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Burkeite

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Wadi Natrun depression (Wadi el Natrun), Western Desert, Egypt
© Elmar Lackner

Show Burkeite Photos (6)
Formula:
Na
 
6
CO
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
System:OrthorhombicColour:White, light buff, ...
Hardness:3½
Name:After W.E. Burke, chemical engineer and director of research of the American Potash and Chemical Corporation, who discovered the synthetic salt.
This page provides mineralogical data about Burkeite.

Classification of Burkeite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/B.14-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.BD.25

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:32.1.1.1

32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
1 : Anhydrous Compound Sulfates
Hey's CIM Ref.:12.2.1

12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
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Type Occurrence of Burkeite

Type Locality:Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1921
Geological Setting of type material:Clay stratum in a lacustrine salt deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
GaylussiteTronaSulphohaliteBoraxNorthupite
ThenarditeCalciteTychiteHaliteHanksite

Physical Properties of Burkeite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White, light buff, grayish; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.57 g/cm3

Crystallography of Burkeite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.05Å, b = 9.21Å, c = 5.16Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.765 : 1 : 0.56
Unit Cell Volume:V 335.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals tabular {100}, with narrow faces of {010}, {110}, and {001}. Crystals faces rough and uneven. Also as reticulated aggregates of platy crystals; pea-shaped nodules; irregular veruginous masses; massive.
Twinning:Commonly as X-shaped penetration twins with {110} as the twin plane and b^_b ~ 59°42'. The re-entrant angles are partially filled with small, rough crystals in apparent random position.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Burkeite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.448 nβ = 1.489 nγ = 1.493
2V:Measured: 34° , Calculated: 32°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.045

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

Chemical Properties of Burkeite

Formula:
Na
 
6
CO
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Essential elements:C, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:C, Na, O, S

Relationship of Burkeite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.BD.05Sulphohalite
Na
 
6
[F|Cl|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
7.BD.05Sulfohalite
7.BD.10Galeite
Na
 
15
[F
 
4
|Cl|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
]
7.BD.10Schairerite
Na
 
3
[(F,Cl)|SO
 
4
]
7.BD.15Kogarkoite
Na
 
3
[F|SO
 
4
]
7.BD.20Caracolite
Na
 
3
Pb
 
2
[Cl|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
7.BD.20Cesanite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
7.BD.30Hanksite
Na
 
22
K(SO
 
4
)
 
9
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
7.BD.35Cannonite
Bi
 
2
[O|(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
]
7.BD.40Lanarkite
Pb
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
7.BD.45Grandreefite
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
F
 
2
7.BD.50Itoite
Pb
 
3
Ge
4+
 
[O|OH|SO
 
4
]
 
2
7.BD.55Chiluite
Bi
 
6
Mo
 
2
Te
 
2
O
 
21
7.BD.60Hectorfloresite
Na
 
9
[IO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
]
7.BD.65Pseudograndreefite
Pb
 
6
SO
 
4
F
 
10
7.BD.70Sundiusite
Pb
 
10
[O
 
8
|SO
 
4
|Cl
 
2
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
12.2.2Hanksite
Na
 
22
K(SO
 
4
)
 
9
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
12.2.3Tychite
Na
 
6
Mg
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.4Motukoreaite
NaMg
 
19
Al
 
12
(CO
 
3
)
 
6.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
54
·28H
 
2
O
12.2.5Ferrotychite
Na
 
6
(Fe,Mn,Mg)
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.6Nakauriite
Cu
 
8
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 48H
 
2
O
12.2.7Carbonatecyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O
12.2.8Rapidcreekite
Ca
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
12.2.9Tatarskite
Ca
 
6
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
 
4
(OH)
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
12.2.10Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
[(OH)
 
10
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
12.2.11Leadhillite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.12Macphersonite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.13Susannite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.14Wherryite
Pb
 
7
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.15Caledonite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
5
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
12.2.16Nasledovite
PbMn
 
3
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
SO
 
4
O
 
5
·5H
 
2
O
12.2.17Jouravskite
Ca
 
6
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
12.2.18Schröckingerite
NaCa
 
3
(UO
 
2
)[F|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
|SO
 
4
] · 10H
 
2
O
12.2.19Manganotychite
Na
 
6
Mn
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.20Hauckite
Fe
3+
3
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
24
Zn
 
18
[(OH)
 
81
|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
]
12.2.21Paraotwayite
Ni(OH)
 
2-x
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
0.5x
12.2.22Carrboydite
(Ni,Cu)
 
14
Al
 
9
[(OH)
 
43
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
12.2.23Mountkeithite
(Mg,Ni)
 
11
(Fe
3+
 
,Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
24
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3.5
] · 11H
 
2
O
12.2.24Camerolaite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
10
|CO
 
3
|(HSbO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Burkeite

Synonyms:
Gauslinite
Other Languages:
German:Burkeit
Gauslinit
Russian:Буркеит
Spanish:Burkeita
Gauslinita

Other Information

Other Information:Totally soluble in cold water.
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 Burkeite

Reference List:Burke (1921) Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Washington: 13: 249.

Foshag, W.F. (1935), Burkeite, a new mineral species from Searles Lake, California: American Mineralogist: 20: 50-56.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 633-634.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1988): 203-221.

Internet Links for Burkeite

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

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • Neuquén
      • Copahue
        • Copahue Geothermal Field
    		Mineral. Mag. 71 (2007) 235-240.
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Similkameen Mining Division
        • Okanagan-Similkameen
    		S. J. Mills (XRD data)
    Egypt
     
    • Western Desert
    		Collection Elmar Lackner
    Japan
     
    • Kyushu Island
      • Oita prefecture
        • Beppu
    		Tomonagi et al. (1989) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 58.
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 340, 633; Mineralogical Magazine (1979): 43: 341.
    • Colorado
      • Chaffee Co.
        • Chalk Creek District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Garfield Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Moffat Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Rio Blanco Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • New Mexico
    		Northrup, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    10th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium
    • Washington
      • Grant Co.
        • Moses Lake
    		Cannon, B. (1975): Minerals of Washington, p.63
    www.dnr.wa.gov/geology/okanogan.htm.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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