Hanksite

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Hanksite
Hanksite-27109.jpg
Hanksite crystal from Searles Lake
General
Category Sulfate minerals, sulfate carbonate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na22K(SO4)9(CO3)2Cl
IMA symbol Hks [1]
Strunz classification 7.BD.30
Crystal system Hexagonal
Crystal class Dipyramidal (6/m)
H–M symbol: (6/m)
Space group P63/m
Unit cell a = 10.465(21) Å
c = 21.191(43) Å; Z = 2
Identification
ColorColorless to pale yellow, may be grayish green due to clay inclusions
Crystal habit Occurs as short prismatic to tabular hexagonal crystals
Cleavage Good on {0001}
Fracture Uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness3–3.5
Luster Vitreous to dull
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 2.562
Optical propertiesUniaxial (−)
Refractive index nω = 1.481, nε = 1.461
Birefringence δ = 0.020
Ultraviolet fluorescence Pale yellow under LW UV
Solubility Readily soluble in water
References [2] [3] [4]

Hanksite is a sulfate mineral, distinguished as one of only a handful that contain both carbonate and sulfate ions (a sulfate carbonate). It has the chemical formula Na 22 K(SO4)9(CO3)2 Cl.

Contents

Occurrence

It was first described in 1888 for an occurrence in Searles Lake, California, and named for American geologist Henry Garber Hanks. [3] [4] Hanksite is normally found in crystal form as evaporite deposits. Hanksite crystals are large but not complex in structure. It is often found in Searles Lake, Soda Lake, Mono Lake, and in Death Valley. At its deposits in San Bernardino County, California hanksite is commonly found beneath the surface embedded in mud or in drill cores (Palache et al., 1960). It is associated with halite, borax, trona, and aphthitalite at the Searles Lake locality. [2] It is also associated with borax mining in the Soda Lake area. [ citation needed ]

Physical characteristics

Hanksite can be colorless, white, gray, green, or yellow, and is transparent or translucent. The mineral's hardness is approximately 3 to 3.5. The specific gravity is approximately 2.5 (slightly below average). It is salty to the taste and sometimes glows pale yellow in ultraviolet light. Typical growth habits are hexagonal prisms or tabular with pyramidal terminations. The streak of Hanksite is white. It can contain inclusions of clay that the crystal formed around while developing.

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References

  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. 1 2 Handbook of Mineralogy.
  3. 1 2 Mindat.org.
  4. 1 2 Webmineral data.

Bibliography