Bischofite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Bischofite
Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
1.591 - 1.604
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For Karl Gustav Bischof (1792-1870), German geologist and mineral chemist, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, and for F. Bischof, director of the Stassfurt salt works
A relatively rare constituent of saline deposits. Secondary in origin in part. Formed by alteration of Carnallite by water.
Deliquescent and soluble in water.
Deliquescent and soluble in water.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
681
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:681:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8b0d80f4-a23b-4103-93d1-9a2c5672d358
IMA Classification of Bischofite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Bischofite
3.BB.15
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
9.2.9.1
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
8.4.3
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and Mg
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
4 : Halides of the alkaline earths and 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bsf | 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 Bischofite
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
1.591 - 1.604 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.5895 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bischofite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.495 nβ = 1.507 nγ = 1.528
2V:
Measured: 79° , Calculated: 76°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
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
Dispersion:
r > v, weak
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Y ∧ c = 9.5°.
Chemistry of Bischofite
Mindat Formula:
MgCl2 · 6H2O
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ca,S
Crystallography of Bischofite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.8607 Å, b = 7.1071 Å, c = 6.0737 Å
β = 93.758°
β = 93.758°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.387 : 1 : 0.855
Unit Cell V:
424.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic along [001]; commonly foliated, fibrous, crystalline granular, also massive
Twinning:
May twin polysynthetically under pressure
Comment:
synthetic material
Crystallographic forms of Bischofite
Crystal Atlas:
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Bischofite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Bischofite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010001 | Bischofite | Agron P A, Busing W R (1985) Magnesium dichloride hexahydrate, MgCl2*6H2O, by neutron diffraction Acta Crystallographica C41 8-10 |  | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0018111 | Bischofite | Andress K, Gundermann J (1934) Die Struktur von Magnesiumchlorid- und Magnesiumbromidhexahydrat. _cod_database_code 1011249 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 87 345-369 | 1934 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.095 Å | (100) |
| 2.646 Å | (69) |
| 2.880 Å | (58) |
| 2.732 Å | (39) |
| 2.305 Å | (39) |
| 2.228 Å | (27) |
| 3.553 Å | (26) |
Comments:
Recorded on synthetic material
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] | |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
In saline deposits; probably in part formed from carnallite
Type Occurrence of Bischofite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bischofite
Other Language Names for Bischofite
Varieties of Bischofite
| Brom-bischofite | Artificial Bromine analogue of Bischofite |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.BB.05 | Eriochalcite | CuCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.10 | Rokühnite | FeCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.20 | Nickelbischofite | NiCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.25 | Sinjarite | CaCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.30 | Antarcticite | CaCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.35 | Aravaipaite | Pb3AlF9 · H2O |
| 3.BB.35 | Tachyhydrite | CaMg2Cl6 · 12H2O |
| 3.BB.40 | Ghiaraite | CaCl2 · 4H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in alcohol and in water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Deliquescent.
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 Bischofite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-681.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Bischofite
Reference List:
Localities for Bischofite
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.
Asia | |
| Crétaux et al. (2009) | |
Australia | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Belarus | |
| USGS MRDS database potash: ... |
Canada | |
| Shang (2000) |
| G. W. Robinson (1993) |
China | |
| Sun Da-peng et al. (2002) |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) |
| Xiyu Zheng (1994) | |
| Dongsheng Hu (1990) +1 other reference |
| Botao Li et al. (2010) | |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) | |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) +1 other reference |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) +1 other reference |
| Wang et al. (2023) |
| Bingxiao Li (1992) |
Czech Republic | |
| Matýsek D. |
Ethiopia | |
| Hovland et al. (2019) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" ... |
| |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references |
| Ochsenius (1877) +1 other reference | |
| ... | |
| Anthony (1997) |
| XRD analysis (T. Witzke) |
Hungary | |
| |
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| Adamo S. (1979) |
| Adamo S. (1979) | |
| AA. VV. |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) +1 other reference |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Pekov et al. (1993) +2 other references |
Netherlands | |
| T.G. Nijland |
| Pichat (2022) | |
Peru | |
| P. Andresen collection |
Poland | |
| Jirásek +7 other references |
| Łukasz Kruszewski (2012) |
Republic of the Congo | |
| Zhao et al. (2016) |
| Henry Rauche (2009) | |
| Milesi et al. (2006) | |
Russia | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Vergasova L P et al. (1996) |
| Chaykovsky et al. (2015) |
Ukraine | |
| Geologiya SSSR. Poleznye iskopaemye (The geology of USSR. Commercial mineral) |
USA | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Hawley +5 other references |
| 2008 New Mexico Mineral Symposium ... |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
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Staßfurt potash deposit, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany