Sylvite Mineral Data

General Sylvite Information

Chemical Formula:

KCl

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 74.55 gm

Potassium 52.45 % K 63.18 % K₂O

Chlorine 47.55 % Cl 47.55 % Cl

- % Cl -10.73 % -O=Cl₂

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

KCl

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1832

Locality:

Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the Dutch chemist, Sylvia de la Boe (1614-1672).

Name Pronunciation:

Sylvite

Sylvite Image

Images:

Sylvite

Comments: Translucent sylvite crystal cluster, somewhat deliquescent.
Location: F.O. Kailwerk, Sigmundshall, near Wunstorf, Niedersachsen, Germany. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Sylvite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 6.2931, Z = 4; V = 249.23 Den(Calc)= 1.99

Crystal System:

Isometric - Hexoctahedral H-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F m3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.15(1), 2.22(0.59), 1.82(0.23),

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Physical Properties of Sylvite

Cleavage:

{100} Perfect, {010} Perfect, {001} Perfect

Color:

White, Yellowish white, Reddish white, Bluish white, Brownish white.

Density:

1.99

Diaphaneity:

Transparent

Fracture:

Brittle - Sectile - Brittle fracture with slightly sectile shavings possible.

Habit:

Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous - Greasy

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Sylvite

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.49.

Calculated Properties of Sylvite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=1.92 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Sylvite =1.99 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.000062934
Boson Index = 0.999937066

Photoelectric:

PE_Sylvite= 8.47 barns/electron
U=PE_Sylvite x r_electron= 16.28 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 730.82 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Sylvite per GRapi unit =1,368.32 (PPM)

**Estimated Radioactivity from Sylvite** - mild
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Bequerols (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 9.86 cm	15,891	4.29E-07	730.82	0.24
100 gm / 4.58 cm	1,589	4.29E-08	73.08	0.02
10 gm / 2.13 cm	159	4.29E-09	7.31	0.00
1 gm / 9.86 mm	16	4.29E-10	0.73	0.00
0.1 gm / 4.58 mm	2	4.29E-11	0.07	0.00
0.01 gm / 2.13 mm	0	4.29E-12	0.01	0.00
0.001 gm / 0.99 mm	0	4.29E-13	0.00	0.00

Weight of pure Sylvite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 1.99 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Sylvite Classification

Dana Class:

09.01.01.02 (09)Anhydrous and Hydrated Halides

(09.01)where A X

(09.01.01)Halite Group

09.01.01.01 Halite NaCl F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

09.01.01.02 Sylvite KCl F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

09.01.01.03 Villiaumite NaF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

09.01.01.04 Carobbiite KF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

09.01.01.05 Griceite LiF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

03.AA.20 03 - HALIDES

03.A - Simple Halides, Without H2O

03.AA -M:X = 1:1, 2:3, 3:5, etc.

03.AA.20 Carobbiite KF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

03.AA.20 Griceite LiF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

03.AA.20 Halite NaCl F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

03.AA.20 Sylvite KCl F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

03.AA.20 Villiaumite NaF F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Sylvite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Sylvite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Glendale Community College
8 - Google Images
9 - Google Scholar
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
12 - MinDAT
13 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
14 - Online Mineral Museum
15 - QUT Mineral Atlas
16 - Ruff.Info
17 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Sylvite Specimen Label here :

Sylvite

KCl
Dana No: 09.01.01.02 Strunz No: 03.AA.20
Locality:

Notes:

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