Pentahydrite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Pentahydrite
Formula:
MgSO4 · 5H2O
Colour:
Colourless, pale blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.896
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
In allusion to its chemical composition having five (PENTA-) molecules of water (HYDR-) in its formula.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3153
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3153:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
52a52c9a-6d05-4984-b613-71cae08dc753
IMA Classification of Pentahydrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mg(SO4) · 5H2O
Classification of Pentahydrite
7.CB.20
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.7.3
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.3.4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phy | 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 Pentahydrite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Pentahydrite
Vitreous
Colour:
Colourless, pale blue
Comment:
pale blue or pale green from impurities.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Density:
1.896 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.90 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pentahydrite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.482 - 1.495 nβ = 1.492 - 1.512 nγ = 1.493 - 1.518
2V:
Measured: 55° , Calculated: 34°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.011 - 0.023
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:
none
Chemistry of Pentahydrite
Mindat Formula:
MgSO4 · 5H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Pentahydrite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.314(5) Å, b = 10.505(18) Å, c = 6.030(6) Å
α = 81.17°, β = 109.88°, γ = 105.1°
α = 81.17°, β = 109.88°, γ = 105.1°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.601 : 1 : 0.574
Unit Cell V:
362.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Typically as efflorescences.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004016 | Pentahydrite | Peterson R C, Hammarstrom J M, Seal R R (2006) Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4*7H2O, a new mineral of the melanterite group, and cuprian pentahydrite: Their occurrence within mine waste American Mineralogist 91 261-269 |  | 2006 | Big Mike mine, Nevada, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0004017 | Pentahydrite | Peterson R C, Hammarstrom J M, Seal R R (2006) Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4*7H2O, a new mineral of the melanterite group, and cuprian pentahydrite: Their occurrence within mine waste American Mineralogist 91 261-269 | | 2006 | Miami, Arizona, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0009436 | Pentahydrite | Baur W H, Rolin J L (1972) Salt hydrates. IX. The comparison of the crystal structure of magnesium sulfate pentahydrate with copper sulfate pentahydrate and magnesium chromate pentahydrate Acta Crystallographica B28 1448-1455 |  | 1972 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.93 Å | (100) |
| 3.26 Å | (40) |
| 5.15 Å | (30) |
| 3.65 Å | (30) |
| 2.95 Å | (30) |
| 1.995 Å | (35) |
| 2.79 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 48 : Soil leaching zone minerals | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Pentahydrite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Reference:
Keller (1908) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 47: 81 (as Double Sulphate of Copper and Magnesium).
Synonyms of Pentahydrite
Other Language Names for Pentahydrite
Varieties of Pentahydrite
| Kellerite | A cuprian variety of pentahydrite. |
Relationship of Pentahydrite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O | Tric. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | (Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Boyleite | (Zn,Mg)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | (Mn,Zn,Fe)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | FeSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | MgSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Moorhouseite | Co(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | CuSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | MnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Zincmelanterite | (Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu)(SO4) · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | 3CdSO4 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Rhomboclase | (H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Raisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.57 | Caichengyunite | Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2O |
| 7.CB.60 | Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.65 | Quenstedtite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 11H2O |
| 7.CB.70 | Lausenite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Dietrichite | (Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | (Fe2+,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | (Co,Mg,Ni)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.90 | Meridianiite | MgSO4 · 11H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water
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 Pentahydrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3153.html
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References for Pentahydrite
Localities for Pentahydrite
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.
Argentina | |
| Bengochea et al. (1998) |
Australia | |
| Harris et al. (2003) |
| Wilson et al. (2014) |
Austria | |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Exel (1993) |
Canada | |
| Last (1990) |
Costa Rica | |
| Ulloa et al. (2018) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hršelová et al. (2013) |
Germany | |
| |
| T. Witzke (1992) |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8) |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2018) |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Kovács |
Iceland | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
India | |
| Sinha et al. (2003) |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
| Dill et al. (2002) |
Norway | |
| Gunnar Raade (1990) |
Peru | |
| Diaby et al. (2006) |
Poland | |
| Cabała et al. (2008) |
Romania | |
| A. Januszewska PXRD data / Januszewska et al. (in preparation) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) | |
| N.V. et al. (2019) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2021) |
Senegal | |
| Montoroi (1995) |
Tunisia | |
| Smykatz-Kloss et al. (2010) |
Ukraine | |
| Nesterovskiy et al. (2015) | |
USA | |
| Quick et al. (1989) +1 other reference |
| Jeffrey Weissman collection |
| Adams et al. (2014) |
| 87-293 +4 other references |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Econ Geol (2004) |
| Rocks & Minerals: 74 (6) +1 other reference |
| Joe Marty (2015) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
Zimbabwe | |
| Frei (2005) |
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Alma Mine, Leona Heights deposit, Leona Heights, Oakland, Oakland Hills, Alameda County, California, USA