Zaherite Mineral Data

General Zaherite Information

Chemical Formula:

Al12(SO4)5(OH)26•20H20

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 1,606.59 gm

Aluminum 20.15 % Al 38.08 % Al₂O₃

Hydrogen 4.14 % H 37.00 % H₂O

Sulfur 9.98 % S 24.92 % SO₃

Oxygen 65.73 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Al₁₂(SO₄)₅(OH)₂₆•20(H₂O)

Environment:

In a massive kaolinite-boehmite rock.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1977

Locality:

Salt Range, Pakistan. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for M. A. Zaher, Geological Survey of Bangladesh, who discovered the mineral.

Name Pronunciation:

Zaherite

Zaherite Image

Images:

Zaherite

Comments: Gray to white translucent prismatic to massive zaherite comprising portion of rock.
Location: Pella, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Zaherite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.9496:1:0.1938

Cell Dimensions:

a = 18.475, b = 19.454, c = 3.771, Z = 1; alpha = 95.24°, beta = 91.48°, gamma = 80.24° V = 1,329.70 Den(Calc)= 2.01

Crystal System:

Triclinic Space Group: P1 or P1

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 18.12(1), 3.22(0.8), 4.61(0.8),

Physical Properties of Zaherite

Cleavage:

{???} Good

Color:

White, Light bluish green.

Density:

2.007 - 2.011, Average = 2

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to Translucent

Habit:

Cryptocrystalline - Occurs as crystals too small to distinguish with the naked eye.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Zaherite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.003 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.003 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2479,KPDmeas= 0.2481,KC= 0.2487
Ncalc = 1.5

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.498, b=1.4981, g=1.499, bire=0.0010, 2V(Calc)=38, 2V(Meas)=moderate.

Calculated Properties of Zaherite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.08 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Zaherite =2.01 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0010701619
Boson Index = 0.9989298381

Photoelectric:

PE_Zaherite= 1.29 barns/electron
U=PE_Zaherite x rElectron Density= 2.67 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Zaherite is Not Radioactive

Zaherite Classification

Dana Class:

31.10.03.01 (31)Hydrated Sulfates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(31.10)miscellaneous

(31.10.03)Dana Group

31.10.03.01 Zaherite Al12(SO4)5(OH)26•20H20 P1 or P1 Tri

Strunz Class:

07.DE.65 07 - SULFATES (SELENATES, TELLURATES)

07.D - Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O

07.DE -With only medium-sized cations; unclassified

07.DE.65 Zaherite Al12(SO4)5(OH)26•20H20 P1 or P1 Tri

Other Zaherite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

See Also:

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

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

Zaherite

Al12(SO4)5(OH)26•20H20
Dana No: 31.10.03.01 Strunz No: 07.DE.65
Locality:

Notes:

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