Glauberite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Glauberite
Johann Rudolf Glauber
Formula:
Na2Ca(SO4)2
Colour:
Grey, yellowish, colourless; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy, Pearly
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.75 - 2.85
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1808 by Brongniart for its chemical similarity to Glauber's salt, Na2SO4·10H2O, discovered by German alchemist Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668). Natural Glauber's salt is the distinct species mirabilite.
This page provides mineralogical data about Glauberite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1706
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1706:6
Similar Names
| Kleberite | A valid IMA mineral species | FeTi6O11(OH)5 |
IMA Classification of Glauberite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na2Ca(S6+O4)2
First published:
1808
Classification of Glauberite
7.AD.25
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
28.4.2.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
25.4.4
25 : Sulphates
4 : Sulphates of Ca, Sr and Ba
25 : Sulphates
4 : Sulphates of Ca, Sr and Ba
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Glb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Glauberite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Glauberite
Vitreous, Waxy, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavage {001}
Colour:
Grey, yellowish, colourless; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001} perfect; on {110} indistinct.
On {001} perfect; on {110} indistinct.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Translation gliding:
Exhibits translation gliding.
Density:
2.75 - 2.85 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.78 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Glauberite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.507 - 1.515 nβ = 1.527 - 1.535 nγ = 1.529 - 1.536
2V:
Calculated: 24° to 34°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.021 - 0.022
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:
Low (negative)
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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
strong r > v
Chemistry of Glauberite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca(SO4)2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Glauberite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.129(2) Å, b = 8.306(2) Å, c = 8.533(2) Å
β = 112.19(1)°
β = 112.19(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.219 : 1 : 1.027
Unit Cell V:
664.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals tabular {001}, with {110} lacking at times; prismatic by extension of [101] with large {111}; dipyramidal through combinations of {111} and {110}; prismatic [001] with large {110}. {001} and {111} often striated parallel to their intersection, and {111} may be rounded or step-like near the termination.
Crystallographic forms of Glauberite
Crystal Atlas:
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Glauberite no.12 - {111} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Glauberite no.18 - {001} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000158 | Glauberite | Araki T, Zoltai T (1967) Refinement of the crystal structure of a glauberite American Mineralogist 52 1272-1277 |  | 1967 | Imperial County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0018655 | Glauberite | Cocco G, Corazza E, Sabelli C (1965) The crystal structure of glauberite, CaNa2(SO4)2 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 122 175-184 | | 1965 | Chinchon (Madrid), Spain | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.175 Å | (75) |
| 3.126 Å | (100) |
| 3.110 Å | (80) |
| 2.861 Å | (50) |
| 2.808 Å | (65) |
| 2.677 Å | (60) |
| 1.975 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Synthetic material.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Geological Setting:
Lacustrine and oceanic salt deposits; at fumarole deposits; in nitrate deposits in arid regions.
Type Occurrence of Glauberite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris 23.400-223,402
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Salt deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Glauberite
Dutch:Glauberiet
German:Glauberit
Indonesian:Glauberit
Italian:Glauberite
Polish:Glauberyt
Russian:Глауберит
Simplified Chinese:钙芒硝
Spanish:Glauberita
Traditional Chinese:鈣芒硝
Ukrainian:Глауберит
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 33 photos of Glauberite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 27 photos of Glauberite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 11 photos of Glauberite associated with Hydroglauberite | Na10Ca3(SO4)8 · 6H2O |
| 6 photos of Glauberite associated with Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Glauberite associated with Sideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Glauberite associated with Caracolite | Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl |
| 2 photos of Glauberite associated with Tamarugite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 2 photos of Glauberite associated with Halite | NaCl |
| 1 photo of Glauberite associated with Antofagastaite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 · 1.5H2O |
| 1 photo of Glauberite associated with Heidornite | Na2Ca3B5O8(SO4)2Cl(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AD. | Bubnovaite | K2Na8Ca(SO4)6 |
| 7.AD. | Dobrovolskyite | Na4Ca(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Calciolangbeinite | K2Ca2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Murphyite | Pb(Te6+O4) |
| 7.AD. | Cuprodobrovolskyite | Na4Cu(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Kristjánite | KNa2H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.05 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 |
| 7.AD.05 | Arcanite | K2SO4 |
| 7.AD.10 | Mercallite | KHSO4 |
| 7.AD.15 | Misenite | K8H6(SO4)7 |
| 7.AD.20 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.25 | Thénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 7.AD.30 | Metathénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 7.AD.30 | Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Celestine | SrSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) |
| 7.AD.35 | Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 7.AD.40 | Kalistrontite | K2Sr(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.40 | Palmierite | K2Pb(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.45 | Ivsite | Na3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.55 | Markhininite | TlBi(SO4)2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Powdery surface alteration in humid environments to gypsum with leaching of sodium sulfate.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Powdery surface alteration in humid environments to gypsum with leaching of sodium sulfate.
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 Glauberite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1706.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Glauberite
Reference List:
Wherry, Edgar T. (1916) Glauberite crystal-cavities in the Triassic rocks of eastern Pennsylvania. American Mineralogist, 1 (3) 37-43
Larsen, E.S.; Berman, H. (1934) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin of the US Geological Survey Vol. 848. US Geological Survey p.1-266. doi:10.3133/b848 p.156
Cocco, G., Corazza, E., Sabelli, C. (1965) The crystal structure of glauberite, CaNa2(SO4)2. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 122 (3). 175-184 doi:10.1524/zkri.1965.122.3-4.175
Araki, Takaharu, Zoltai, Tibor (1967) Refinement of the crystal structure of a glauberite. American Mineralogist, 52 (9-10) 1272-1277
Klevtsova, R. F., Borisov, S. V. (1967) Crystal structure of glauberite CaNa2(SO4)2. Journal of Structural Chemistry, 7 (6). 828-830 doi:10.1007/bf00761163
Localities for Glauberite
Showing 175 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.
Antarctica | |
| Bisson et al. (2015) |
Argentina | |
| Brodtkorb et al. (Ed. E.O. Zappettini) | |
| Brodtkorb et al. (Ed. E.O. Zappettini) | |
| Brodtkorb et al. (Ed. E.O. Zappettini) |
| Brodtkorb et al. (Ed. E.O. Zappettini) | |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry | |
| Alonso (1999) |
| Ovejero Toledo et al. (2009) | |
Australia | |
| Uwe Kolitsch collection +1 other reference |
| www.crocoite.com (2004) |
| Sutton (2004) +1 other reference |
| - (n.d.) +2 other references |
Austria | |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Kirchner (1974) |
| Exel (1993) |
| |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
Bolivia | |
| Federico Ahlfeld and Alejandro Schneider-Scherbina (1964) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Janjić et al. (1971) |
Canada | |
| Richard Gunter Collection. |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Boehner (1986) |
| Last (1990) |
| CIM Bulletin January 1967 |
| Greengrass et al. (1999) | |
Chile | |
| Wet Chemical by Gerhard Möhn |
| samples analysed by Gerhard Mohn and ... |
| Natural History Museum Vienna collection (U. Kolitsch SXRD analysis) |
| Collao et al. (2002) |
| Marta et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schlüter (Hamburg University) | |
| Wet Chemical by Gerhard Möhn |
| sample analysed by Tony Kampf | |
| luigi chiappino specimen |
| Personally collected by Günter Frenz |
| Ericksen et al. (1989) |
| maurizio dini collection - analysed ... |
China | |
| Renwei Li and Maoan Xin (1989) |
| Zhenmi Liu (2000) |
| Zhu et al. (2015) |
| Shaoxiu (1991) +1 other reference |
| Shaoxiu (1991) |
| Yu et al. (2014) |
| Zhongde Zhu (1988) |
| Acta Geologica Sichuan 2004 (2) |
| Ma et al. (2026) |
| Tang (2005) |
| Bingxiao (1992) +3 other references | |
| Chenglin Liu et al. (2008) | |
| National Geological Archives of China ... |
| Bingxiao (1992) |
| Bingxiao (1992) +1 other reference |
| Bingxiao (1992) |
| Bingxiao (1992) | |
| Wei Dongyan et al. (2000) |
| Li et al. (2015) |
Czech Republic | |
| Matýsek et al. (2026) |
France | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Naze-Nancy Masalehdani et al. (2009) |
| Inventaire mineralogique de l'Ariege (Ed. BRGM) |
Germany | |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer |
| |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Engelhardt et al. (1956) |
| Steinkamm et al. (1988) |
| Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" ... |
| Ingendahl (2016) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Naumann | |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2020) |
| Rieck et al. (2020) | |
Hungary | |
| Koch (1985) |
| Szakáll & Gatter: Hungarian Mineral ... |
Iceland | |
| Balić-Žunić et al. (2016) |
| Mitolo et al. (2008) |
| Jakobsson et al. (1992) |
India | |
| Sinha et al. (2003) |
Iran | |
| Ghadimi et al. (2013) |
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| Pichler et al. (1970) +1 other reference |
| Russo et al. (2004) | |
| Cavarretta et al. (1981) +1 other reference |
| COSSA A. (1878) |
| Dill (1979) |
| Zaccaria et al. (2021) |
Japan | |
| Seki et al. (1987) |
Kazakhstan | |
| ERCOSPAN (2011) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) +2 other references |
Kenya | |
| ... |
Netherlands | |
| T.G. Nijland |
Pakistan | |
| Dana 6: 899 +1 other reference |
Peru | |
| Tyc et al. (2022) |
Poland | |
| Wachowiak et al. (2016) |
Russia | |
| Ripp et al. (2019) |
| Kaminsky et al. (2025) |
| Pekov et al. (2019) |
| Okrugin (2004) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Naumov et al. (2008) |
Slovakia | |
| Szakáll et al. (2014) |
South Africa | |
| Tarasov et al. (2021, April) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Navarro et al. (2009) |
| Vizcayno et al. (1995) |
| Vizcayno et al. (1995) | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) | |
| Mees et al. (2011) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Brongniart (1808) +2 other references | |
| Jiménez Martínez |
| Dammer |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
| González del Tánago et al. (2002) |
| Calvo (2013) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
| Society for Sedimentary Geology. 203-215 (1994) +1 other reference | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Tunisia | |
| Smykatz-Kloss et al. (2010) |
Turkey | |
| Helvaci et al. (2004) |
| Helvaci (1998) | |
| Ortı́ et al. (2002) |
| Karakaya et al. (1984) | |
| Vergouwen (1981) |
| Vergouwen (1981) | |
| García-Veigas et al. (2010) +2 other references |
| Altay et al. (2010) |
Turkmenistan | |
| Evseev (1995) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Stewart (1965) +1 other reference |
| Smith et al. (2014) |
| Kemp et al. (2016) | |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Guild (1910) +4 other references | |
| Twenter (1962) |
| Anthony et al. (1995) | |
| Tenny (1928) +1 other reference | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) | |
| Berkholz (1958) +5 other references |
| Mielke (n.d.) | |
| Ericksen et al. (1988) |
| Jones (1961) +3 other references |
| Gale (1915) +3 other references | |
| Gale (1915) +7 other references | |
| Silliman et al. (1868b) +6 other references |
| Rath (1887) +5 other references |
| Hon et al. (2009) |
| Longwell et al. (1965) |
| Longwell et al. (1965) |
| Ross (1961) |
| celestialearthminerals.com (2022) |
| Hawkins (1933) +1 other reference |
| |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Hawley +5 other references |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Lindgren et al. (1910) | |
| North Dakota Geological Survey |
| Ransom (1974) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Pekov (1998) |
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Consuelo Mine, Chinchón, Community of Madrid, Spain