Syngenite
Uncommon potassium calcium sulfate mineral
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Syngenite is an uncommon potassium calcium sulfate mineral with formula K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O. It forms as prismatic monoclinic crystals and as encrustations.
| Syngenite | |
|---|---|
Tapering crystal of syngenite (size: 4.4 × 1.3 × 0.6 cm) | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula | K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O |
| IMA symbol | Sgn[1] |
| Strunz classification | 7.CD.35 |
| Dana classification | 29.3.1.1 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/m |
| Unit cell | a = 9.77 Å, b = 7.14 Å c = 6.25 Å; β = 104.01°; Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, milky white to faintly yellow due to inclusions |
| Crystal habit | Tabular to prismatic crystals, lamellar aggregates and crystalline crusts |
| Twinning | Common on {101} contact twins |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {110} and {100}, distinct on {010} |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.579–2.603 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (−), colorless (transmitted light) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.501 nβ = 1.517 nγ = 1.518 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.017 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 28° |
| Solubility | Partially dissolves in water |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Discovery and occurrence
It was first described in 1872 for an occurrence as druse on halite in the Kalusa Salt deposit, Ivanovo-Frankovsk Oblast', Ukraine.[3] The name is from Greek 'συγγενής' (related) due to its chemical similarity to polyhalite.[4][3]
It occurs in marine evaporite deposits as a diagenetic phase. It also forms as a volcanic sublimate, as vein fillings in geothermal fields and in caves where it is derived from bat guano. It occurs in association with halite and arcanite in salt deposits; and with biphosphammite, aphthitalite, monetite, whitlockite, uricite, brushite and gypsum in cave environments.[2]
It is also found in hardened cement which has relatively higher amount of potassium. [5]
Production
Syngenite can be artificially produced by the action of a potassium sulfate solution on gypsum.[6]
