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Walthierite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Colour:
White, light yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.02 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in honor of Thomas Nash Walthier (1922/23 - 1990), geologist with St. Joseph Minerals Co., who played a significant role in the exploration of the El Indio and Tambo mining districts, Coquimbo region, Chile.

Not to be confused with waltherite (now walpurgite).
This page provides mineralogical data about Walthierite.


Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4240
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4240:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
debd2282-76a3-4c49-abf6-c97f78091b7d

IMA Classification of WalthieriteHide

Classification of WalthieriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2023):
7.BC.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th ed.:
30.2.4.7

30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
WtrIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of WalthieriteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White, light yellow
Streak:
white
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
Density:
3.02 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of WalthieriteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.588(2) nε = 1.604(2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.016
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate

Chemistry of WalthieriteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6
Elements listed:
Al, Ba, H, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of WalthieriteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.992(4) Å, c = 34.443(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 4.926
Unit Cell V:
1,458.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Comment:
Point Group: 3 2/m or 3m.; Space Group: [R3m or R3m] (by analogy to alunite)

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.98 Å(100)
2.283 Å(80)
1.909 Å(70)
1.747 Å(60)
3.49 Å(55)
5.73 Å(50)
4.97 Å(45)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits

Type Occurrence of WalthieriteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Retna vein, Tambo Mine, El Indio deposit, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 170208, 170209.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
QuartzPyriteJarositeBaryteAlunite
Reference:
Li, G., Peacor, D.R., Essene, E.J., Brosnahan, D.R., Beane, R.E. (1992) Walthierite, Ba0.5◻0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, and huangite, Ca0.5◻0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, two new minerals of the alunite group from the Coquimbo region, Chile. American Mineralogist: 77: 1275-1284.

Synonyms of WalthieriteHide

Other Language Names for WalthieriteHide

German:Walthierit
Spanish:Walthierita

Relationship of Walthierite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Alunite Group > Alunite Supergroup
Other Members of this group:
AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
Ammonioalunite(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig.
Ammoniojarosite(NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
ArgentojarositeAgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
Beaverite-(Cu)Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Beaverite-(Zn)Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
DorallchariteTlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
HuangiteCa0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
JarositeKFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
Natroalunite-2c(Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
OsarizawaitePb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Schlossmacherite(H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.BC.Adranosite-(Fe)(NH4)4NaFe3+2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd
7.BC.Adranosite(NH4)4NaAl2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd
7.BC.D'Ansite-(Mn)Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
7.BC.AgaitePb3CuTeO5(OH)2(CO3) Orth. mm2 : Pca21
7.BC.D'Ansite-(Fe)Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
7.BC.Acmonidesite(NH4,K,Pb)8NaFe2+4(SO4)5Cl8Orth. 2 2 2 : C2 2 21
7.BC.BackitePb2AlTeO6ClTrig. 3 2 : P3 1 2
7.BC.HagstromitePb8Cu2+(Te6+O6)2(CO3)Cl4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Ibam
7.BC.WildcatiteCaFe3+Te6+O5(OH)Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m
7.BC.FranksousaitePbCu(Se6+O4)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
7.BC.ZincochenitePb4Zn(OH)6(SO4)2Tric. 1 : P1
7.BC.ViskontitePb5Cu2(SO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
7.BC.05D'AnsiteNa21Mg(SO4)10Cl3Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
7.BC.07ApateliteFe3(SO4)2(OH)5 · 0.5H2O
7.BC.07Unnamed (Ba-Fe Vanadate)Ba, Fe, V, O, H
7.BC.10AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
7.BC.10Ammonioalunite(NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig.
7.BC.10Ammoniojarosite(NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
7.BC.10ArgentojarositeAgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
7.BC.10Beaverite-(Cu)Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10DorallchariteTlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10HuangiteCa0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10JarositeKFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10Natroalunite-2c(Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
7.BC.10NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m : R3m
7.BC.10OsarizawaitePb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10Schlossmacherite(H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.10Beaverite-(Zn)Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
7.BC.15Ye'elimiteCa4Al6(SO4)O12Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2
7.BC.20AtlasoviteK(BiO)Cu6Fe3+(SO4)5O3ClTet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/ncc
7.BC.20NabokoiteKCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OClTet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/ncc
7.BC.20PuniniteNa2Cu3O(SO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.BC.25ChlorothioniteK2Cu(SO4)Cl2Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
7.BC.30EuchlorineKNaCu3(SO4)3OMon. 2/m
7.BC.30FedotoviteK2Cu3(SO4)3OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.BC.35KamchatkiteKCu3(SO4)2OClOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
7.BC.40PiypiteK4Cu4O2(SO4)4 · (Na,Cu)ClTet. 4 : I4
7.BC.45KlyuchevskiteK3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2Mon. 2
7.BC.45AlumoklyuchevskiteK3Cu3(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)4O2Tric. 1 : P1
7.BC.45BelousoviteKZn(SO4)ClMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.BC.47MülleritePb2Fe3+(Te6+O6)ClTrig. 3 2 : P31 1 2
7.BC.50CaledonitePb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
7.BC.50ElasmochloiteNa3Cu6BiO4(SO4)5Mon. 2/m
7.BC.52Eleomelanite(K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4Mon. 2/m
7.BC.55WherryitePb7Cu2(SO4)4(SiO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
7.BC.55FalgariteK4(VO)3(SO4)5Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.BC.57KrasheninnikoviteKNa2CaMg(SO4)3FHex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm
7.BC.60MammothitePb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2Mon. 2 : B2
7.BC.60WulffiteK3NaCu4O2(SO4)4Orth. mm2
7.BC.60ParawulffiteK5Na3Cu8O4(SO4)8Mon. 2/m : P2/b
7.BC.62ShuvaloviteK2(Ca2Na)(SO4)3FOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
7.BC.65LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
7.BC.65SchmiederitePb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4Mon. 2/m : P21/m
7.BC.65MunakataitePb2Cu2(Se4+O3)(SO4)(OH)4Mon. 2/m : P21/m
7.BC.65Therasiaite(NH4)3KNa2Fe2+Fe3+(SO4)3Cl5Mon. m : Bb
7.BC.65SaccoiteCa2Mn3+2F(OH)8 · 0.5(SO4)Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/ncc
7.BC.70ChenitePb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6Tric. 1 : P1
7.BC.75KrivovichevitePb3Al(OH)6(SO4)(OH)Trig. 3m : R3c
7.BC.80AnhydrokainiteKMg(SO4)Cl

Other InformationHide

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 WalthieriteHide

References for WalthieriteHide

Reference List:
Li, G., Peacor, D.R., Essene, E.J., Brosnahan, D.R., Beane, R.E. (1992) Walthierite, Ba0.5[]0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, and huangite, Ca0.5[]0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, two new minerals of the alunite group from the Coquimbo region, Chile. American Mineralogist: 77: 1275-1284.
Li, G., Peacor, D.R., Essene, E.J., Brosnahan, D.R., Beane, R.E. (1992) Walthierite, Ba0.5◻0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, and huangite, Ca0.5◻0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6, two new minerals of the alunite group from the Coquimbo region, Chile. American Mineralogist: 77: 1275-1284.
Mandarino, Joseph A. (1997) New Minerals 1990-1994. The Mineralogical Record Inc., Tuscon, Arizona. 220pp.
Jambor, John L. (1999) Nomenclature of the Alunite Supergroup. The Canadian Mineralogist, 37 (6) 1323-1341
Bayliss, P., Kolitsch, U., Nickel, E. H., Pring, A. (2010) Alunite supergroup: recommended nomenclature. Mineralogical Magazine, 74 (5) 919-927 doi:10.1180/minmag.2010.074.5.919

Localities for WalthieriteHide

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 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.
Chile
 
  • Atacama
    • Huasco Province
      • Alto del Carmen
Economic Geology
January 2005
v. 100
no. 1
p. 131-148
  • Coquimbo
    • Elqui Province
      • El Indio deposit
Deyell, C. L., Rye, R. O., Landis, G. P., & Bissig, T. (2005). Alunite and the role of magmatic fluids in the Tambo high-sulfidation deposit, El Indio–Pascua belt, Chile. Chemical Geology, 215(1), 185-218.
Amer.Min.(1992) 77, 1275-1284
www.lrz-muenchen.de (n.d.) http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~mineralogische-sammlungen-dmg/analysen/winstanleyit.htm
Italy
 
  • Sardinia
    • South Sardinia Province
      • Carbonia
        • Barbusi
Baldoni, E., De Waele, J., Galli, E., Messina, M., Onac, B.P., Sanna, L., Sauro, F., and Villani, M. (2013) Mineralogy and speleogenesis of the Corona ‘e sa Craba quartzite cave (Carbonia, SW Sardinia). Mine Caves, Memorie dell'Istituto Italiano di Speleologia, serie II, 28, 197-210
Sauro, F., De Waele, J., Onac, B.P., Galli, E., Dublyansky, Y., Baldoni, E., and Sanna, L. (2014) Hypogenic speleogenesis in quartzite: the case of Corona 'e sa Craba Cave (SW Sardinia, Italy). Geomorphology, 211, 77-88.
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