Zincmelanterite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Zincmelanterite
Formula:
Zn(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O
Colour:
Pale greenish-blue, yellow-green, apple-green; very pale blue-green in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
2.02 - 2.03
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after its zinc content and relationship to melanterite which was named in 1850 from the Greek μελαντηρία for "copperas," meaning ferrous sulfate. The name zinc-melanterite, with a hyphen, was changed by the IMA in 2008.
Co-Type Localities:
ⓘ Good Hope Mine (Mammoth Good Hope Mine; Mammoth-Good Hope Mine; Mammoth Chimney Mine), Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
ⓘ Vulcan Mine, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
ⓘ Vulcan Mine, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4406
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4406:2
IMA Classification of Zincmelanterite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Zn2+S6+O4·7H2O
Classification of Zincmelanterite
7.CB.35
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.10.3
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.5.15
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Zmln | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Zincmelanterite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale greenish-blue, yellow-green, apple-green; very pale blue-green in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.02 - 2.03 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.93 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Zincmelanterite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.477 - 1.479 nβ = 1.483 - 1.487 nγ = 1.488 - 1.489
2V:
Measured: 80° to 90°, Calculated: 79°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010 - 0.011
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
none
Chemistry of Zincmelanterite
Mindat Formula:
Zn(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Cu
Crystallography of Zincmelanterite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Morphology:
Massive, columnar. Comprised of microscopic rod-like crystals.
Comment:
No cell dimensions
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| - Å | () |
Comments:
No published powder pattern data.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] |
Type Occurrence of Zincmelanterite
Co-Type Localities:
ⓘ Good Hope Mine (Mammoth Good Hope Mine; Mammoth-Good Hope Mine; Mammoth Chimney Mine), Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
ⓘ Vulcan Mine, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
ⓘ Vulcan Mine, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 93244.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Zincmelanterite
Other Language Names for Zincmelanterite
Relationship of Zincmelanterite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Melanterite Group:
| Alpersite | (Mg,Cu2+)(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Bieberite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
| Boothite | Cu2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Mallardite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
| Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | CoSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | Mn2+(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Boyleite | ZnSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Moorhouseite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu2+)(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | Cu2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | Cd3(SO4)3 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Rhomboclase | (H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Raisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.57 | 'Caichengyunite' | Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2O |
| 7.CB.60 | Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.65 | Quenstedtite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 11H2O |
| 7.CB.70 | Lausenite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Dietrichite | ZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | Fe2+Cr3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | Co2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.90 | Meridianiite | MgSO4 · 11H2O |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Dehydrates readily under ambient conditions.
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 Zincmelanterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4406.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Zincmelanterite
Localities for Zincmelanterite
Showing 11 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
China | |
| Tiegeng Liu et al. (1995) |
Greece | |
| |
| Kohlberger (1976) | |
Iran | |
| Khorasanipour (2015) |
Japan | |
| Nambu et al (1978) |
USA | |
| Adams (2017) |
| American Journal of Science (1920) +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Tony Nikischer to Jeff Weissman |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA