Kieserite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Kieserite
Dietrich G. von Kieser
Formula:
MgSO4 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, greyish-white, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.571
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Dietrich Georg Kieser (24 August 1779, Harburg / Elbe - 11 October 1862, Jena), German physician and professor at the University of Jena. He also worked as a physician at the therapeutic spas at Heilbad Berka/Ilm.
Type Locality:
Kieserite Group.
Forms a complete solid solution with szomolnokite (Talla and Wildner, 2019).
A solid solution with cobaltkieserite is known at least in the synthetic state, lacking miscibility gap and cation ordering (Bechtold and Wildner, 2016).
Forms a complete solid solution with szomolnokite (Talla and Wildner, 2019).
A solid solution with cobaltkieserite is known at least in the synthetic state, lacking miscibility gap and cation ordering (Bechtold and Wildner, 2016).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2204
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2204:6
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Kieserite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
MgS6+O4·H2O
Type description reference:
Classification of Kieserite
7.CB.05
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
29.6.2.1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.3.1
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ksr | 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 Kieserite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, greyish-white, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Fragile
Cleavage:
Perfect
{110} and {111} perfect, {111}, {101}, and {011} imperfect.
{110} and {111} perfect, {111}, {101}, and {011} imperfect.
Density:
2.571 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.571 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Kieserite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.520 nβ = 1.533 nγ = 1.584
2V:
Measured: 55° , Calculated: 56°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.064
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:
None to Very Low
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:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Kieserite
Mindat Formula:
MgSO4 · H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Kieserite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.51 Å, b = 7.61 Å, c = 6.92 Å
β = 116.17°
β = 116.17°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.987 : 1 : 0.909
Unit Cell V:
354.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals rare; mostly bipyramidal {111}, {110}, and {011}. Highly modified at times. Mostly massive, coarse to fine-granular.
Twinning:
Contact twins on {001} rare. Polysynthetic twinning, with twin axis [110] (?), commonly observed in grains under magnification.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014714 | Kieserite | Hawthorne F C, Groat L A, Raudsepp M, Ercit T S (1987) Kieserite, Mg(SO4)(H2O), a titanite-group mineral Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 157 121-132 | 1987 | Wathlingen, Hanover, Germany | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018262 | Kieserite | Bregeault J, Herpin P, Manoli J, Pannetier G (1970) Affinement de la structure de la Kieserite Mg (S O4) (H2 O) _cod_database_code 1100087 Bulletin de la Societe Chimique de France 1970 4243-4248 | 1970 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018263 | Kieserite | Leonhardt J, Weiss R (1957) Das Kristallgitter des Kieserits MgSO4*H2O Naturwissenschaften 44 338-339 | 1957 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.41 Å | (10) |
| 4.84 Å | (9) |
| 3.33 Å | (9) |
| 2.527 Å | (9) |
| 2.055 Å | (9) |
| 3.05 Å | (8) |
| 2.567 Å | (8) |
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] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Geological Setting:
Typically in marine salt deposits; rarely as a volcanic sublimate or efflorescence
Type Occurrence of Kieserite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Salt deposit of oceanic origin.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Kieserite
Other Language Names for Kieserite
Relationship of Kieserite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Kieserite Group:
| Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ermeloite | Al(PO4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Serrabrancaite | MnPO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Kieserite associated with Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Kieserite associated with Sylvite | KCl |
| 1 photo of Kieserite associated with Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 1 photo of Kieserite associated with Carnallite | KMgCl3 · 6H2O |
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 | 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 | Dietrichite | ZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 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 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Kieserite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Kieserite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2204.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 Kieserite
Reference List:
Leonhardt, J.; Weiss, R. (1957) Das Kristallgitter des Kieserits MgSO4·H2O. Die Naturwissenschaften, 44 (11). p.338-339. doi:10.1007/bf00630961
Fleischer, Michael; Foster, Margaret D. (1962) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 47 (5-6). 805-812
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Lane, M. D. (2007) Mid-infrared emission spectroscopy of sulfate and sulfate-bearing minerals. American Mineralogist, 92 (1) 1-18 doi:10.2138/am.2007.2170
Lopez-Reyes, G., Sobron, P., Lefebvre, C., Rull, F. (2014) Multivariate analysis of Raman spectra for the identification of sulfates: Implications for ExoMars. American Mineralogist, 99 (8) 1570-1579 doi:10.2138/am.2014.4724
Bechtold, Andreas, Wildner, Manfred (2016) Crystal chemistry of the kieserite–cobaltkieserite solid solution, Mg1-xCox(SO4)·H2O: well-behaved oddities. European Journal of Mineralogy, 28 (1) 43-52 doi:10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2489
Talla, Dominik, Wildner, Manfred (2019) Investigation of the kieserite–szomolnokite solid-solution series, (Mg,Fe)SO4·H2O, with relevance to Mars: Crystal chemistry, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy under ambient and martian temperature conditions. American Mineralogist, 104 (12) 1732-1749 doi:10.2138/am-2019-6983
Talla, Dominik, Balla, Madeleine, Aicher, Claudia, Lengauer, Christian L., Wildner, Manfred (2020) Structural and spectroscopic study of the kieserite-dwornikite solid-solution series, (Mg,Ni)SO4·H2O, at ambient and low temperatures, with cosmochemical implications for icy moons and Mars. American Mineralogist, 105 (10). 1472-1489 doi:10.2138/am-2020-7287
Wildner, Manfred, Zakharov, Boris A., Bogdanov, Nikita E., Talla, Dominik, Boldyreva, Elena V., Miletich, Ronald (2022) Crystallography relevant to Mars and Galilean icy moons: crystal behavior of kieserite-type monohydrate sulfates at extraterrestrial conditions down to 15 K. IUCrJ, 9 (2) 194-203 doi:10.1107/s2052252521012720
Localities for Kieserite
Showing 105 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 | |
| Benedetto et al. (1998) |
| Peterson (2011) |
Australia | |
| Sielecki (1988) |
| Sielecki (1988) | |
Austria | |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Spötl (1989) |
| Exel (1993) |
Bulgaria | |
| Младенова et al. (2007) |
Canada | |
| Peatfield (n.d.) |
| Grice et al. (2005) |
| Grice et al. (2005) |
| Last (1990) |
Chile | |
| XRD by Joachim Lorenz |
| Collao et al. (2002) |
China | |
| Kong et al. (2013) |
| Zhongde Zhu (1988) |
Costa Rica | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) |
Czech Republic | |
| Žáček et al. (1995) |
| Hršelová et al. (2013) |
| David Parfitt collection |
Denmark | |
| Fabricius (1984) |
Germany | |
| Krah et al. (1988) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Krupp (2005) |
| mrdata.usgs.gov (n.d.) |
| Dana 7:II:478. |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Brockt et al. (2001) |
| Clark (1993) | |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references | |
| C. Zinken (1865) | |
| ... | |
| Witzke et al. (1998) |
| Effmert et al. (2007) |
| W.I. Borrisenkow (1968) |
Greece | |
| |
| Rieck (n.d.) | |
| Wendel et al. (1999) |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll et al. (2008) |
Iceland | |
| Jakobsson et al. (1992) |
Iran | |
| Khorasanipour (2015) |
Italy | |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) | |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Adamo et al. (1979) |
Kazakhstan | |
| ERCOSPAN (2011) |
| Pekov et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference |
| Handbook of Mineralogy Vol V p 6 +2 other references |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski (2019) |
Mexico | |
| Gazquez et al. (1) |
Netherlands | |
| T.G. Nijland |
| nlog.nitg.tno.nl (n.d.) |
| T.G. Nijland | |
| Pichat (2022) | |
Nicaragua | |
| Hynek et al. (2013) |
Pakistan | |
| Dana 6: 899 +1 other reference |
Poland | |
| Jirásek +7 other references |
| Wachowiak et al. (2012) |
| Lukasz Kruszewski 2005: Minerals arising in cause of underground fires of "Skalny" coal mine dump in Laziska (unpublished) |
| Kruszewski (2012) |
Romania | |
| Slavoaca |
| A. Januszewska PXRD data / Januszewska et al. (in preparation) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Shablinskii et al. (2022) |
| Vergasova et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
| Kasatkin et al. (2014) |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra (1990) | |
Spain | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection + EDX ... |
Uganda | |
| Kasedde et al. (2014) |
UK | |
| |
| Armstrong et al. (1951) |
| Smith et al. (2014) |
| Smith et al. (2014) | |
| Kemp et al. (2016) | |
Ukraine | |
| Bukowski +2 other references |
| Srebrodol’skii (1974) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Corbett et al. (1989) +2 other references |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Hawley +5 other references |
| Philip (2013) | |
| King (n.d.) | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Joe Marty (2015) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Uklonskiy et al. (1964) +2 other references |
Mars | |
| Vivien Gornitz (2005) | |
| Farrand et al. (2016) |
| Vivien Gornitz (2005) |
Quick NavTopAbout KieseriteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationKieserite in petrologyInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Golosina mine, Sierra Almagrera, Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería, Andalusia, Spain