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Zaherite

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Big Photo

Pella, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
© 2008, JGW

Show Zaherite Photos (3)



Formula:
Al
 
12
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(OH)
 
26
 · 20H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:White to blue-green
Lustre:PearlyHardness:3½
Name:Named in 1977 by A. P. Ruotsala and L. L. Babcock in honour of Mohammed Abduz Zaher, geologist, Geological Survey of Bangladesh.


Dehydrates reversibly at room temperature.

Classification of Zaherite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.06-80
Strunz 9th edition ID:7.DD.05
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DE.65

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
Dana 8th edition ID:31.10.3.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.6.11

25 : Sulphates
6 : Sulphates of Al and Tl
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Type Occurrence of Zaherite

Type Locality:Salt Range, Punjab, Pakistan
Year of Discovery:1977

Physical Properties of Zaherite

Lustre:Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White to blue-green
Hardness (Mohs):3½

Crystallography of Zaherite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 18.47Å, b = 19.45Å, c = 3.77Å
α = 95.24°, β = 91.48°, γ = 80.24°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.95 : 1 : 0.194
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,329.09 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Zaherite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.498 nβ = 1.498 nγ = 1.499
2V:Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.001

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

Chemical Properties of Zaherite

Formula:
Al
 
12
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(OH)
 
26
 · 20H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, S

Relationship of Zaherite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DE.05Mangazeite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DE.10Carbonatecyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DE.10Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DE.10UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu)
(Cu, Al, SO
 
4
, H
 
2
O)
7.DE.15Schwertmannite
Fe
3+
16
(OH,SO
 
4
)
 
12-13
O
 
16
 · 10-12H
 
2
O
7.DE.20Tlalocite
Cu
 
10
Zn
 
6
(Te
6+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
25
Cl · 27H
 
2
O
7.DE.25Utahite
Cu
 
5
Zn
 
3
(TeO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
8
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.DE.35Coquandite
(SbO)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
7.DE.40Osakaite
Zn
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DE.45Wilcoxite
MgAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 18H
 
2
O
7.DE.50Stanleyite
(V
4+
 
O)(SO
 
4
) · 6H
 
2
O
7.DE.55Mcalpineite
Cu
 
3
(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
) · H
 
2
O
7.DE.60Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · 12-36H
 
2
O
7.DE.62Volaschioite
Fe
 
4
(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DE.70Lautenthalite
PbCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DE.75Camerolaite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(HSbO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
10
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.6.1Rostite
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.2Jurbanite
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.3Khademite
Al(SO
 
4
)F · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.4Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.5Aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.6.6Meta-alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.7Alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 17H
 
2
O
25.6.8Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.6.9Basaluminite
25.6.10Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · 12-36H
 
2
O
25.6.12Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.6.13Mendozite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
25.6.14Alum-(Na)
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.15Natroalunite
(Na,K)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.6.16Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
25.6.17Alum-(K)
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
25.6.18Alunite
KAl
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.6.19Minamiite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
,K)Al
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.6.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O

Other Names for Zaherite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-002
Other Languages:
German:Zaherit
Spanish:Zaherita

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 Zaherite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 1125-1128.

Mineralogical Magazine (1985): 49: 145-146.

American Mineralogist (1986): 71: 231-232.

Internet Links for Zaherite

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    • Localities for Zaherite

    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.
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
              • Porto Levante
    		P.Forti, M.Panzica La Manna and A.Rossi (1994) The peculiar mineralogic site of the Alum cave (Vulcano, Sicily). Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology November 1994 p.35-44.
    Pakistan
     
    • Punjab
    		[Amer.Min.(1977) 62, 1125-1128; MinRec 9:115]
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Bushmanland
        • Koenabib farm
    		No reference listed
    No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
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