Dietrichite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Dietrichite
Formula:
ZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Colour:
White, Brownish-yellow; Off-white; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Silky
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.85 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1878 by Baron Julius von Schröckinger in honor of Dr. Gustav Heinrich Dietrich (11 April 1841, Brasov, Romania - 31 January 1904, Příbram, Czech Republic) of Příbram, Czech Republic, who analyzed the first specimens of the mineral.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Halotrichite Group Found as bright white fibrous efflorescences. Usually a product of surface weathering.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1289
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1289:4
Similar Names
| Diderichite | A synonym of Rutherfordine |
IMA Classification of Dietrichite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Zn2+Al2(S6+O4)4·22H2O
First published:
1878
Classification of Dietrichite
7.CB.85
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
29.7.3.4
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
7 : AB2(XO4)4·H2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
7 : AB2(XO4)4·H2O
25.9.13
25 : Sulphates
9 : Sulphates of Mn
25 : Sulphates
9 : Sulphates of Mn
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Dtr | 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 Dietrichite
Silky
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, Brownish-yellow; Off-white; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
1.85 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Dietrichite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.475 nβ = 1.480 nγ = 1.488
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 78°
Birefringence:
0.013
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.013
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c ≃ 29°.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Dietrichite
Mindat Formula:
ZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mn
General Formula
(Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Crystallography of Dietrichite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P121/c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.1757 Å, b = 24.262 Å, c = 21.206 Å
β = 100.436°
β = 100.436°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.255 : 1 : 0.874
Unit Cell V:
3,124.84 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Fine-fibrous, tufted aggregates as incrustations and efflorescences.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007025 | Dietrichite | Ballirano P, Bellatreccia F, Grubessi O (2003) New crystal-chemical and structural data of dietrichite, ideally ZnAl2(SO4)4*22H2O, a member of the halotrichite group European Journal of Mineralogy 15 1043-1049 | 2003 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 16.6 Å | (5) |
| 10.72 Å | (5) |
| 9.82 Å | (5) |
| 8.04 Å | (5) |
| 6.09 Å | (15) |
| 4.99 Å | (30) |
| 4.92 Å | (10) |
| 4.84 Å | (40) |
| 4.69 Å | (10) |
| 4.64 Å | (15) |
| 4.57 Å | (5) |
| 4.42 Å | (10) |
| 4.33 Å | (100) |
| 4.20 Å | (20) |
| 4.15 Å | (30) |
| 4.02 Å | (10) |
| 3.98 Å | (5) |
| 3.97 Å | (10) |
| 3.69 Å | (5) |
| 3.63 Å | (5) |
| 3.52 Å | (100) |
| 3.43 Å | (15) |
| 3.36 Å | (5) |
| 3.28 Å | (5) |
| 3.18 Å | (10) |
| 3.09 Å | (5) |
| 2.983 Å | (10) |
| 2.907 Å | (15) |
| 2.737 Å | (20) |
| 2.614 Å | (20) |
| 2.589 Å | (5) |
| 2.571 Å | (10) |
| 2.564 Å | (5) |
| 2.525 Å | (10) |
| 1.896 Å | (10) |
| 1.877 Å | (30) |
| 1.782 Å | (10) |
| 1.714 Å | (10) |
| 1.677 Å | (10) |
| 1.666 Å | (5) |
Comments:
ICDD 25-1173 (Note: There are many weak lines in the pattern that are not listed.)
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Dietrichite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Efflorescences in mine workings.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M7078.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Mine workings.
Other Language Names for Dietrichite
Relationship of Dietrichite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Halotrichite Group:
| Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Halotrichite | Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2 : P2 |
| Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Redingtonite | Fe2+Cr3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2 |
| Wupatkiite | Co2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Dietrichite associated with Bariopharmacosiderite | Ba0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Dietrichite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | CoSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | Mn2+(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Boyleite | ZnSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Moorhouseite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Zincmelanterite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu2+)(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | Cu2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | Cd3(SO4)3 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 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.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 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 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | Fe2+Cr3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | Co2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.90 | Meridianiite | MgSO4 · 11H2O |
Fluorescence of Dietrichite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Notes:
Water soluble.
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 Dietrichite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1289.html
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References for Dietrichite
Localities for Dietrichite
Showing 26 localities.
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 | |
| Brodtkorb (2002) |
Australia | |
| Sielecki (1988) |
| Sielecki (1988) | |
| Harris et al. (2003) |
Bulgaria | |
| Atanassova et al. (2009) |
Canada | |
| Zodrow (1989) |
Costa Rica | |
| Ulloa et al. (2018) |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2014) |
Italy | |
| Ballirano P. |
Mexico | |
| Wilson W.E. (2024) |
Romania | |
| Onac (2003) |
| M.E. Ciriotti collection [S. Möckel ... +9 other references |
| Mariaș (2005) | |
| Januszewska et al. (9th Meeting of the Mineralogical Society of Poland 28th Meeting of the Petrology group of the Mineralogical Society of Poland, October 19-22, 2023, Bielawa, Poland) |
| Ł. Kruszewski & M. Cegiełka PXRD data +1 other reference | |
Russia | |
| Bortnikova et al. (2008) |
| Kasatkin A.V. et al. ( 2019) +1 other reference |
| Ерохин et al. (2008) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
| FMF Forum |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
USA | |
| Paris (2011) |
| Joe Marty (2015) |
| Kokinos et al. (1993) |
| Kilburn et al. (1996) |
Yemen | |
| Ansan Wikfs |
Quick NavTopAbout DietrichiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Serpieri Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece