IMPORTANT MESSAGE. We need your support now to keep mindat.org running. Click here to find out why.
Log InRegister
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for Educators
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
StatisticsThe ElementsUsersBooks & MagazinesMineral MuseumsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice Settings
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day Gallery

Bischofite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Bischofite

Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Bischofite

Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau, Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Bischofite

Raul Mine, Lima Department, Peru
Bischofite

Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Bischofite

Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau, Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Bischofite

Raul Mine, Lima Department, Peru
Bischofite

Stassfurt, Stassfurt Potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Bischofite

Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau, Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About BischofiteHide

Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
1.591 - 1.604
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For Karl Gustav Bischof (1792-1870), German geologist and mineral chemist, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, and for F. Bischof, director of the Stassfurt salt works
A relatively rare constituent of saline deposits. Secondary in origin in part. Formed by alteration of Carnallite by water.

Deliquescent and soluble in water.



Classification of BischofiteHide

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Strunz 8th ed.:
3/A.12-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:
3.BB.15

3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th ed.:
9.2.9.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:
8.4.3

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg

Physical Properties of BischofiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
1.591 - 1.604 g/cm3 (Measured)    1.5895 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BischofiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.495 nβ = 1.507 nγ = 1.528
2V:
Measured: 79° , Calculated: 76°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v, weak

Chemical Properties of BischofiteHide

Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Elements listed:
Cl, H, Mg, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Ca,S

Crystallography of BischofiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.8607 Å, b = 7.1071 Å, c = 6.0737 Å
β = 93.758°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.387 : 1 : 0.855
Unit Cell V:
424.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic along [001]; commonly foliated, fibrous, crystalline granular, also massive
Twinning:
May twin polysynthetically under pressure

Crystallographic forms of BischofiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Bischofite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Bischofite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.095 (100)
2.646 (69)
2.880 (58)
2.732 (39)
2.305 (39)
2.228 (27)
3.553 (26)
Comments:
Recorded on synthetic material

Type Occurrence of BischofiteHide

Synonyms of BischofiteHide

Other Language Names for BischofiteHide

German:Bischofit
Simplified Chinese:水氯镁石
Spanish:Bischofita
Traditional Chinese:水氯鎂石

Varieties of BischofiteHide

Brom-bischofiteArtificial Bromine analogue of Bischofite

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz GroupingHide

3.BB.05EriochalciteCuCl2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
3.BB.10RokühniteFeCl2 · 2H2OMon.
3.BB.20NickelbischofiteNiCl2 · 6H2OMon.
3.BB.25SinjariteCaCl2 · 2H2OTet.
3.BB.30AntarcticiteCaCl2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 2 : P3 2 1
3.BB.35TachyhydriteCaMg2Cl6 · 12H2OTrig.

Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)Hide

9.2.9.2NickelbischofiteNiCl2 · 6H2OMon.

Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals GroupingHide

8.4.1SellaiteMgF2Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm
8.4.2NeighboriteNaMgF3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.4.4KorshunovskiteMg2Cl(OH)3 · 4H2OTric.
8.4.5CarnalliteKMgCl3 · 6H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnna
8.4.6TachyhydriteCaMg2Cl6 · 12H2OTrig.
8.4.7FluoriteCaF2Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
8.4.8SinjariteCaCl2 · 2H2OTet.
8.4.9AntarcticiteCaCl2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 2 : P3 2 1
8.4.10ChlorocalciteKCaCl3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
8.4.11RorisiteCaFClTet.
8.4.12JarliteNa(Sr,Na)7MgAl6F32(OH,H2O)2Mon. 2/m
8.4.13CalcjarliteNa(Ca,Sr)3Al3(OH)2F14Mon.
8.4.14TikhonenkoviteSr[AlF4(OH)(H2O)]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.4.15AcuminiteSr[AlF4(OH)(H2O)]Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.4.16FrankdicksoniteBaF2Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
8.4.17UsoviteBa2CaMgAl2F14Mon.
8.4.18BøgvaditeNa2SrBa2Al4F20Mon. 2/m

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Readily soluble in alcohol and in water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Deliquescent.
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 BischofiteHide

Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Ochsenius, C. (1877): Die Bildung der Steinsalzlager und ihrer Mutterlaugensalze unter specieller Berücksichtigung der Flöze von Douglashall in der Egeln´schen Mulde. Verlag Pfeffer (Halle), 172 p.
Ochsenius, C. (1877): Jahresbericht über die Fortschritte der Chemie und verwandter Theile anderer Wissenschaften: 1284, 1285.
Ochsenius, C. (1877): Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 1: 414.
Przibylla (1904) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 238.
Dewar (1905) Chem. News: 91: 216.
Mügge (1906) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 91.
Görgey (1910) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 29: 200.
Doelter, C. (1928) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie: 4(2): 1212.
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 46-47.
Heide, K. and Kühn, W. (1965): Bischofit im carnallitschen Stassfurtlager der stillgelegten Kaliwerke Aschersleben/Anhalt (Schachtanlage V). Chemie der Erde 24, 211-214 (in German).
Sorrell, C. A., and Ramey, R. R. (1974): X-ray powder data and unit cell parameters of MgCl2.6H2O. Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data 19, 31-32.
Agron, P. A., and Busing, W. R. (1985): Magnesium dichloride hexahydrate, MgCl2.6H2O, by neutron diffraction. Acta Crystallographica C41, 8-10.
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 59.

Internet Links for BischofiteHide

Localities for BischofiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for 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 (eg from pseudomorphs.)

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia
 
  • Western Australia
    • Menzies Shire
      • Davyhurst Goldfield
        • Mulwarrie
Simpson, E.S. (1948), Minerals of Western Australia, Vol 1, p236
Belarus
 
  • Minsk Province
    • Pripyat Depression
USGS MRDS database potash: https://mrdata.usgs.gov/potash/show-potash.php?rec_no=55
Canada
 
  • Saskatchewan
Shang, Y. (2000). Mineralogy, lithostratigraphy and geochemistry of North Ingebright Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. PhD thesis University of Manitoba.
    • Rocanville
G. W. Robinson, V. King (1993) Whats New in Minerals. Mineralogical Record 24:381-395
Central Asia
 
Crétaux, J. F., Létolle, R., & Calmant, S. (2009). Investigations on Aral Sea regressions from Mirabilite deposits and remote sensing. Aquatic geochemistry, 15(1-2), 277-291.
China
 
  • Qinghai Province
    • Hainan Autonomous Prefecture
Sun Da-peng, Li Bing-xiao, Ma Yua-hua, and Lin Qun-zhu (2002): Journal of Salt Lake Research 10(4), 1-12.
    • Haixi Autonomous Prefecture
      • Da Qaidam Co. (Dachaidan Co.)
Shaoxiu Yang (1991): Journal of Lake Sciences 3(1), 1-10
Xiyu Zheng (1994): Journal of Lake Sciences 6(3), 267-275
      • Golmud Co. (Ge'ermu Co.)
Dongsheng Hu (1990): Scientia Geologica Sinica 3(7), 259-268; Xiyu Zheng (1994): Journal of Lake Sciences 6(3), 267-275
Botao Li, Yuanyi Zhao, Zuohua Qian, Pengcheng Jiao, Chenglin Liu, and Shijun Wang (2010): Mineral Deposits 29(4), 669-683
Shaoxiu Yang (1991): Journal of Lake Sciences 3(1), 1-10
      • Lenghu Co.
Shaoxiu Yang (1991): Journal of Lake Sciences 3(1), 1-10; Mianping Zheng and Xifang Liu (2010): Acta Geologica Sinica 84(11), 1585-1600
      • Mangnai Co. (Mangya Co.)
Shaoxiu Yang (1991): Journal of Lake Sciences 3(1), 1-10; Mily Wang, Yijie Wang, Chenglin Liu, and Yongzhi Chen (1993): Acta Geoscientica Sinica 15(1)
  • Xinjiang Autonomous Region
    • Tulufan Prefecture (Turfan Prefecture; Turpan Prefecture)
      • Tulufan Co. (Turfan Co.; Turpan Co.)
        • Turfan basin (Turpan basin)
Bingxiao Li (1992): Journal of Lake Sciences 4(1), 48-55
Czech Republic
 
  • Moravia-Silesia Region
    • Karviná
      • Orlová
Matýsek D., Jirásek J., Osovský M., Skupien P.. Minerals formed by the weathering of sulfides in mines of the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Mineralogical Magazine, 2014, 78, 5, 1265-1286.
Germany
 
  • Hesse
    • Fulda
      • Neuhof
S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Werra valley
      • Heringen
Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Phillippsthal
Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
  • Lower Saxony
    • Celle
      • Hänigsen
Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" from 1989 ISBN 3-925094-24-5 Pg.9
      • Wathlingen
Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Vienenburg
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: 47; Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 59
  • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Stassfurt Potash deposit
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 59
      • Egeln
        • Tarthun
No reference listed
      • Stassfurt
Dana 6:A3:14,43,46; Dana 7:II:430; Zr. Kr.:50(1911):139.
C. Ochsenius (1877): Die Bildung der Steinsalzlager und ihrer Mutterlaugensalze unter specieller Berücksichtigung der Flötze von Douglashall in der Egeln´schen Mulde.- Halle, Verlag Pfeffer, 172 p.; 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: 47.
  • Thuringia
    • Thuringian Forest
      • Merkers-Kieselbach
XRD analysis (T. Witzke)
Hungary
 
  • Heves Co.
    • Mátra Mts
      • Recsk
No reference listed
Italy
 
  • Sicily
    • Agrigento Province (Girgenti Province)
      • Racalmuto
        • Racalmuto saliferous deposit
Adamo S., Ramberti L. (1979): L'industria estrattiva del potassio in Italia. L'Industria Mineraria, 30, maggio-giugno 1979, 161-170.
Adamo S., Ramberti L. (1979): L'industria estrattiva del potassio in Italia. L'Industria Mineraria, 30, maggio-giugno 1979, 161-170
    • Caltanissetta Province
Adamo, S., Ramberti, L. (1979) L'industria estrattiva del potassio in Italia. L'Industria Mineraria, 30, maggio-giugno 1979, 161-170.
AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    • Enna Province
      • Enna (Castrogiovanni)
Adamo, S., Ramberti, L. (1979) L'industria estrattiva del potassio in Italia. L'Industria Mineraria, 30, maggio-giugno 1979, 161-170; Montrasio, A., Sciesa, E., Vignola, P. (1996) Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work Italiana Editrice, Bresso (Milano), 800 pp.
Kazakhstan
 
  • Aktobe
    • Aksai Valley
Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow; ERCOSPAN (2011) Independent Geological Report on the Zhilianskoe and Chelkar Potash Deposits in Kazakhstan EGB 11-012
  • Atyrau
    • Atyrau (Gur'yev)
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 59; Evseev, A. A. (1995) Kazaknstan and Middle Asia. A brief Mineralogical Guide. World of Stone 8:24-30; Pekov, I. V. & Abramov, D. V. (1993): Boron deposit of the Inder and its minerals. World of Stones, 1, 23-30.
Netherlands
 
  • Groningen
T.G. Nijland, J.C. Zwaan, D. Visser, J. Leloux - De mineralen van Nederland - 2007
Peru
 
  • Lima Department
P. Andresen collection, obtained from A. Robbemond, 2004.
Poland
 
  • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
    • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
      • Rybnik Coal Area
        • Radlin
Łukasz Kruszewski (2012) Unique chloride assemblage of exhalative origin from burning coal-mining dump in Radlin (Rybnik Coal Area, S Poland). Mineralogical Society of Poland Special Papers 40
  • Wielkopolskie
Jirásek, J.: Solný důl Kłodawa (Polsko). Minerál, 2004, roč. 12, č. 2, s. 98-102. ISSN 1213-0710 (excerpted from unpublished thesis Hanczke, T.: Mineralogia i petrografia soli czechstyńskich kopalni "Kłodawa". Doktroská práce, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Instytut nauk geologicznych, 1967.); Wachowiak, J., Pieczka, A. (2016): Motukoreaite from the Kłodawa Salt Dome, Central Poland. Mineralogical Magazine, 80, 277-289
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
 
  • Kouilou Department
Henry Rauche (2009) Updated Reserve and Resource Estimate for MagMinerals Kouilou Potash Project, Republic of Congo
Russia
 
  • Far-Eastern Region
    • Kamchatka Oblast'
Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
        • Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture)
          • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
Vergasova L P, Filatov S K, Starova G L, Matusevich Z L, Filosofova T M (1996) Vlodavetsite, AlCa2(SO4)2F2Cl·4H2O, a new mineral from volcanic exhalations, Transactions (Doklady) of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Earth science sections, 343, 173-176 abstract Am Min 81:768
Ukraine
 
  • Crimea
    • Crimea peninsula
      • Krasnoperekopsk Area
Geologiya SSSR. Poleznye iskopaemye (The geology of USSR. Commercial mineral) - Nedra (Moscou), 1974, vol. VIII, 205 p.
USA
 
  • New Mexico
Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    • Otero Co.
2008 New Mexico Mineral Symposium abstracts
  • Utah
    • Tooele Co.
UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
Mineral and/or Locality  
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2018, except where stated. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us Current server date and time: October 23, 2018 19:13:22 Page generated: October 7, 2018 23:41:31
Go to top of page