Hielscherite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Hielscherite
Ste. Marie aux Mines 2011
Formula:
Ca3Si(SO4)(SO3)(OH)6 · 11H2O
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
1.82
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in honour of the German mineral collector Klaus Hielscher (b. 1957).
Closely related to kottenheimite. The first Ettringite Group mineral with essential sulfite. Forming a continuous natural solid-solution series from endmember thaumasite to a composition with at least 77 mol.% endmember hielscherite. In this series, the SO3:CO3 ratio is variable, whereas the SO4 content remains constant.
Hielscherite is very rare. At the type and other localities, sulphite-bearing thaumasite (in which sulphite has replaced carbonate) is much more commmon than hielscherite (Pekov et al., 2012).
Hielscherite is very rare. At the type and other localities, sulphite-bearing thaumasite (in which sulphite has replaced carbonate) is much more commmon than hielscherite (Pekov et al., 2012).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
41772
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:41772:9
IMA Classification of Hielscherite
Classification of Hielscherite
7.DG.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hsc | 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 Hielscherite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Crystal aggregates has a silky lustre
Colour:
Colorless
Comment:
crystal aggregates are white
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Density:
1.82(3) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.79 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Hielscherite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.494(2) nε = 1.476(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.018
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:
Moderate (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 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.
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.
Chemistry of Hielscherite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3Si(SO4)(SO3)(OH)6 · 11H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Hielscherite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.1178(2) Å, c = 10.5381(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.948
Unit Cell V:
1,128.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Matted fibrous aggregates up to 1 cm across; Groups of acicular to prismatic hexagonal crystals up to 0.3×0.3×1.5 mm.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.62 Å | (100) |
| 5.551 Å | (50) |
| 4.616 Å | (37) |
| 3.823 Å | (64) |
| 3.436 Å | (25) |
| 2.742 Å | (38) |
| 2.528 Å | (37) |
| 2.180 Å | (35) |
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] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Hielscherite
General Appearance of Type Material:
in cavities
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, registration number 4093/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkalin basalt
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Hielscherite
Other Language Names for Hielscherite
Dutch:Hielscheriet
German:Hielscherit
Relationship of Hielscherite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Ettringite Group:
| Bentorite | Ca6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Buryatite | Ca3(Si,Fe3+,Al)(SO4)B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Carraraite | Ca3(SO4)[Ge(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O | Hex. |
| Charlesite | Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Chiyokoite | Ca3Si(CO3)[B(OH)4]O (OH)5 · 12H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Imayoshiite | Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Jouravskite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Kottenheimite | Ca 3Si(SO4)2(OH)6 · 12H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Micheelsenite | (Ca2Y)Al(PO3OH)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Siwaqaite | Ca6Al2(CrO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Sturmanite | Ca6Fe3+2(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2O | Trig. 3m : P31c |
| Tatarinovite | Ca3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| 'UM2008-07-CO:AlBCaHSSi' | Ca6(Al,Si)2(CO3,SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O | |
| 'Unnamed (possible Mn(IV) analogue of Sturmanite)' | Ca6Mn4+2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH)10O2 · nH2O |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Hielscherite associated with Phillipsite Subgroup | (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O |
| 4 photos of Hielscherite associated with Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| 4 photos of Hielscherite associated with Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| 3 photos of Hielscherite associated with Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O |
| 3 photos of Hielscherite associated with 'Apatite' | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| 1 photo of Hielscherite associated with Pyrochlore Group | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z |
| 1 photo of Hielscherite associated with Gismondine Subgroup |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DG. | Mathesiusite | K5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.05 | Darapskite | Na3(SO4)(NO3) · H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Clinoungemachite | (Na, K, Fe, SO4) |
| 7.DG.10 | Humberstonite | Na7K3Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Ungemachite | K3Na8Fe(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Chiyokoite | Ca3Si(CO3)[B(OH)4]O (OH)5 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Kottenheimite | Ca 3Si(SO4)2(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Jouravskite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Bentorite | Ca6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Carraraite | Ca3(SO4)[Ge(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Birunite | Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?) |
| 7.DG.15 | Siwaqaite | Ca6Al2(CrO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Buryatite | Ca3(Si,Fe3+,Al)(SO4)B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Charlesite | Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Tatarinovite | Ca3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Imayoshiite | Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Sturmanite | Ca6Fe3+2(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2O |
| 7.DG.20 | Rapidcreekite | Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.25 | Tatarskite | Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2(OH)4Cl4 · 7H2O |
| 7.DG.30 | Nakauriite | Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2O |
| 7.DG.35 | Chessexite | (Na,K)4Ca2(Mg,Zn)3Al8(SO4)10(SiO4)2 · 40H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Fuenzalidaite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Carlosruizite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SeO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.45 | 'Chelyabinskite' | (Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?) |
| 7.DG.55 | Ramazzoite | [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36] |
| 7.DG.60 | Witzkeite | Na4K4Ca(NO3)2(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
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.
Internet Links for Hielscherite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-41772.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Hielscherite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2011) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2011, CNMNC Newsletter No. 10. Mineralogical Magazine, 75 (5) 2549-2561 doi:10.1180/minmag.2011.075.5.2549
Pekov, I. V., Chukanov, N. V., Britvin, S. N., Kabalov, Y. K., Göttlicher, J., Yapaskurt, V. O., Zadov, A. E., Krivovichev, S. V., Schüller, W., Ternes, B. (2012) The sulfite anion in ettringite-group minerals: a new mineral species hielscherite, Ca3Si(OH)6(SO4)(SO3)·11H2O, and the thaumasite–hielscherite solid-solution series. Mineralogical Magazine, 76 (5) 1133-1152 doi:10.1180/minmag.2012.076.5.06
Localities for Hielscherite
Showing 1 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.
Germany (TL) | |
| Sold at Ste Marie-aux-Mines show 2011 +2 other references |
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Graulay quarry, Hillesheim, Gerolstein, Vulkaneifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany