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Orschallite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Orschallite (7)Discuss Orschallite

Orschallite Gallery Search Photos of Orschallite

Edit Orschallite Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Orschallite, etc.

Shaft #8, Nipissing 404, Coleman Township, Cobalt area, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada

Orschallite

Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Orschallite

Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Orschallite, etc.

Shaft #8, Nipissing 404, Coleman Township, Cobalt area, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada

Orschallite

Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Orschallite

Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Orschallite, etc.

Shaft #8, Nipissing 404, Coleman Township, Cobalt area, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada

Orschallite

Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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About OrschalliteHide

Formula:

Ca₃(SO₃)₂(SO₄) · 12H₂O

Colour:

Colorless

Lustre:

Vitreous

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

1.90

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Name:

The name is in honour of Mr. P. Orschall, Cologne, Germany, who discovered this sulfite mineral and was also the first to find the new sulfite mineral hannebachite at the same locality (Weidenthaler, Tillmanns & Hentschel, 1993).

Type Locality:

ⓘ Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

This page provides mineralogical data about Orschallite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3022

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3022:5

IMA Classification of OrschalliteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Ca₃(S⁴⁺O₃)₂S⁶⁺O₄(H₂O)₁₂

Approval year:

1990

First published:

1993

Classification of OrschalliteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

4.JE.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
E : Sulfites

Dana 8th ed.:

34.8.7.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
8 : Compound Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Ors	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 OrschalliteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless

Streak:

White

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Density:

1.90(3) g/cm³ (Measured) 1.87 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of OrschalliteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (+)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.4941(4) n_ε = 1.4960(4)

Max. Birefringence:

δ = 0.002
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.

Thickness: 30 µm Order divisions

Rotation:

Surface Relief:

Moderate (negative)
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.

Focus:

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.

Thickness: 30 µm

Chemistry of OrschalliteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ca₃(SO₃)₂(SO₄) · 12H₂O

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
O	59.396 %
Ca	20.289 %
S	16.233 %
H	4.082 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Ca, H, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of OrschalliteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Space Group:

R3c

Setting:

R3c

Cell Parameters:

a = 11.35 Å, c = 28.32 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 2.495

Unit Cell V:

3,159.48 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Pseudo-cubic crystals.

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

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)
0014633	Orschallite	Weidenthaler C, Tillmanns E, Hentschel G (1993) Orschallite, Ca3(SO3)2SO412H2O, a new calcium-sulfite-sulfate-hydrate mineral* Mineralogy and Petrology 48 167-177		1993	Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Eifel, Germany	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Orschallite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Weidenthaler C'
'Tillmanns E'
'Hentschel G'
_journal_name_full 'Mineralogy and Petrology'
_journal_volume 48 
_journal_year 1993
_journal_page_first 167
_journal_page_last 177
_publ_section_title
;
 Orschallite, Ca3(SO3)2SO4*12H2O, a new
 calcium-sulfite-sulfate-hydrate mineral
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014633
_chemical_compound_source 'Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Eifel, Germany'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ca3 S3 O22 H24'
_cell_length_a 11.350
_cell_length_b 11.350
_cell_length_c 28.321
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 3159.592
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      1.869
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'R -3 c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '2/3+x,1/3+y,1/3+z'
  '1/3+x,2/3+y,2/3+z'
  'x,x-y,1/2+z'
  '2/3+x,1/3+x-y,5/6+z'
  '1/3+x,2/3+x-y,1/6+z'
  'y,x,1/2-z'
  '2/3+y,1/3+x,5/6-z'
  '1/3+y,2/3+x,1/6-z'
  '-x+y,y,1/2+z'
  '2/3-x+y,1/3+y,5/6+z'
  '1/3-x+y,2/3+y,1/6+z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2-z'
  '2/3-x,1/3-x+y,5/6-z'
  '1/3-x,2/3-x+y,1/6-z'
  '-y,-x,1/2+z'
  '2/3-y,1/3-x,5/6+z'
  '1/3-y,2/3-x,1/6+z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2-z'
  '2/3+x-y,1/3-y,5/6-z'
  '1/3+x-y,2/3-y,1/6-z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '2/3+y,1/3-x+y,1/3-z'
  '1/3+y,2/3-x+y,2/3-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  '2/3-x+y,1/3-x,1/3+z'
  '1/3-x+y,2/3-x,2/3+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '2/3-x,1/3-y,1/3-z'
  '1/3-x,2/3-y,2/3-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  '2/3-y,1/3+x-y,1/3+z'
  '1/3-y,2/3+x-y,2/3+z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  '2/3+x-y,1/3+x,1/3-z'
  '1/3+x-y,2/3+x,2/3-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Ca   0.79664   0.00000   0.25000   1.00000   0.01925
S1   0.00000   0.00000   0.17258   1.00000   0.01874
S2   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000   0.02166
O1   0.66707   0.21142   0.13729   1.00000   0.02368
Wat2   0.66070   0.99654   0.18561   1.00000   0.04306
Wat3   0.05881   0.48933   0.57787   1.00000   0.03673
O4   0.00000   0.00000   0.54872   0.50000   0.02672
O5   0.08455   0.13857   0.02043   0.50000   0.03204
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Ca 0.01780 0.02210 0.01930 0.01110 -0.00030 -0.00060
S1 0.02020 0.02020 0.01570 0.01010 0.00000 0.00000
S2 0.01790 0.01790 0.02940 0.00900 0.00000 0.00000
O1 0.02770 0.01900 0.02740 0.01390 -0.00020 0.00050
Wat2 0.04180 0.02780 0.05460 0.01090 -0.02520 0.00470
Wat3 0.03020 0.04020 0.04060 0.01810 -0.00020 -0.00070
O4 0.02690 0.02690 0.02640 0.01350 0.00000 0.00000
O5 0.02550 0.02090 0.04040 0.00440 -0.00770 -0.00570

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
8.11 Å	(80)
5.73 Å	(100)
3.63 Å	(60)
3.28 Å	(40)
2.69 Å	(80)
2.11 Å	(40)

Comments:

Hannebacher Ley, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The data are from the type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates]
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55)

Type Occurrence of OrschalliteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Hannebacher Ley, Hannebach, Spessart, Brohltal, Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

General Appearance of Type Material:

Colorless, transparent pseudo-cubic crystals to 0.3 mm.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

University of Vienna, Austria.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Submarine pillow basalts.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

'Apatite'

Clinopyroxene Subgroup

Leucite

Nepheline

Phillipsite Subgroup

Synonyms of OrschalliteHide

IMA1990-041

Other Language Names for OrschalliteHide

Dutch:Orschalliet

German:Orschallit

Russian:Оршаллит

Spanish:Orschallita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

6 photos of Orschallite associated with Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
6 photos of Orschallite associated with Picropharmacolite	Ca₄Mg(AsO₄)₂(HAsO₄)₂ · 11H₂O
1 photo of Orschallite associated with Native Bismuth	Bi

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

4.JE.X	Albertiniite	Fe²⁺(SO₃) · 3H₂O	Mon. 2/m
4.JE.	Mikenewite	Mn²⁺(S⁴⁺O₃) · 3H₂O	Mon. 2/m
4.JE.	Vanpeltite	(Mo₂O₅)(S⁴⁺O₃) · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m
4.JE.05	Fleisstalite	FeSO₃ · 3H₂O	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.JE.05	Gravegliaite	Mn²⁺SO₃ · 3H₂O	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.JE.10	Hannebachite	CaSO₃ · H₂O	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.JE.20	Scotlandite	PbSO₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
4.JE.25	Kollerite	(NH₄)₂Fe³⁺(SO₃)₂(OH) · H₂O	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Other InformationHide

IR Spectrum:

The infrared pattern has absorption bands for H2O (3300 and 1630 cm-1), for SO3 (945 and 630-650 cm-1), and for SO4 (1100 cm-1).

Thermal Behaviour:

TGA of synthetic material showed endothermic dehydration at 120°C to anhydrite with a weight loss of 34.5%.

Notes:

Rapidly volatilizes under an electron microprobe beam.

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 OrschalliteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3022.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Orschallite on Webmineral

Look for Orschallite on Wikipedia

Look for Orschallite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for OrschalliteHide

Reference List:

Weidenthaler, C., Tillmanns, E., Hentschel, G. (1993) Orschallite, Ca₃(SO₃)₂ · SO₄ · 12H₂O, a new calcium-sulfite-sulfate-hydrate mineral. Mineralogy and Petrology, 48 (2) 167-177 doi:10.1007/bf01163095

(2005) Orschallite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Frost, Ray L., Keeffe, Eloise C. (2009) Raman spectroscopic study of the sulfite-bearing minerals scotlandite, hannebachite and orschallite: implications for the desulfation of soils. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 40 (3). 244-248 doi:10.1002/jrs.2089

Localities for OrschalliteHide

Showing 5 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Canada
Ontario Timiskaming District Cobalt-Gowganda region Cobalt area Coleman Township ⓘ Nipissing 404	Reiner Mielke 2015
ⓘ Shaft #8	Reiner Mielke 2016

France
Occitanie Aveyron Rodez Sévérac-d'Aveyron ⓘ Lapanouse-de-Sévérac slag locality	Eytier J.R. & Ch. et al. (2004)

Germany (TL)
Rhineland-Palatinate Ahrweiler Brohltal Spessart Hannebach ⓘ Hannebacher Ley (TL)	Weidenthaler et al. (1993) +1 other reference

USA
Utah Grand County Thompsons Mining District Yellow Cat Mesa ⓘ Little Eva Mine	Kasatkin et al. (2014) +1 other reference

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Orschallite

About OrschalliteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of OrschalliteHide

Classification of OrschalliteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of OrschalliteHide

Optical Data of OrschalliteHide

Chemistry of OrschalliteHide

Crystallography of OrschalliteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of OrschalliteHide

Synonyms of OrschalliteHide

Other Language Names for OrschalliteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for OrschalliteHide

References for OrschalliteHide

Localities for OrschalliteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide