Misenite
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About Misenite
Formula:
K8H6(SO4)7
Colour:
Colourless (artificial material), greyish-white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Silky, Pearly
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After the type locality, Cape Miseno (Capo Miseno), near Naples, Italy.
Soluble in H2O; solution has a bitter and acid taste.
Classification of Misenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1849
6/A.06-20
7.AD.15
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
28.1.2.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
1 : Anhydrous Acid Sulfates
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
1 : Anhydrous Acid Sulfates
25.1.6
25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
25 : Sulphates
1 : Sulphates of the alkali metals and ammonium
Physical Properties of Misenite
Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless (artificial material), greyish-white; colourless in transmitted light
Optical Data of Misenite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.475 nβ = 1.480 nγ = 1.487
2V:
Measured: 81° , Calculated: 82°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Chemical Properties of Misenite
Formula:
K8H6(SO4)7
IMA Formula:
K8(SO4)(SO3OH)6
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Misenite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Morphology:
Fibrous masses and aggregates of needle- or lath-like crystals elongated [100] and flattened {001}. {001} striated [100].
Type Occurrence of Misenite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumarole
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Misenite
Other Language Names for Misenite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
7.AD. | Calciolangbeinite | K2Ca2(SO4)3 | Iso. 2 3 : P21 3 |
7.AD. | Bubnovaite | K2Na8Ca(SO4)6 | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
7.AD.05 | Arcanite | K2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.AD.05 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.AD.10 | Mercallite | KHSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.AD.20 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 | Tric. |
7.AD.25 | Glauberite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
7.AD.30 | Anhydrite | CaSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.AD.35 | Anglesite | PbSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.AD.35 | Baryte | BaSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.AD.35 | Celestine | SrSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.AD.35 | Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) | Orth. |
7.AD.40 | Kalistrontite | K2Sr(SO4)2 | Trig. |
7.AD.40 | Palmierite | (K,Na)2Pb(SO4)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
25.1.1 | Thénardite | Na2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd |
25.1.2 | Matteuccite | NaHSO4 · H2O | Mon. |
25.1.3 | Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O | Mon. 2/m |
25.1.4 | Arcanite | K2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
25.1.5 | Mercallite | KHSO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
25.1.7 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 | Trig. |
25.1.8 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
25.1.9 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 | Tric. |
25.1.10 | Ammonioalunite | (NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water, yielding an acidic solution.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Misenite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Scacchi (1849) Mem. geol. sulla Campania: 98 (as Misénite).
Scacchi (1849) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Rendus. Naples: 332.
Scacchi (1850) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 31: 263.
Stortenbecker (1902) Rec. trav. chim. Pays-Bas: 21: 399.
Zambonini (1907) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: 328.
Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 111.
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 396-397.
Internet Links for Misenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2726.html
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Localities for Misenite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile | |
| Excalibur Mineral Co. specimen |
Italy (TL) | |
| Scacchi A. (1849): Memorie geologiche sulla Campania. Memoria 3a. Esame delle sostanze che si formano presso i fumaroli della Regione Flegrea. Rendiconto Accad. Sci. Napoli, 8, 317-335; Zambonini F. (1907): Su alcuni minerali della Grotta dello Zolfo a Miseno. Rendiconto Accad. Sci. fis. mat. Napoli, serie 3, 46, 324-331; Palache, C., Berman H., Frondel C. (1951): The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: page 396. |
Francesco Civero | |
| Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 395; Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI. |
Russo, M., and Punzo, I. (2004) I Minerali del Somma-Vesuvio. AMI Associazione Micro-mineralogica Italiana, Tipografia Fantigrafica s.r.l., Cremona, 320 pp. | |
Poland | |
| Łukasz Kruszewski (2012) Unique chloride assemblage of exhalative origin from burning coal-mining dump in Radlin (Rybnik Coal Area, S Poland). Mineralogical Society of Poland Special Papers 40 |
Cerros Pintados, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá, Chile