Vanthoffite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Vanthoffite
Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff
Formula:
Na6Mg(SO4)4
Colour:
Colourless, gray, pale yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.694
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff (30 August 1852 Rotterdam, Netherlands - 1 March 1911, Steglitz near Berlin, German Empire), Professor of Chemistry, University of Amsterdam (1878-1896), University of Berlin (1896-1911), physical chemist and thermodynamicist, founder of stereochemistry, student of equilibria in salt solutions). He was awarded the first (1901) Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Vanthoffite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4151
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4151:1
IMA Classification of Vanthoffite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1902
Classification of Vanthoffite
7.AC.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
28.4.1.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
25.3.8
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vhf | 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 Vanthoffite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, gray, pale yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
Colourless
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Fragile
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.694 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.687 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vanthoffite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.486 nβ = 1.488 nγ = 1.489
2V:
Measured: 83° , Calculated: 70°
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
Dispersion:
weak r < v
Chemistry of Vanthoffite
Mindat Formula:
Na6Mg(SO4)4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Vanthoffite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.781(2) Å, b = 9.196(2) Å, c = 8.197(2) Å
β = 113.61(2)°
β = 113.61(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.064 : 1 : 0.891
Unit Cell V:
675.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Massive only; anhedral grains or bedded aggregates.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009292 | Vanthoffite | Fischer W, Hellner E (1964) Ueber die struktur des vanthoffits Acta Crystallographica 17 1613-1613 |  | 1964 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.431 Å | (100) |
| 4.032 Å | (95) |
| 3.114 Å | (75) |
| 3.917 Å | (70) |
| 2.909 Å | (70) |
| 2.846 Å | (60) |
| 2.832 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Oceanic salt deposits.
Type Occurrence of Vanthoffite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Evaporite deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Vanthoffite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AC. | Aluminopyracmonite | (NH4)3Al(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC. | Amgaite | Tl+32Te6+O6 |
| 7.AC.08 | Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Langbeinite | K2Mg2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.15 | Yavapaiite | KFe(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.15 | Eldfellite | NaFe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Sabieite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Steklite | KAl(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Belomarinaite | KNa(SO4) |
| 7.AC.35 | Natroaphthitalite | KNa3(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Möhnite | (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.40 | Itelmenite | Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.45 | Saranchinaite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.50 | Majzlanite | K2Na(ZnNa)Ca(SO4)4 |
| 7.AC.60 | Philoxenite | (K,Na,Pb)4(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Cu)3(Fe3+0.5Al0.5)(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.75 | Petrovite | Na12Cu2(SO4)8 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water, slightly bitter taste.
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 Vanthoffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4151.html
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References for Vanthoffite
Reference List:
Fischer, W., Hellner, E. (1964) Über die Struktur des Vanthoffits. Acta Crystallographica, 17 (12) 1613 doi:10.1107/s0365110x6400398x
Balić-Žunić, Tonči, Birkedal, Renie, Katerinopoulou, Anna, Comodi, Paola (2016) Dehydration of blödite, Na2Mg(SO4)2(H2O)4, and leonite, K2Mg(SO4)2(H2O)4. European Journal of Mineralogy, 28 (1) 33-42 doi:10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2487
Localities for Vanthoffite
Showing 17 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.
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Exel (1993) |
China | |
| Zhongde Zhu (1988) |
| Yanling Tang (2005) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Kubierschky (1902) +1 other reference |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references |
Iceland | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
| Mitolo et al. (2008) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov et al. (1993) |
Poland | |
| Ł. Kruszewski PXRD data (to be published soon) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Pekov et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Pekov et al. (2019) | |
USA | |
| Murowchick et al. (1965) +3 other references |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
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Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia