Metathénardite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Metathénardite
Formula:
Na2SO4
Colour:
Colorless, white, light-blue, greenish, yellowish, grayish or brownish,
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.72
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Originally reported by Lacroix (1905) as a hypothetical mineral from Mt. Pelée, Martinique, Lesser Antilles, French West Indies. Named for being a dimorph of thénardite formed at high temperatures and unstable at room temperature. Approved by IMA in 2016 on submitted material from Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia.
Co-Type Localities:
ⓘ Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole (Major Tenorite), Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Yadovitaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole (Major Tenorite), Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Yadovitaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
Dimorph of:
A name applied to a high-temperature, hexagonal polymorph of Na2SO4. Approved as a new mineral in 2016. All specimens with metathénardite were collected from areas with temperatures of 350–400 °C
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Metathenardite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
30808
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:30808:7
IMA Classification of Metathénardite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na2(SO4)
Approval year:
2016
First published:
2019
Type description reference:
Pekov, Igor V., Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Gurzhiy, Vladislav V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Chukanov, Nikita V., Lykova, Inna S., Vigasina, Marina F., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Giester, Gerald (2019) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. I. Metathénardite, a natural high-temperature modification of Na2SO4. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (6) 885-901 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900050
Classification of Metathénardite
7.AD.30
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mthn | 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 Metathénardite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white, light-blue, greenish, yellowish, grayish or brownish,
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
None observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.72(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.717 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Metathénardite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.489(2) nε = 1.486(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.003
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.
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Metathénardite
Mindat Formula:
Na2SO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Metathénardite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.3467(9) Å, c = 7.088(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.326
Unit Cell V:
175.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Hexagonal tabular to lamellar. Pinacoid {001} (usually the major form), with the hexagonal prism {100}, the hexagonal dipyramid {102} and narrow faces of the hexagonal dipyramid {201}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.667 Å | (27) |
| 3.904 Å | (89) |
| 3.565 Å | (33) |
| 2.824 Å | (94) |
| 2.686 Å | (100) |
| 2.325 Å | (12) |
| 2.203 Å | (10) |
| 1.939 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Metathénardite
Co-Type Localities:
ⓘ Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole (Major Tenorite), Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Yadovitaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole (Major Tenorite), Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
ⓘ Yadovitaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture), Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
General Appearance of Type Material:
Hexagonal tabular, lamellar, or dipyramidal crystals (forms: {001}, {100}, {102}, and {201}) up to 3 mm combined in crusts up to several hundred cm2 in area.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (registration number 4771/1).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Volcanic fumaroles.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Pekov, Igor V., Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Gurzhiy, Vladislav V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Chukanov, Nikita V., Lykova, Inna S., Vigasina, Marina F., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Giester, Gerald (2019) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. I. Metathénardite, a natural high-temperature modification of Na2SO4. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (6) 885-901 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900050
Synonyms of Metathénardite
Other Language Names for Metathénardite
Dutch:Metathénardiet
German:Metathénardit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AD. | Bubnovaite | K2Na8Ca(SO4)6 |
| 7.AD. | Dobrovolskyite | Na4Ca(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Calciolangbeinite | K2Ca2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Murphyite | Pb(Te6+O4) |
| 7.AD. | Cuprodobrovolskyite | Na4Cu(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Kristjánite | KNa2H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.05 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 |
| 7.AD.05 | Arcanite | K2SO4 |
| 7.AD.10 | Mercallite | KHSO4 |
| 7.AD.15 | Misenite | K8H6(SO4)7 |
| 7.AD.20 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.25 | Thénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 7.AD.25 | Glauberite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.30 | Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Celestine | SrSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) |
| 7.AD.35 | Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 7.AD.40 | Kalistrontite | K2Sr(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.40 | Palmierite | K2Pb(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.45 | Ivsite | Na3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.55 | Markhininite | TlBi(SO4)2 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Unstable at room temperature.
Notes:
Dissolves in H2O at room temperature.
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 Metathénardite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-30808.html
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References for Metathénardite
Reference List:
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S.J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter no 30. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (2) 407-413 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.081
Pekov, Igor V., Shchipalkina, Nadezhda V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Gurzhiy, Vladislav V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Chukanov, Nikita V., Lykova, Inna S., Vigasina, Marina F., Koshlyakova, Natalia N., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Giester, Gerald (2019) Alkali sulfates with aphthitalite-like structures from fumaroles of the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. I. Metathénardite, a natural high-temperature modification of Na2SO4. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (6) 885-901 doi:10.3749/canmin.1900050
Localities for Metathénardite
Showing 7 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.
France | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Iceland | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2024) | |
| Mitolo et al. (2008) |
Russia (TL) | |
| XRD and EPMA by Dr. Igor Pekov +3 other references |
| Pekov et al. (2016) +2 other references | |
| Pekov et al. (2019) |
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Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia