Amarillite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Amarillite
Formula:
NaFe(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Pale yellow with greenish tint.
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.19 - 2.2
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the type locality, Tierra Amarilla, near Copiapó, Chile.
Type Locality:
The structure is based on octahedral–tetrahedral "sheets" comprising corner-sharing NaO4(H2O)2 octahedra and sulfate tetrahedra; their combination leads to a structural sheet, parallel to (001): [Na(SO4)2(H2O)2]3-. Interstitial Fe3+ cations and hydrogen bonds provide linkage of the sheets; Fe occurs in FeO2(H2O)4 octahedra; these octahedra are connected to the adjacent sheets by eight hydrogen bonds, that provides further stabilization of the structure.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
183
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:183:8
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Amarillite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
NaFe3+(S6+O4)2·6H2O
First published:
1933
Classification of Amarillite
7.CC.75
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
29.5.3.2
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
5 : AB(XO4)2·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
5 : AB(XO4)2·xH2O
25.11.5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amr | 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 Amarillite
Adamantine, Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Brilliant, adamantine inclining toward vitreous.
Colour:
Pale yellow with greenish tint.
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{110} difficult to develop.
{110} difficult to develop.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.19 - 2.2 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Amarillite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.532(2) nβ = 1.555(3) nγ = 1.591(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.059
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 (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 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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (79°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (79°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
medium
Comments:
Large 2V
Chemistry of Amarillite
Mindat Formula:
NaFe(SO4)2 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Amarillite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.419(61) Å, b = 10.8409(40) Å, c = 12.4717(50) Å
β = 95.495°
β = 95.495°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.777 : 1 : 1.15
Unit Cell V:
1,133.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Equant, complexly faceted crystals, thick tabular or rarely prismatic parallel [001], with common forms {001}, {100}, {110}, {101}, and {111}; as groupings of parallel individuals, to 2 mm.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012226 | Amarillite | Li J J, Zhou J L, Dong W (1990) The structure of amarillite Chinese Science Bulletin 35 2073-2075 | 1990 | Qinghai Province, China | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] |
Geological Setting:
Formed in the oxidation zones of sulfide deposits.
Type Occurrence of Amarillite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Veinlets in massive coquimbite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France, 133.69.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Amarillite
Dutch:Amarilliet
French:Amarillite
German:Amarillit
Norwegian:Amarillitt
Simplified Chinese:黄铁钠矾
Spanish:Amarillita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Amarillite associated with 'Halotrichite-Pickeringite Series' | |
| 1 photo of Amarillite associated with Magnesioaubertite | (Mg,Cu)Al(SO4)2Cl · 14H2O |
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.35 | Ferrinatrite | Na3Fe(SO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 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.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
IR Spectrum:
Strong absorption bands in the 3000-3500 cm-1 range, with maxima at ca. 3110 and 3342 cm-1.
Notes:
Soluble in water, astringent taste.
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 Amarillite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-183.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Amarillite
Localities for Amarillite
Showing 11 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.
Brazil | |
| Pires et al. (2020) |
Canada | |
| Zodrow (1989) |
Chile | |
| XRD by Joachim Lorenz |
| Pekov et al. (2019) | |
| C.R.Acad.Sci. (1933) +1 other reference |
| Peter G. Seroka collection |
China | |
| Guangzhi Tu et al. (1964) +2 other references |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2022) |
Italy | |
| Mormone et al. (2015, April) +1 other reference |
| Mikhail Murashko find and collection |
Russia | |
| Zhitova et al. (2022) |
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Faraglione Ranni, Faraglioni di Levante, Porto Levante, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands, Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, Italy