Schairerite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Schairerite
J. Frank Schairer
Formula:
Na21(SO4)7ClF6
Colour:
Colourless; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.612
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in 1941 by William Frederick Foshag in honor of John Frank Schairer [April 13, 1904 Rochester, New York, USA –September 26, 1970 Point-no-Point, Maryland], physical chemist who studied phase equilibria of rock-forming silicates and rocks in silica-saturated and under-saturated systems,and co-authored papers on the same with Norman L. Bowen, Hatten S. Yoder, Jr., et al. at the Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, D.C. During World War II, Schairer developed alloys that greatly improved performance of small weapons. Schairer was president of the Mineralogical Society of America and other important professional organizations and received many awards and recognitions during his career.
Type Locality:
Closely related to galeite.
Forms polycrystals with galeite in the type material.
Can be treated as a 7H antiperovskite polytype, while galeite - a 5H one.
Forms polycrystals with galeite in the type material.
Can be treated as a 7H antiperovskite polytype, while galeite - a 5H one.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3555
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3555:8
Similar Names
| Scheererite | A variety of 'Ozocerite' |
IMA Classification of Schairerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na21(S6+O4)7ClF6
Classification of Schairerite
7.BD.10
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
30.1.9.1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
26.3
26 : Sulphates with Halide
26 : Sulphates with Halide
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shr | 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 Schairerite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless; colourless in transmitted light.
Comment:
translucent with clay inclusions.
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.612 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.619 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Schairerite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.440 nε = 1.445
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.005
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.
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Schairerite
Mindat Formula:
Na21(SO4)7ClF6
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Schairerite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P31m
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.197(4) Å, c = 19.259(11) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.579
Unit Cell V:
2,481.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals rhombohedral with {0332} prominent. Artificial crystals are tabular {0001}.
Twinning:
Common on {0001}.
Comment:
complexity: 1064.990 bits/cell (low(er)-temperature modification); data for the HT-one: P-3m1, a=7.0714(2), c=19.5972(7) Å, V=848.66(6) Å3, Z=1 (moderately complex: 256.755 bits/cell)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014463 | Schairerite | Fanfani L, Nunzi A, Zanazzi P F, Zanzari A R, Sabelli C (1975) The crystal structure of schairerite and its relationship to sulphohalite Mineralogical Magazine 40 131-139 |  | 1975 | Searles Lake, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.76 Å | (10) |
| 3.52 Å | (8) |
| 3.79 Å | (7) |
| 1.760 Å | (7) |
| 3.01 Å | (6) |
| 2.58 Å | (6) |
| 4.44 Å | (2) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Schairerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 96437, 96439, 112736.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
playa lake deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Schairerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.BD. | Hasanovite | KNa(MoO2)(SO4)2 |
| 7.BD. | Kennygayite | [Pb4O2(OH)2](SO4) |
| 7.BD. | Adanite | Pb2(Te4+O3)(SO4) |
| 7.BD. | Cadsulfohite | Cd2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 7.BD. | Hyblerite | Pb4Bi2(SO4)2(CO3)O4 |
| 7.BD. | Zanelliite | PbCu9[AsO3.5(OH)0.5]2(AsO4)2(OH)9(H2O)3 |
| 7.BD. | Evanichite | Pb6Cr3+(Cr6+O4)2(SO4)(OH)7FCl |
| 7.BD.05 | Sulphohalite | Na6(SO4)2FCl |
| 7.BD.10 | Galeite | Na15(SO4)5F4Cl |
| 7.BD.15 | Kogarkoite | Na3(SO4)F |
| 7.BD.20 | Aiolosite | Na4Bi(SO4)3Cl |
| 7.BD.20 | Caracolite | Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl |
| 7.BD.20 | Cesanite | Na3Ca2(SO4)3(OH) |
| 7.BD.25 | Burkeite | Na6(CO3)(SO4)2 |
| 7.BD.30 | Hanksite | Na22K(SO4)9(CO3)2Cl |
| 7.BD.35 | Cannonite | Bi2(SO4)O(OH)2 |
| 7.BD.40 | Lanarkite | Pb2(SO4)O |
| 7.BD.45 | Grandreefite | Pb2(SO4)F2 |
| 7.BD.50 | Itoite | Pb3Ge4+(SO4)2O2(OH)2 |
| 7.BD.55 | Chiluite | Bi3Te6+Mo6+O10.5 |
| 7.BD.60 | Hectorfloresite | Na9(SO4)4(IO3) |
| 7.BD.65 | Pseudograndreefite | Pb6(SO4)F10 |
| 7.BD.70 | Sundiusite | Pb10(SO4)O8Cl2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Slowly but completely 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 Schairerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3555.html
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References for Schairerite
Reference List:
Foshag, William F. (1931) Schairerite, a new mineral from Searles Lake, California. American Mineralogist, 16 (4) 133-139
Brown, F. H., Pabst, A. (1971) New data on galeite and schairerite. American Mineralogist, 56 (1-2) 174-178
Fanfani, L., Nunzi, A., Zanazzi, P. F., Zanzari, A. R., Sabelli, C. (1975) The crystal structure of schairerite and its relationship to sulphohalite. Mineralogical Magazine, 40 (310) 131-139 doi:10.1180/minmag.1975.040.310.03
Avdontceva, Margarita S., Zolotarev, Andrey A., Shablinskii, Andrey P., Bocharov, Vladimir N., Kasatkin, Anatoly V., Krivovichev, Sergey V. (2023) Galeite, Na15(SO4)5ClF4, and Schairerite, Na21(SO4)7ClF6: Phase Transitions, Thermal Expansion and Thermal Stability. Symmetry, 15 (10). 1871 doi:10.3390/sym15101871
Localities for Schairerite
Showing 4 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.
Canada | |
| HORVÁTH et al. (2000) |
Russia | |
| Sharygin et al. (2008) |
Tanzania | |
| Mitchell (2006) |
USA (TL) | |
| Foshag (1931) +6 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout SchaireriteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Searles Lake, San Bernardino County, California, USA