Ferrinatrite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Ferrinatrite
Formula:
Na3Fe(SO4)3 · 3H2O
Colour:
Colourless, grayish white, pale green, bluish green, amethystine; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.55 - 2.61
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
From the chemistry of the mineral. FERRIc iron and sodium (NATRium).
This page provides mineralogical data about Ferrinatrite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1497
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1497:3
IMA Classification of Ferrinatrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na3Fe3+(S6+O4)3·3H2O
First published:
1889
Classification of Ferrinatrite
7.CC.35
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
29.4.4.1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1
25.11.4
25 : Sulphates
11 : Sulphates of Fe and other metals
25 : Sulphates
11 : Sulphates of Fe and other metals
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fnat | 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 Ferrinatrite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, grayish white, pale green, bluish green, amethystine; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {1010}
Less perfect {1120}
Perfect on {1010}
Less perfect {1120}
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
2.55 - 2.61 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ferrinatrite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.556 - 1.558 nε = 1.61 - 1.613
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.054 - 0.055
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 (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Comments:
Colorless in thin section.
Chemistry of Ferrinatrite
Mindat Formula:
Na3Fe(SO4)3 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Ferrinatrite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:
P3
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.553(2) Å, c = 8.6616(17) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.557
Unit Cell V:
1,814.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic [0001]. Isolated individuals or stellate groups; fibrous aggregates or cleavable masses; cryptocrystalline.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014468 | Ferrinatrite | Scordari F (1977) The crystal structure of ferrinatrite, Na3(H2O)3[Fe(SO4)3] and its relationship to Maus's salt, (H3O)2K2{K0.5(H2O)0.5}6[Fe3O(H2O)3(SO4)6](OH)2 Mineralogical Magazine 41 375-383 |  | 1977 | Sierra Gorda, Chile | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.78 Å | (100) |
| 4.39 Å | (51) |
| 3.430 Å | (66) |
| 3.297 Å | (53) |
| 2.938 Å | (57) |
| 2.909 Å | (87) |
| 2.827 Å | (57) |
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] |
Geological Setting:
Oxidation zone of iron sulfides in an arid region. Rarely in fumaroles.
Type Occurrence of Ferrinatrite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Stellate groups of crystals forming nearly spherical nodules. Generally similar to pale wavellite in appearance.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
n.d.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Ferrinatrite
Other Language Names for Ferrinatrite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Ferrinatrite associated with Metavoltine | K2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 2 photos of Ferrinatrite associated with Herbertsmithite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) | (NH4)2Na4[(UO2)2(SO4)5] · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Copiapite | Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with 'Halotrichite-Pickeringite Series' | |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Boleite | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Rietveldite | Fe(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5 |
| 1 photo of Ferrinatrite associated with Tamarugite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CC. | Cobaltoblödite | Na2Co(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC. | Andychristyite | PbCu2+Te6+O5(H2O) |
| 7.CC. | Ammoniovoltaite | (NH4)2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12(H2O)18 |
| 7.CC.05 | Krausite | KFe(SO4)2 · H2O |
| 7.CC.10 | Tamarugite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.15 | Mendozite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.CC.15 | Kalinite | KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Alum-(Na) | NaAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Lonecreekite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Alum-(K) | KAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Lanmuchangite | Tl+Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Zincovoltaite | K2Zn5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Voltaite | K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Magnesiovoltaite | K2Mg5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Pertlikite | K2(Fe2+,Mg)2(Mg,Fe3+)4Fe3+2Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Ammoniomagnesiovoltaite | (NH4)2Mg2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.30 | Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.40 | Goldichite | KFe(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.45 | Löweite | Na12Mg7(SO4)13 · 15H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Nickelblödite | Na2Ni(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Blödite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.55 | Leonite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.55 | Mereiterite | K2Fe(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Nickelpicromerite | K2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Nickelboussingaultite | (NH4)2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Katerinopoulosite | (NH4)2Zn(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Picromerite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Cyanochroite | K2Cu(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Mohrite | (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Boussingaultite | (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.65 | Polyhalite | K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.70 | Leightonite | K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.75 | Amarillite | NaFe(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.80 | Konyaite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 5H2O |
| 7.CC.85 | Wattevilleite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 · 4H2O (?) |
| 7.CC.85 | Xocolatlite | Ca2Mn4+2(Te6+O6)2 · H2O |
| 7.CC.90 | Eckhardite | (Ca,Pb)Cu2+Te6+O5(H2O) |
Other Information
Notes:
Alters to sideronatrite in moist air. 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 Ferrinatrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1497.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Ferrinatrite
Reference List:
Arzruni, A., Frenzel, A. (1891) Ueber den Ferronatrit. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie, 18 (1). 595-598 doi:10.1524/zkri.1891.18.1.595
Ungemach, Henri (1935) Sur certains minéraux sulfatés du Chili. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 58 (3) 97-221 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1935.4369p.203 - (as leucoglaucite)
Bandy, Mark C. (1938) Mineralogy of three sulphate deposits of northern Chile. American Mineralogist, 23 (11) 669-760 p.731
Cesbron, Fabien (1964) Contribution à la Minéralogie des sulfates de fer hydratés. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 87 (2) 125-143 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1964.5721
Mereiter, K. (1976) Die Kristallstruktur des Ferrinatrits, Na3Fe[SO4]3·3H2O. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 23 (4) 317-327 doi:10.1007/bf01083106
Scordari, F. (1977) The crystal structure of ferrinatrite, Na3(H2O)3[Fe(SO4)3] and its relationship to Maus's salt, (H3O)2K2{K0.5(H2O)0.5}6[Fe3O(H2O)3(SO46](OH)2. Mineralogical Magazine, 41 (319) 375-383 doi:10.1180/minmag.1977.041.319.10
Rouchon, Véronique, Badet, Hugues, Belhadj, Oulfa, Bonnerot, Olivier, Lavédrine, Bertrand, Michard, Jean-Guy, Miska, Serge (2012) Raman and FTIR spectroscopy applied to the conservation report of paleontological collections: identification of Raman and FTIR signatures of several iron sulfate species such as ferrinatrite and sideronatrite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 43 (9). 1265-1274 doi:10.1002/jrs.4041
Yang, Zhuming, Giester, Gerald (2019) Structure refinement and hydrogen bonding of ferrinatrite, Na3Fe(SO4)3⋅3H2O. Mineralogy and Petrology, 113 (4) 555-562 doi:10.1007/s00710-019-00662-2
Ventruti, Gennaro, Ventura, Giancarlo Della, Lacalamita, Maria, Sbroscia, Marco, Sodo, Armida, Plaisier, Jasper R., Cinque, Gianfelice, Schingaro, Emanuela (2019) Crystal-chemistry and vibrational spectroscopy of ferrinatrite, Na3[Fe(SO4)3]·3H2O, and its high-temperature decomposition. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 46 (2) 119-131 doi:10.1007/s00269-018-0991-9
Localities for Ferrinatrite
Showing 31 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 | |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (1995) |
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS and XRD by Igor V. Pekov |
| XRD by Joachim Lorenz | |
| Kampf +5 other references |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Bandy (1938) +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Wet Chemical by Gerhard Möhn |
China | |
| Yang et al. (2019) |
Costa Rica | |
| Ulloa et al. (2018) |
Germany | |
| |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1988) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1991) |
| Thalheim +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2018) |
| Rieck et al. (2018) |
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| Pelloux (1927) +1 other reference | |
| Campostrini et al. (2011) |
| Sabelli et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Shevkunov et al. (2022) |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski (2019) |
Poland | |
| Parafiniuk et al. (2009) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2020) |
USA | |
| Richards et al. (2017) |
| Plášil et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) | |
Uzbekistan | |
| Uklonskiy et al. (1964) +1 other reference |
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Le Cetine di Cotorniano mine, Chiusdino, Siena Province, Tuscany, Italy