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Bassanite

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Ronneburg U deposit, Gera, Thuringia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Bassanite Photos (7)
Formula:
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White
Name:After Professor Francesco Bassani, University of Naples, Italy.


Occurred as pseudomorphs after gypsum.
Very similar to omongwaite.

Classification of Bassanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.22-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CD.45

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:29.6.1.1

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.4.2

25 : Sulphates
4 : Sulphates of Ca, Sr and Ba
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Physical Properties of Bassanite

Colour:White
Density (measured):2.69 - 2.76 g/cm3

Crystallography of Bassanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic

Optical Data of Bassanite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.550 nε = 1.570
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

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

Chemical Properties of Bassanite

Formula:
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, S
Analytical Data:Coverts to anhydrite when heated to redness.
Relationship of Bassanite to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
7.CD.05Matteuccite
NaHSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.CD.10Mirabilite
Na
 
2
SO
 
4
·10H
 
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.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:

- + 
25.4.1Anhydrite
CaSO
 
4
25.4.3Gypsum
Ca[SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.4.4Glauberite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.4.5Cesanite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.4.6Eugsterite
Na
 
4
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
25.4.7Hydroglauberite
Na
 
10
Ca
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
25.4.8Syngenite
K
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
25.4.9Görgeyite
K
 
2
Ca
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
25.4.10Polyhalite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.4.11Koktaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
25.4.12Ye'elimite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
6
[O
 
12
|SO
 
4
]
25.4.13Ettringite
Ca
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
25.4.14Bentorite
Ca
 
6
(Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
25.4.15Celestine
SrSO
 
4
25.4.16Kalistrontite
K
 
2
Sr(SO
 
4
)
 
2
25.4.17Baryte
BaSO
 
4
Other Names for Bassanite
Synonyms:
HemihydrateMiltoniteMirupolskitePlaster of ParisPolyhydrate
Soluble AnhydriteVibertite
Other Languages:
German:Bassanit
Miltonit
Mirupolskit
Vibertit
Russian:Бассанит
Spanish:Bassanita
Miltonita
Mirupolskita
Vibertita
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 Bassanite
Reference List:Zambonini (1910) Min. Vesuviana: 327.



Gaubert (1933) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 197: 72.



Caspari (1936) Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: 155A: 41.



Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 205: 99-113.



Berg and Sveshnikova (1946) Bulletin de Académy des sciences de l'Union des Républiques Soviétiques Socialistes, Cl. sc. mat. nat., Ser. chim.: No. 1: 19.



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.: 476.


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