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Vanthoffite

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Berlepsch Mine, Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
Na
 
6
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, gray, pale ...
Lustre:Vitreous, PearlyHardness:3½
Name:
Named after Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff (1852-1911), Professor of Chemistry, University of Amsterdam (1878-1896), University of Berlin (1896-1911), physical chemist and thermodynamicist, founder of stereochemistry, student of equilibria in salt solutions, nobelist (1901).
This page provides mineralogical data about Vanthoffite.

Classification of Vanthoffite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AC.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:28.4.1.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.3.8

25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Vanthoffite

Type Locality:Wilhelmshall, Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Year of Discovery:1902
Associated Minerals at type locality:
LangbeiniteHalite

Occurrences of Vanthoffite

Geological Setting:Oceanic salt deposits.

Physical Properties of Vanthoffite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, gray, pale yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Fragile
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.694 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.687 g/cm3

Crystallography of Vanthoffite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.781(2) Å, b = 9.196(2) Å, c = 8.197(2) Å
β = 113.61(2)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.064 : 1 : 0.891
Unit Cell Volume:V 675.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Massive only; anhedral grains or bedded aggregates.

Optical Data of Vanthoffite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.486 nβ = 1.488 nγ = 1.489
2V:Measured: 83° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.003

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

Chemical Properties of Vanthoffite

Formula:
Na
 
6
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Essential elements:Mg, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Mg, Na, O, S

Relationship of Vanthoffite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AC.08Pyracmonite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.10Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.10Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.10Manganolangbeinite
K
 
2
Mn
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AC.15Yavapaiite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.15Eldfellite
NaFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.20Godovikovite
(NH
 
4
)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.20Sabieite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AC.25Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AC.30Metathenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AC.35Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.3.1Kieserite
MgSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.3.2Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.3Starkeyite
MgSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.4Pentahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.3.5Hexahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.3.6Epsomite
MgSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.3.7Caminite
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.3.9Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.10Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.3.11Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
 · 15H
 
2
O
25.3.12Uklonskovite
NaMg(SO
 
4
)F · 2H
 
2
O
25.3.13Langbeinite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.14Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.3.15Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.3.16Efremovite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.3.17Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.3.18Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O

Other Names for Vanthoffite

Other Languages:
German:Vanthoffit
Russian:Вантгоффит
Simplified Chinese:钠镁矾
Spanish:Vanthoffita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water, slightly bitter taste.
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 Vanthoffite

Reference List:

- +
Kubierschky (1902) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, Ber.: 21: 404.

Görgey (1909) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 28: 334.

Doelter, C. (1926) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie: 4(2): 93.

Ide (1935) Kali: 29: 83;...Min. Abs. (1936): 6: 351.

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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 430.

Acta Crystallographica (1964): 17: 1613.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1973): 102: 192-193.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1986): 174: 5.

Internet Links for Vanthoffite

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    • Localities for Vanthoffite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Innsbruck
            • Hall
    		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: 430, 447; R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Upper Austria
      • Gmunden
        • Bad Ischl
          • Perneck
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    China
     
    • Xinjiang Autonomous Region
      • Bayin'gholin Autonomous Prefecture (Bayingolin Autonomous Prefecture; Bayinguoleng Autonomous Prefecture)
        • Ruoqiang Co. (Qakilik Co.; Chaqiliq Co.)
    		Yanling Tang (2005): Non-metallic deposits of Xinjiang, China [Zhongguo Xinjiang Fei Jinshu Kuangchuang]. Geological Publishing House (Beijing), 289 pp.
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Werra valley
        • Heringen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
        • Phillippsthal
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Halberstadt
    		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: 430.
      • Stassfurt Potash deposit
        • Stassfurt
    		Dana 6:A3:14,43,46; 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: 430; Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig (1911): 50: 139.
    Iceland
     
    • Vestmannaeyjar archipelago (Westman islands)
      • Heimaey island
        • Heimaey
    		Mitolo, D., Garavelli, A., Pedersen, L., Balić-Žunić, T., Jakobsson, S.P., Vurro, F. (2008): Mineralogy of actually forming sublimates at Eldfell Volcano, Heimaey (Vestmannaeyjar archipelago), Iceland. Plinius, 34, 322.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Imperial Co.
        • Bertram
          • Bertram siding
    		Murowchick, B.L. and Gricius, A. (1965) Vanthoffite in California. Gems and Minerals: 333: 45; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 380; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 267.
    • New Mexico
      • Eddy and Lea Counties
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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