Magnesioalterite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O
Colour:
yellowish green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
2.17
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of long term Arizona field collector Malcolm Alter and it's magnesium content.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
The Mg analogue of alterite. Elemental combination somewhat similar to that of hauckite which, however, is not an oxalate.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
55112
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:55112:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
eb3c7354-e7eb-48a0-8850-efc94c2e2f2e
IMA Classification of Magnesioalterite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O
Approval year:
2020
Type description reference:
Classification of Magnesioalterite
7.DE.
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Matr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Magnesioalterite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
yellowish green
Streak:
white
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(100)
(100)
Parting:
none
Density:
2.17(3) g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Magnesioalterite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.520(5) nβ = 1.578(6) nγ = 1.610(5)
2V:
Measured: 74° (2), Calculated: 76.5°
Birefringence:
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.090
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Chemistry of Magnesioalterite
Mindat Formula:
Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O
Crystallography of Magnesioalterite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.766(1) Å, b = 9.4074(7) Å, c = 25.351(3) Å
β = 108.258(5)°
β = 108.258(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.782 : 1 : 2.695
Unit Cell V:
3,797.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:
none
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.854 Å | (100) |
4.593 Å | (36) |
4.377 Å | (46) |
4.204 Å | (38) |
4.142 Å | (35) |
3.914 Å | (34) |
3.717 Å | (67) |
2.668 Å | (47) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Type Occurrence of Magnesioalterite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the University of Arizona Mineral Museum, 1601 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA, catalogue number 22042 (holotype); the RRUFF Project, deposition number R180015 (cotype)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
carbonaceous petrified wood from an unnamed uranium prospect
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Magnesioalterite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.DE. | Cossaite | (Mg0.5,◻)Al6(SO4)6(HSO4)F6 · 36H2O |
7.DE. | Liangjunite | K2(Mo2O5)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
7.DE. | Fabritzite | Zn9(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2 · 6H2O |
7.DE. | Downsite | K2(MoO3)3(SO4) · 4H2O |
7.DE.05 | Mangazeite | Al2(SO4)(OH)4 · 3H2O |
7.DE.10 | Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
7.DE.10 | Cyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
7.DE.10 | UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu) | (Cu, Al, SO4, H2O) |
7.DE.15 | Schwertmannite | Fe3+16(OH,SO4)12-13O16 · 10-12H2O |
7.DE.20 | Tlalocite | Cu10Zn6(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)(OH)25Cl · 27H2O |
7.DE.25 | Utahite | MgCu4Zn2Te6+3O14(OH)4 · 6H2O |
7.DE.35 | Coquandite | Sb6+xO8+x(SO4)(OH)x(H2O)1- x (x = 0.3) |
7.DE.40 | Osakaite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 5H2O |
7.DE.42 | Alterite | Zn2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
7.DE.45 | Wilcoxite | MgAl(SO4)2F · 17H2O |
7.DE.45 | Barrotite | Cu9Al(HSiO4)2[(SO4)(HAsO4)0.5](OH)12 · 8H2O |
7.DE.47 | Tiberiobardiite | {Cu9Al[SiO3(OH)]2(OH)12(H2O)6}(SO4)1.5 · 10H2O |
7.DE.50 | Stanleyite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 6H2O |
7.DE.50 | Bouškaite | (MoO2)2O(SO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
7.DE.57 | Khangalasite | Fe(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
7.DE.60 | Hydrobasaluminite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 12-36H2O |
7.DE.62 | Volaschioite | Fe4(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 2H2O |
7.DE.65 | Zaherite | Al12(SO4)5(OH)26 · 20H2O |
7.DE.75 | Camérolaite | Cu6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb(OH)6](SO4) |
Other Information
Notes:
insoluble in water, but slowly dissolve in hydrochloric acid
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Magnesioalterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-55112.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Magnesioalterite
Localities for Magnesioalterite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2020) |