Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (10 online) Mindat Auctions

Tachyhydrite

Big Photo

Brefeld, Tarthun, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Tachyhydrite Photos (2)
Formula:
CaMg
 
2
Cl
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, light yellow
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2
Name:From Greek ταχίς quick, and ϋδωρ, water, alluding to its ready deliquescence.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tachyhydrite.

Classification of Tachyhydrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/C.08-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.BB.35

3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:11.5.5.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
5 : AmBX6
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.4.6

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3865.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Tachyhydrite

Type Locality:Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1856
Geological Setting of type material:Oceanic-type, potash-rich saline deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
KainiteCarnallite

Occurrences of Tachyhydrite

Geological Setting:Oceanic type potash-rich saline deposits.

Physical Properties of Tachyhydrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Perfect
On {10_11}.
Density (measured):1.667 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tachyhydrite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Morphology:Massive; in rounded masses. Crystals rhombohedral with {0001} (artificial crystals).
Twinning:Exhibits twin lamellae at times; probably secondary and due to pressure.

Optical Data of Tachyhydrite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.520 nε = 1.512
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic
Comments:Not dichroic.

Chemical Properties of Tachyhydrite

Formula:
CaMg
 
2
Cl
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, Cl, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Cl, H, Mg, O
Analyical Data:Very deliquescent.
Relationship of Tachyhydrite to other Species
Common Associates:
SylviteKieseriteKainiteHaliteCarnallite
BischofiteAnhydrite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
3.BB.05Eriochalcite
CuCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.10Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.15Bischofite
MgCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.BB.20Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
3.BB.25Sinjarite
CaCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
3.BB.30Antarcticite
CaCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
8.4.1Sellaite
MgF
 
2
8.4.2Neighborite
NaMgF
 
3
8.4.3Bischofite
MgCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.4.4Korshunovskite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl] · 4H
 
2
O
8.4.5Carnallite
KMgCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.4.7Fluorite
CaF
 
2
8.4.8Sinjarite
CaCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.4.9Antarcticite
CaCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.4.10Chlorocalcite
KCaCl
 
3
8.4.11Rorisite
CaFCl
8.4.12Jarlite
Na(Sr,Ca)
 
3
Al
 
3
F
 
16
8.4.13Calcjarlite
Na(Ca,Sr)
 
3
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
2
F
 
14
8.4.14Tikhonenkovite
Sr[AlF
 
4
(OH)(H
 
2
O)]
8.4.15Acuminite
Sr[AlF
 
4
(OH)(H
 
2
O)]
8.4.16Frankdicksonite
BaF
 
2
8.4.17Usovite
Ba
 
2
CaMgAl
 
2
F
 
14
8.4.18Bøgvadite
Na
 
2
SrBa
 
2
[Al
 
4
F
 
20
]
Other Names for Tachyhydrite
German names:
Tachyhydrit
Russian names:
Тахигидрит
Spanish names:
Tachyhydrita
Other Information
Other Information:Readily soluble in 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.
Industrial Uses:Source of potassium.
References for Tachyhydrite
Reference List:Rammelsberg (1856) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 98: 261.



Des Cloizeaux, A. (1867) Nouvelles recherches sur les propriétés optique des cristaux, naturels ou artificiels, et sur les variations que ces propriétés éprouvent sous l’influence de la chaleur. 222pp., Paris. (Institut imperial de France, Mémoires 18): 74.



Groth, P. (1874) Tabellarische Übersicht der Mineralien nach ihren krystallographish-chemischen Beziehungen. Braunschweig. 1st. edition: 74.



de Schulten (1890) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 111: 928.



Boeke (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 354.



Kling (1915) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 14, 44. 



Jung (1926) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 274.



Doelter, C. (1928) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4[2]: 1219.



Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 95-96.



Acta Crystallographica (1980): B36: 2736-2739.


Internet Links for Tachyhydrite
Search Engines:












  • Look for Tachyhydrite on Google
    • 


  • Look for Tachyhydrite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Tachyhydrite on Webmineral
  • Look for Tachyhydrite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Tachyhydrite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Tachyhydrite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tachyhydrite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tachyhydrite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals  -  Auktion & Shop
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Find Tachyhydrite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
    • Page Sponsor
    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.
    Localities for Tachyhydrite
     		

    (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.

    Austria
     
    

    • Salzburg
    

      • Hallein
    

        • Dürrnberg
    
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989
    Germany
     
    

    • Lower Saxony
    

      • Celle
    

        • Hänigsen
    
    		Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" from 1989  ISBN 3-925094-24-5 Pg.9
    



        • Wathlingen
    
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    


      • Peine
    
    		Dana 6: Appendix 3: 40; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 91.
    


      • Vienenburg
    
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    

    • Saxony-Anhalt
    

      • Halle
    

        • Teutschenthal
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 95.
    


      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 95; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    



        • Tarthun
    
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    

    • New Mexico
    

      • Eddy Co.
    
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    

    


    

    Mineral
 and/or
Locality

    

    
 
    
 
 Google
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    

  
 
 
    
 
    
 
 
 www.mindat.org
 
 
 
 Web
 
 
    
 
    
 

 
 
 
 
 

    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008.  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.