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Wenkite

Big Photo

Garpenberg Norra Mine (Garpenberg North Mine), Garpenberg, Hedemora, Dalarna, Sweden
© Maurice de Graaf

Formula:
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:Light grey
Hardness:6
Name:Named after Eduard Wenk (1907-2001), Professor of Petrology, University of Basel, Switzerland.


Zeolite Group. Gmelinite-Offretite Sub-group.

Classification of Wenkite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.09-100
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:76.2.5.16

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.10.28

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
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Type Occurrence of Wenkite

Type Locality:Candoglia quarries, Candoglia, Mergozzo, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
Year of Discovery:1962

Physical Properties of Wenkite

Colour:Light grey
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):6
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct

Crystallography of Wenkite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 13.51Å, c = 7.46Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.552
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,179.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Wenkite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.596 nε = 1.589
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.007

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

Chemical Properties of Wenkite

Formula:
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ba, Ca, H, O, S, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ba, Ca, H, K, Na, O, S, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mn,Sr,Na,K,F,Cl

Relationship of Wenkite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Sr
Sr
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Bellbergite
(K,Ba,Sr)
 
2
Sr
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Ca,Na)
 
4
[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.25Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
·16H
 
2
O or near
9.GD.30Faujasite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,Ca)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.35Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
·32H
 
2
O
9.GD.35Mordenite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
·7H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.45Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.55Bikitaite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.10.1Nosean
Na
 
8
[SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.2Pitiglianoite
Na
 
6
K
 
2
[SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.10.3Vishnevite
(Na,K)
 
8
[(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.10.4Haüyne
(Na,Ca)
 
4-8
[Al
 
6
Si
 
6
(O,S)
 
24
](SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
17.10.5Liottite
(Na,K)
 
16
Ca
 
8
[Cl
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
|(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
3
]
17.10.6Latiumite
K
 
2
Ca
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
11
O
 
25
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
17.10.7Tuscanite
(K(Ca,Na)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
10
O
 
22
[SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,(OH)
 
2
]·H
 
2
O
17.10.8Microsommite
Na
 
4
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.9Delhayelite
(Na,K)
 
10
Ca
 
5
Al
 
6
Si
 
32
O
 
80
(Cl
 
2
,F
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
·18H
 
2
O
17.10.10Hydrodelhayelite
KCa
 
2
AlSi
 
7
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
17.10.11Davyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
SO
 
24
]
17.10.12Afghanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.13Franzinite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.14Giuseppettite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
7-8
[(SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.15Sacrofanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
9
[{(OH)
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,Cl
 
2
}
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.16Chessexite
(Na,K)
 
4
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Al
 
8
[(SO
 
4
)
 
10
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 40H
 
2
O
17.10.17Innelite
Na
 
2
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Mg,Ca,Fe)Ti
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
18
(OH,F)
 
1.5
SO
 
4
17.10.18Thaumasite
Ca
 
3
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
|Si(OH)
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
17.10.19Ellestadite
17.10.20Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
[Cl
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.21Ellestadite-(OH)
Ca
 
10
[(OH,Cl,F)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.22Ellestadite-(F)
Ca
 
10
[(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.23Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(Si
 
1.2
S
 
1.8
)O
 
12
(Cl
 
0.6
OH
 
0.4
)
17.10.24Queitite
Pb
 
4
Zn
 
2
[SO
 
4
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.10.25Roeblingite
Pb
 
2
Ca
 
6
Mn
2+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
17.10.26Yoshimuraite
Ba
 
2
Mn
 
2
TiOSi
 
2
O
 
7
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
17.10.27Kegelite
Pb
 
12
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Si
 
11
O
 
38
 or near
17.10.29Macquartite
Pb
 
3
Cu(CrO
 
4
)(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
17.10.30Welinite
Mn
3+
6
(W
6+
 
,Mg)
 
0.7
[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]

Other Names for Wenkite

German names:
Wenkit
Russian names:
Венкит
Spanish names:
Wenkita

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 Wenkite

Reference List:Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen (1962): 42: 269-274.

American Mineralogist (1963): 48: 213.

Mineralogical Abstracts: 29: 263.

Acta Crystallographica (1974): B30: 1262-1266.

Kristallografiya: 137: 113-126.

Internet Links for Wenkite

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

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    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.
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Mergozzo
          • Candoglia
    		Papageorgakis, J. (1959): Ein neues Bariummineral des Marmors von Candoglia in der unteren Val d’Ossola. Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 39, 333-335; Papageorgakis, J. (1962): Wenkit, ein neues Mineral von Candoglia. Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 42, 269-274; AmMin 48:213 (1963).
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Hedemora
        • Garpenberg
    		No reference listed
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
        • Nordmark
    		No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
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