Saltonseaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Saltonseaite
Formula:
K3NaMnCl6
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.26
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after the type locality, the Salton Sea, USA.
Type Locality:
Mn analogue of rinneite. At the type locality, Salton Sea, Imperial County, California, U.S.A., it has been formed as the result of the evaporation of geothermal (hydrothermal) brines enriched in K, Na, Mn, and Cl.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42730
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42730:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
7365ad29-f555-480a-bfbf-7fcc5638a3ea
IMA Classification of Saltonseaite
Classification of Saltonseaite
3.CJ.05
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
J : With MX6 complexes; M = Fe, Mn, Cu
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
J : With MX6 complexes; M = Fe, Mn, Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sts | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Saltonseaite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Saltonseaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Vitreous to oily, the latter being due to deliquescence
Colour:
Colorless
Comment:
Appear light orange due to inclusions of akaganéite
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
One very good cleavage on {110}.
One very good cleavage on {110}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.26(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.297 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Saltonseaite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.577(1) nε = 1.578(1)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.001
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:
Low
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Saltonseaite
Mindat Formula:
K3NaMnCl6
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Saltonseaite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3c
Setting:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.0966(5) Å, c = 13.9555(10) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.154
Unit Cell V:
1768.48 ų
Z:
6
Morphology:
Lozenge-shaped and bladed crystals to about 10 cm that are composites of parallel-grown {012} rhombohedra.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019751 | Saltonseaite | Kampf A R, Mills S J, Nestola F, Ciriotti M E, Kasatkin A V (2012) Saltonseaite, K3NaMn2+Cl6, the Mn analogue of rinneite from the Salton Sea, California American Mineralogist 98 231-235 | 2012 | Salton Sea, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.831 Å | (61) |
| 3.498 Å | (25) |
| 2.851 Å | (68) |
| 2.689 Å | (32) |
| 2.625 Å | (62) |
| 2.542 Å | (100) |
| 1.983 Å | (32) |
| 1.384 Å | (22) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Saltonseaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
lozenge-shaped and bladed crystals to about 10 cm that are composites of parallel-grown {012} rhombohedra.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA, catalogue number 23604
Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, catalogue number M51615
Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, catalogue number M51615
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Saltonseaite is an evaporite mineral formed from solutions enriched in K, Na, Mn, and Cl. The solutions evidently emanated from a natural hot spring, related to the Salton Sea geothermal field.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Saltonseaite
Relationship of Saltonseaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Chlormanganokalite | K4[MnCl6] | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Rinneite | K3Na[FeCl6] | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.CJ.05 | Chlormanganokalite | K4[MnCl6] |
| 3.CJ.05 | Rinneite | K3Na[FeCl6] |
| 3.CJ.10 | Erythrosiderite | K2[Fe3+Cl5(H2O)] |
| 3.CJ.10 | Kremersite | (NH4,K)2[Fe3+Cl5(H2O)] |
| 3.CJ.15 | Mitscherlichite | K2CuCl4 · 2H2O |
| 3.CJ.20 | Douglasite | K2[Fe2+Cl4(OH2)2] |
| 3.CJ.25 | Redikortsevite | (NH4)MgCl3 · 6H2O |
| 3.CJ.30 | Zirklerite | (Fe,Mg,Ca)9Al4Cl18(OH)12 · 14H2O (?) |
| 3.CJ.30 | Kalithallite | K3Tl3+Cl6 · 2H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Has a astringent taste. Hygroscopic. Soluble in water at room temperature and crystallizes from solution above 52 °C.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Markedly hygroscopic.
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 Saltonseaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42730.html
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References for Saltonseaite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2012) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2012. CNMNC Newsletter No 13. Mineralogical Magazine, 76 (3) 807-817 doi:10.1180/minmag.2012.076.3.26
Localities for Saltonseaite
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.
Russia | |
| Pekov et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
USA (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2012) +2 other references |
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Salton Sea, Imperial County, California, USA