Mt.
    Landesmuseum Joanneum (Graz, Styria) collection; Postl, W. (1990)
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    MinRec 23:4-47
    [MinRec Vol 23:Yukon 38]
    Germany
     
    • Thuringia
      • Saalfeld
        • Garnsdorf
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    South Africa
     
    • Gauteng Province
      • Carletonville
    Min.Mag.(1978) 42, 401-404
      • Oberholzer
    Minerals of South Africa
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Nelspruit District
    Martini, J.E.J. et al (1997), "Mbobo Mkulu Cave, South Africa", in "Cave Minerals of the World" (1997)
    • Northwest Province
      • Oberholzer
    Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Virginia
      • Bath Co.
    NSS Bulletin 44:90-97 (1982)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 13th Nov 2009 11:48:57