Boussingaultite

Boussingaultite
General
Category Sulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
(NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6(H2O)
Strunz classification 07.CC.60
Dana classification 29.03.07.02
Crystal system Monoclinic - prismatic
Unit cell a = 9.324(7) Å, b = 12.597(9) Å, c = 6.211(5) Å; β = 1.472°; Z = 2
Identification
Formula mass 360.60 g
Color Colorless, yellow pink, light yellow, pink; colorless in transmitted light
Cleavage {201} perfect (synthetic)
Mohs scale hardness 2
Luster Vitreous (glassy), silky
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 1.73
Density 1.7 g/cm3
Optical properties Biaxial (+)
2V angle 51°11′
Dispersion r > v, perceptible
Solubility Soluble in H2O
References [1][2][3]

Boussingaultite is a rare sulfate mineral of the chemical formula: (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6(H2O). The formula of boussingaultite is that of Tutton's salts type. It was originally described from geothermal fields in Tuscany, Italy, where it occurs together with its iron analogue mohrite,[4] but is more commonly found on burning coal dumps.[5] The mineral possess monoclinic symmetry and forms clear, often rounded crystals.[2]

The mineral is named after the French chemist Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802–1887).[6]

References

  1. "Boussingaultite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  2. 1 2 "Boussingaultite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  3. "Boussingaultite" (PDF). Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  4. Fleischer M. 1965: New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 50, pp. 805
  5. Chesnokov B. V. and Shcherbakova E. P. 1991: Mineralogiya gorelykh otvalov Chelyabinskogo ugolnogo basseina - opyt mineralogii tekhnogenesa. Nauka, Moscow
  6. Culka, Adam; Jehlička, Jan; Němec, Ivan (2009). "Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of boussingaultite and nickelboussingaultite". Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 73 (3): 420–3. Bibcode:2009AcSpA..73..420C. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2008.10.026. PMID 19062333.
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