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Chaidamuite

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Big Photo

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi District, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
© 2007, JGW




Formula:
ZnFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Brown to yellowish-brown
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:From the type locality.
This page provides mineralogical data about Chaidamuite.

Classification of Chaidamuite

IMA status:Approved 1985
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DC.30

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:31.9.7.2

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.5.12

25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Chaidamuite

Type Locality:Xitieshan Mine, Da Qaidam (Dachaidan) Co., Haixi Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Geology and Mineralogy Resources Museum of Ministry of Geology, Beijing, China.
Geological Setting of type material:Oxidized zone of galena-sphalerite-pyrite deposit

Physical Properties of Chaidamuite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Brown to yellowish-brown
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Cleavage:Perfect
(100) (001)
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.722(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chaidamuite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pedial
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.309(2) Å, b = 7.202(2) Å, c = 9.691(3) Å
α = 89.64(3)°, β = 105.89(1)°, γ = 91.11(1)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.015 : 1 : 1.346
Unit Cell Volume:V 490.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Thick tabular to pseudocubic crystals, grains and granular aggregates.

Optical Data of Chaidamuite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.632 nβ = 1.640 nγ = 1.688
2V:Measured: 44° , Calculated: 46°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.056

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:strong r < v
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:X= pale yellow, colorless
Y= pale yellow
z= Brownish yellow

Chemical Properties of Chaidamuite

Formula:
ZnFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, O, S, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, O, S, Zn
Empirical Formula:
ZnFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O

Relationship of Chaidamuite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DC.05Aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.05Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Butlerite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.15Fibroferrite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.20Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)Cl · 6H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Zincobotryogen
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.5.1Zinkosite
ZnSO
 
4
25.5.2Goslarite
ZnSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.5.3Namuwite
(Zn,Cu)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.5.4Ktenasite
Zn(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.5.5Ramsbeckite
(Cu,Zn)
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
22
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.5.6Boyleite
(Zn,Mg)SO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.5.7Serpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.5.8Orthoserpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.5.9Zincaluminite
Zn
 
6
Al
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.5.10Glaucocerinite
(Zn
 
1-x
Al
 
x
)(OH)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
25.5.11Gunningite
ZnSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.5.13Bianchite
(Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.5.15Zincmelanterite
(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.5.16Zincobotryogen
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
25.5.17Schuetteite
Hg
2+
3
(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
25.5.18Gianellaite
(Hg
 
2
N)
 
2
SO
 
4

Other Names for Chaidamuite

Synonyms:
IMA1985-011
Other Languages:
German:Chaidamuit
Spanish:Chaidamuita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:none
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 Chaidamuite

Reference List:

- +
Li Wanmao, Chen Guoying, and Peng Zhizhong (1986): Chaidamuite - A new zinc and ferric sulfate mineral. Acta Mineralogica Sinica 6(2), 109-13 (in Chinese, English abstract). - American Mineralogist (1987), 73, 1493 (abstract); American Mineralogist (1989), 75, 1436 (abstract).

Li Wanmao and Q. Wang (1990): Determination and refinement of the crystal structure of chaidamuite. Sci. China, Ser. B 33, 623-630.

Internet Links for Chaidamuite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    • Localities for Chaidamuite

    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.
    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.
    China
     
    • Qinghai Province
      • Haixi Autonomous Prefecture
        • Da Qaidam (Dachaidan) Co.
    		Wanmao Li, Guoying Chen, and Zhizhong Peng (1986): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 6(2), 109-114
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
          • Adam Peak
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
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