Polyhalite

Polyhalite

Polyhalite is an evaporite mineral, a hydrated sulfate of potassium, calcium and magnesium with formula: K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2(H2O). Polyhalite crystallizes in the triclinic system although crystals are very rare. The normal habit is massive to fibrous. It is typically colorless, white to gray, although it may be brick red due to iron oxide inclusions. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 and a specific gravity of 2.8.

It occurs in sedimentary marine evaporites and is a major potassium ore mineral in the Carlsbad Deposits of New Mexico.

Polyhalite was first described in 1818 for specimens from its type locality in Salzberg, Austria. The name is from the Greek "polys" "hals" for "many salts".

It has no connection to the sodium halide mineral halite other than that both are evaporite minerals.

References

* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3259.html Mindat with location data]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Polyhalite.shtml Webmineral]
* [http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfates/polyhali/polyhali.htm Mineral galleries]


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  • POLYHALITE — La polyhalite est un sulfate hydraté de potassium, de calcium et de magnésium: K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4,2 H2O. D’allure massive ou parfois fibreuse, la polyhalite cristallise dans le système triclinique; les cristaux en tablette sont petits et rares.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Polyhalite — Pol y*ha lite, n. [Poly + Gr. ? salt.] (Min.) A mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • polyhalite — ▪ mineral       a sulfate mineral in evaporite deposits [K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O] that often occurs with anhydrite and halite. Its name, from the Greek words meaning “many salts,” reflects its composition, hydrated sulfates of potassium, calcium, and… …   Universalium

  • polyhalite — polihalitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė K₂Ca₂Mg[SO₄]₄·2H₂O atitikmenys: angl. polyhalite rus. полигалит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • polyhalite — noun A mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda …   Wiktionary

  • polyhalite — poly·halite …   English syllables

  • polyhalite — ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈhaˌlīt, ˈhā noun ( s) Etymology: German polyhalit, from poly + hal + it ite : a mineral K2MgCa2(SO4)4.2H2O occurring usually in fibrous masses of a brick red color due to iron but consisting essentially of hydrous sulfate of calcium,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Polyhalit — Chemische Formel K2Ca2Mg[SO4]4 • 2H2O Mineralklasse Sulfate, Selenate, Tellurate, Chromate, Molybdate und Wolframate 7.CC.65 (8. Auflage: VI/C.20 10) (nach Strunz) 29.04.05.01 (nach Dana) Kristallsystem triklin (pseudo orthorhombisch) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Evaporite — Cobble encrusted with halite evaporated from the Dead Sea, Israel. Evaporite (  / …   Wikipedia

  • List of minerals N-R (complete) — It is currently not possible to have a complete list of minerals . The International Mineralogical Association is the international group that recognises new minerals and new mineral names, however minerals discovered before 1959 did not go… …   Wikipedia

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