Vanthoffite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Vanthoffite
Formula:
Na6Mg(SO4)4
Colour:
Colourless, gray, pale yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.694
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff (30 August 1852 Rotterdam, Netherlands - 1 March 1911, Steglitz near Berlin, German Empire), Professor of Chemistry, University of Amsterdam (1878-1896), University of Berlin (1896-1911), physical chemist and thermodynamicist, founder of stereochemistry, student of equilibria in salt solutions). He was awarded the first (1901) Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Vanthoffite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4151
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4151:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a877597b-14da-4179-98bb-0861f5c33d2f
IMA Classification of Vanthoffite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1902
Classification of Vanthoffite
7.AC.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
28.4.1.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
25.3.8
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Vhf | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Vanthoffite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, gray, pale yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
Colourless
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Fragile
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.694 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.687 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vanthoffite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.486 nβ = 1.488 nγ = 1.489
2V:
Measured: 83° , Calculated: 70°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.003
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
weak r < v
Chemistry of Vanthoffite
Mindat Formula:
Na6Mg(SO4)4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Vanthoffite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.781(2) Å, b = 9.196(2) Å, c = 8.197(2) Å
β = 113.61(2)°
β = 113.61(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.064 : 1 : 0.891
Unit Cell V:
675.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Massive only; anhedral grains or bedded aggregates.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0009292 | Vanthoffite | Fischer W, Hellner E (1964) Ueber die struktur des vanthoffits Acta Crystallographica 17 1613-1613 | 1964 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.431 Å | (100) |
4.032 Å | (95) |
3.114 Å | (75) |
3.917 Å | (70) |
2.909 Å | (70) |
2.846 Å | (60) |
2.832 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Oceanic salt deposits.
Type Occurrence of Vanthoffite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Evaporite deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kubierschky, K. (1902) Über ein eigenthümliches Salzvorkommen im sogenannten Magdeburg-Halberstädter Becken. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, Ber.: 21: 404-413.
Other Language Names for Vanthoffite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.AC. | Aluminopyracmonite | (NH4)3Al(SO4)3 |
7.AC. | Amgaite | Tl+32Te6+O6 |
7.AC.08 | Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Langbeinite | K2Mg2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.15 | Yavapaiite | KFe(SO4)2 |
7.AC.15 | Eldfellite | NaFe3+(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Sabieite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Steklite | KAl(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Möhnite | (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Belomarinaite | KNa(SO4) |
7.AC.35 | Natroaphthitalite | KNa3(SO4)2 |
7.AC.40 | Itelmenite | Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8 |
7.AC.45 | Saranchinaite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 |
7.AC.50 | Majzlanite | K2Na(ZnNa)Ca(SO4)4 |
7.AC.60 | Philoxenite | (K,Na,Pb)4(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Cu)3(Fe3+0.5Al0.5)(SO4)8 |
7.AC.75 | Petrovite | Na12Cu2(SO4)8 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water, slightly bitter taste.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Vanthoffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4151.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Vanthoffite
Localities for Vanthoffite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Exel (1993) |
China | |
| Zhongde Zhu (1988) |
| Yanling Tang (2005) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Kubierschky (1902) +1 other reference |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references |
Iceland | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
| Mitolo et al. (2008) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov et al. (1993) |
Poland | |
| Ł. Kruszewski PXRD data (to be published soon) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Pekov et al. (2015) |
Pekov et al. (2019) | |
USA | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 267. +3 other references |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
Quick NavTopAbout VanthoffiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia