Humberstonite
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James Thomas Humberstone
Formula:
K3Na7Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O
System:
Trigonal
Colour:
colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Name:
For chemist James Thomas Humberstone (Dover, July 8 1850 - Iquique, June 12, 1939) who invented the Shanks System, a method to make sodium carbonate.
This page provides mineralogical data about Humberstonite.
Classification of Humberstonite
Approved
Approval Year:
1967
6/D.16-40
7.DG.10
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
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
32.2.2.1
32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
2 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates
32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
2 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates
13.10
13 : Nitrates
13 : Nitrates
Physical Properties of Humberstonite
Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent
Colour:
colorless
Hardness (Mohs):
2½
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{0001}
{0001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.252 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.252 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Humberstonite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.474() nε = 1.436(2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.038
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemical Properties of Humberstonite
IMA Formula:
K3Na7Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O
Crystallography of Humberstonite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.905(3) Å, c = 24.394(9) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.237
Unit Cell Volume:
V 2,512.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Type Occurrence of Humberstonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
aggregates of thin, colorless, transparent,
hexagonal-shaped crystals, up to 0.30 mm across
hexagonal-shaped crystals, up to 0.30 mm across
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. (USNM 120898)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
playa salt deposits
Relationship of Humberstonite to other Species
| 7.DG.05 | Darapskite | Na3(SO4)(NO3) · H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Clinoungemachite | K3Na8Fe3+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Ungemachite | K3Na8Fe3+(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Bentorite | Ca6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Charlesite | Ca6Al2(SO4)2B(OH)4(OH,O)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Jouravskite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Sturmanite | Ca6Fe23+(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Thaumasite | Ca3Si(OH)6(SO4)(CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Carraraite | Ca3Ge(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Buryatite | Ca3(Si,Fe3+,Al)SO4B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.20 | Rapidcreekite | Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.20 | Korkinoite | Ca4(SO4)2(CO3)2 · 9(H2O) |
| 7.DG.25 | Tatarskite | Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2(OH)4Cl4 · 7H2O |
| 7.DG.30 | Nakauriite | Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2O |
| 7.DG.35 | Chessexite | Na4Ca2Mg3Al8(SiO4)2(SO4)10(OH)10 · 40H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Carlosruizite | K3Na2Na3Mg5(IO3)6(SeO4)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Fuenzalidaite | K3Na5Mg5(IO3)6(SO4)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.45 | Chelyabinskite | (Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?) |
| 13.1 | Nitratine | NaNO3 |
| 13.2 | Niter | KNO3 |
| 13.3 | Gerhardtite | Cu2NO3(OH)3 |
| 13.4 | Nitromagnesite | Mg(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 13.5 | Nitrocalcite | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 13.6 | Nitrobarite | Ba(NO3)2 |
| 13.7 | Buttgenbachite | Cu36(NO3)2Cl6(OH)64 · nH2O |
| 13.8 | Sveite | KAl7(NO3)4(OH)16Cl2 · 8H2O |
| 13.9 | Darapskite | Na3(SO4)(NO3) · H2O |
| 13.11 | Mbobomkulite | (Ni,Cu)Al4(NO3,SO4)2(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 13.12 | Hydrombobomkulite | (Ni,Cu)Al4(NO3)2(SO4)(OH)12 · 14H2O |
| 13.13 | Nickelalumite | (Ni,Cu)Al4(SO4,(NO3)2)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
Other Names for Humberstonite
Name in Other Languages:
Other Information
Other Information:
soluble in water and insoluble in acetone and alcohol.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Humberstonite
Reference List:
Ericksen G E, Fahey J J, Mrose M E (1967) Humberstonite, Na7K3Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2·6H2O: A new saline mineral from the Atacama Desert, Chile. Geological Society of America, Abstracts Annual Meetings 1967, 59-59
Mrose M E, Fahey J J, Ericksen G E (1970) Mineralogical studies of the nitrate deposits of Chile. III. Humberstonite, K3Na7Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2·6H2O, a new saline mineral. American Mineralogist 55, 1518-1533
Burns P C, Hawthorne F C (1994) The crystal structure of humberstonite, a mixed sulfate-nitrate mineral. The Canadian Mineralogist 32, 381-385.
Mrose M E, Fahey J J, Ericksen G E (1970) Mineralogical studies of the nitrate deposits of Chile. III. Humberstonite, K3Na7Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2·6H2O, a new saline mineral. American Mineralogist 55, 1518-1533
Burns P C, Hawthorne F C (1994) The crystal structure of humberstonite, a mixed sulfate-nitrate mineral. The Canadian Mineralogist 32, 381-385.
Internet Links for Humberstonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1944.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Humberstonite
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality.
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can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.
Chile (TL) | |
| Geol.Soc.Amer., Progr. annual meeting (1967) p. 59 |
| http://www.mineralatlas.com/mineral%20photos/H/humberstonitecp.htm |
| Pueyo, J. J., Chong, G. & Vega, M. (1998): Mineralogy and parental brine evolution in the Pedro de Valdivia nitrate deposit, Antofagasta, Chile. Revista Geologica de Chile 25, 3-15. (in Spanish) |
| samples analysed by Gerhard Mohn and Joy Desor |
China | |
| Akihiko Okada, Sadayo Yabuki, and Congqiang Liu (1994): RIKEN Review 5, 3-4 |
| Akihiko Okada, Sadayo Yabuki, and Congqiang Liu (1994): RIKEN Review 5, 3-4 |
| Yanling Tang (2005): Non-metallic deposits of Xinjiang, China [Zhongguo Xinjiang Fei Jinshu Kuangchuang]. Geological Publishing House (Beijing), 289 pp. |
| Bingxiao Li (1992): Journal of Lake Sciences 4(1), 48-55; Keqin Cai, Jianhua Gao, Dejun Zhao, and Youku Yu (1992): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 12(2), 143-151 | |
| Akihiko Okada, Sadayo Yabuki, and Congqiang Liu (1994): RIKEN Review 5, 3-4 | |
| Yanling Tang (2005): Non-metallic deposits of Xinjiang, China [Zhongguo Xinjiang Fei Jinshu Kuangchuang]. Geological Publishing House (Beijing), 289 pp. |
Namibia | |
| Eckardt, F. D., & Drake, N. (2010). Introducing the Namib Desert Playas. In Sabkha Ecosystems (pp. 19-25). Springer Netherlands. |
Oficina Alemania, Santa Catalina, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile