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Zaherite

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Pella, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
© 2008, J. Weissman

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Formula:
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
26
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 20H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:White to blue-green
Lustre:PearlyHardness:3½
Name:Named after Mohammed Abduz Zaher, geologist, Geological Survey of Bangladesh.


Felsöbányite Group

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
[(OH)
 
26
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 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
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DE.10Carbonatecyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DE.10Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DE.10UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu)
Cu, Al, SO4, H2O
7.DE.15Schwertmannite
Fe
3+
16
O
 
16
(OH,SO
 
4
)
 
12-13
 · 10-12H
 
2
O
7.DE.20Tlalocite
Cu
 
10
Zn
 
6
(TeO
 
3
)(TeO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
25
·27H
 
2
O
7.DE.25Utahite
Cu
 
5
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|TeO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.DE.35Coquandite
Sb
 
6
[O
 
8
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
7.DE.40Osakaite
Zn
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 ·5H
 
2
O
7.DE.45Wilcoxite
MgAl[F|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 18H
 
2
O
7.DE.50Stanleyite
(V
4+
 
O)[SO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DE.55Mcalpineite
Cu
 
3
[TeO
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
7.DE.60Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 12-36H
 
2
O
7.DE.70Lautenthalite
PbCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DE.75Camerolaite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
10
|CO
 
3
|(HSbO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.6.1Rostite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.2Jurbanite
Al[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.3Khademite
Al[F|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.4Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
25.6.5Aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
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
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.6.9Basaluminite
25.6.10Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 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
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
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
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
25.6.19Minamiite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
,K)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
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

    (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.
    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
    Google
     
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