Boussingaultite

Boussingaultite
General
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		(NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O
IMA symbolBsg[1]
Strunz classification7.CC.60
Dana classification29.03.07.02
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/a
Unit cella = 9.324(7) Å,
b = 12.597(9) Å,
c = 6.211(5) Å; β = 1.472°; Z = 2
Identification
Formula mass360.60 g/mol
ColorColorless, yellow pink, light yellow, pink; colorless in transmitted light
Cleavage{201} perfect (synthetic)
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterVitreous (glassy), silky
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity1.73
Density1.7 g/cm3
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
2V angle51°11′
Dispersionr > v, perceptible
SolubilitySoluble in H2O
References[2][3][4]

Boussingaultite is a rare ammonium magnesium hydrated 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,[5] but is more commonly found on burning coal dumps.[6] The mineral possess monoclinic symmetry and forms clear, often rounded crystals.[3]

The mineral is named after the French chemist Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802–1887).[7]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Boussingaultite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  3. ^ a b "Boussingaultite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  4. ^ "Boussingaultite" (PDF). Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  5. ^ Fleischer M. 1965: New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 50, pp. 805
  6. ^ Chesnokov B. V. and Shcherbakova E. P. 1991: Mineralogiya gorelykh otvalov Chelyabinskogo ugolnogo basseina - opyt mineralogii tekhnogenesa. Nauka, Moscow
  7. ^ 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.