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Carraraite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
Ge(OH)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)·12H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:White
Lustre:Vitreous
Name:Named for the type locality, marble quarries in Carrara basin, Apuan Alps, Italy


Ettringite Group.

Classification of Carraraite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 9th edition ID:7.DG.15
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DG.15

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
Dana 8th edition ID:32.4.4.6

32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
4 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
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Type Occurrence of Carraraite

Type Locality:Gioia quarries, Casette, Massa, Apuan Alps, Massa-Carrara Province, Tuscany, Italy

Physical Properties of Carraraite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:White
Streak:White

Crystallography of Carraraite

Crystal System:Hexagonal

Optical Data of Carraraite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.479 nε = 1.509
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030

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

Chemical Properties of Carraraite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
Ge(OH)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)·12H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, Ge, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, Ge, H, O, S

Relationship of Carraraite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DG.05Darapskite
Na
 
3
NO
 
3
SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.DG.10Clinoungemachite
(Na, K, Fe, SO
 
4
)
7.DG.10Humberstonite
Na
 
7
K
 
3
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.DG.10Ungemachite
K
 
3
Na
 
8
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Bentorite
Ca
 
6
(Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Charlesite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Si)
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
12
|B(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 26H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Ettringite
Ca
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Jouravskite
Ca
 
6
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Sturmanite
Ca
 
6
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|B(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 25H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Thaumasite
Ca
 
3
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
|Si(OH)
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
7.DG.15Buryatite
Ca
 
3
(Si,Fe,Al)[SO
 
4
][B(OH)
 
4
](OH)
 
5
O•
 
12
H
 
2
O
7.DG.20Rapidcreekite
Ca
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DG.20Korkinoite
Ca, SO
 
4
, H
 
2
O reported
7.DG.25Tatarskite
Ca
 
6
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
 
4
(OH)
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
7.DG.30Nakauriite
Cu
 
8
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 48H
 
2
O
7.DG.35Chessexite
(Na,K)
 
4
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Al
 
8
[(SO
 
4
)
 
10
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 40H
 
2
O
7.DG.40Carlosruizite
K
 
6
(Na,K)
 
4
Na
 
6
Mg
 
10
(SeO
 
4
)
 
12
(IO
 
3
)
 
12
·12H
 
2
O
7.DG.40Fuenzalidaite
K
 
6
(Na,K)
 
4
Na
 
6
Mg
 
10
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
(IO
 
3
)
 
12
·12H
 
2
O
7.DG.45Chelyabinskite
(Ca,Mg)
 
3
[(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si(OH)
 
6
] · 9H
 
2
O (?)

Other Names for Carraraite

Synonyms:
IMA1998-002
Other Languages:
German:Carrarait
Russian:Каррараит
Spanish:Carraraita

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 Carraraite

Reference List:Merlino, S. & Orlandi, P. (2001): Carraraite and zaccagnaite, two new minerals from the Carrara marble quarries: their chemical compositions, physical properties, and structural features. American Mineralogist, 86, 1293-1301.

Internet Links for Carraraite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Carraraite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Carraraite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Carraraite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Carraraite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Carraraite

    (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
     
    • Tuscany
      • Massa-Carrara Province
        • Apuan Alps
          • Massa
            • Casette
    		[MinRec 33:162]
    Mineral and/or Locality
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