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Mirabilite

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Willi Agatz Mine, Dresden, Saxony, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
·10H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white; ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:1½ - 2
Name:Based on the phrase "Sal mirabile" used by J.R. Glauber (1603-1668) when he inadvertently formed the artificial compound while working with sulfuric acid and salt.


Quickly dehydrates to thenardite in dry air.

Classification of Mirabilite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.21-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CD.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.2.2.1

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
2 : A2XO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.1.3

25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Occurrences of Mirabilite

Geological Setting:Saline lake deposits, playas and springs; as an efflorescence on clayey, alkalic soils; in caves and sheltered spot on recent lavas. Often deposited from saline waters in cold seasons in sea sprays.

Physical Properties of Mirabilite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Opaque
Colour:Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100} perfect; also reported on {001}, {010}, and {011}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):1.49 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mirabilite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 12.84Å, b = 10.37Å, c = 11.52Å
β = 107.77°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.238 : 1 : 1.111
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,460.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic [001]. Usually prismatic to acicular [010]; also thin tabular {100} or {001}, or lath-like due to flattening on {100} and elongation parallel to [010] (artificial material). Massive; efflorescences or masses of interlocking fibers; granular; stalactitic.
Twinning:Interpenetration twinning on {001}; also on {100}.
Crystal Atlas:
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Mirabilite no.8 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Mirabilite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.396 nβ = 1.410 nγ = 1.419
2V:Measured: 75° , Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Mirabilite

Formula:
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
·10H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:H, Na, O, S

Relationship of Mirabilite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.CD.05Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CD.15Lecontite
(NH
 
4
,K)Na(SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
7.CD.20Hydroglauberite
Na
 
10
Ca
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
7.CD.25Eugsterite
Na
 
4
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
7.CD.30Görgeyite
K
 
2
Ca
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
7.CD.35Koktaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
7.CD.35Syngenite
K
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
7.CD.40Gypsum
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.CD.45Bassanite
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
7.CD.50Zircosulfate
(Zr,Ti)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CD.55Schieffelinite
Pb
 
8
(TeO
 
4
)
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·8H
 
2
O
7.CD.60Montanite
Bi
 
2
[TeO
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.CD.65Omongwaite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.1.1Thenardite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.2Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.1.4Arcanite
K
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.5Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
25.1.6Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
25.1.7Aphthitalite
(K,Na)
 
3
Na(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.8Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
25.1.9Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.1.10Ammonioalunite
(NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Mirabilite

Synonyms:
ExanthaloseGlauber SaltNatürliches BittersalzNatürliches WundersalzReussin
Sal mirabileSulfate of Soda
Other Languages:
Catalan:Mirabilita
French:Sel de Glauber
Soude sulfatée
German:Gediegen Glaubersalz
Glaubersalz
Mirabilit
Italian:Mirabilite
Latin:Alcali minerale vitriolatum
Russian:Мирабилит
Spanish:Mirabilita

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 Mirabilite

Reference List:Glauber (1658) Tractatus de natura salium (as Sal mirabile).

Bergmann, T. (1782) Sciagraphia regni mineralis (as Alcali minerale vitriolatum).

Reuss (1791) Crell’s Chemical Journal, London: 2: 18 (as Gediegen Glaubersalz).

Lenz, D.G. (1794) Versuch einer vollständigen Anleitung zur Kenntniss der Mineralien. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 1: 489 (as Natürliches Bittersalz).

Karsten, D.L.G. (1800) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. First edition: 40 (as Reussin).

Haidinger, Wm. (1825) Treatise on Mineralogy, by F. Mohs; translation with considerable additions. 3 volumes, Edinburg: 2: 31.

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 475 (as Exanthalose).

Haidinger, Wm. (1845) Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie. Vienna: 488.

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition, vol. 2, in two parts: 2: 1182.

Zepharovich (1879) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 3: 100.

Trechmann (1901) Mineralogical Magazine: 13: 73.

Rosický (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 473.

Pardillo (1915) Bol. r. soc. española hist. nat.: 15: 153; ...(abstract) Min. Abs. (1920): 1: 78.

Peck (1917) American Mineralogist: 2: 62.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 4: 49.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 111.

Wells (1923) USGS Bulletin 717: 2.

Schaller (1932) USGS Bulletin 833: 81.

Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 148.

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: 439-442.

Cocco, G., Rossetti, V. (1959), La cella elementare della mirabilite. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma pp. 231-232.

Acta Crystallographica (1978): B34: 3502-3510.

Journal of the American Chemical Society: 83: 820-824.

Internet Links for Mirabilite

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    Localities for Mirabilite

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