Alterite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Alterite
Malcolm Alter
Formula:
Zn2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O
Colour:
Yellow-green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
2.18
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of long-time Arizona field collector Malcolm Alter.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Found "near Marble Canyon". The 23rd oxalate species, first natural Zn oxalate mineral to date (the second one is katsarosite).
Second natural Fe-Zn-S-C mineral, and fourth double salt of oxalic and another acid.
New structure type.
Second natural Fe-Zn-S-C mineral, and fourth double salt of oxalic and another acid.
New structure type.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53102
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53102:9
Similar Names
| Algerite | A variety of Meionite | Ca4Al6Si6O24CO3 |
| Alterite (of Andel) | ||
| Alterite (of Lelong) | A synonym of 'Saprolite' | |
| Arterite | A rock classification type | |
| Asterite | A synonym of 'Asteriated Sapphire' | |
| Laterite | A rock classification type |
IMA Classification of Alterite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Zn2+2Fe3+4(S6+O4)4((C2)6+O4)2(OH)4·17H2O
Approval year:
2018
Type description reference:
Classification of Alterite
7.DE.42
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atr | 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 Alterite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow-green
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(001)
(001)
Parting:
none
Density:
2.18(4) g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Alterite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.545(5) nβ = 1.565(5) nγ = 1.635(5)
2V:
Measured: 56° (2), Calculated: 58°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.090
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 (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.
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.
Chemistry of Alterite
Mindat Formula:
Zn2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Alterite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.7696(5) Å, b = 9.4020(2) Å, c = 25.3466(8) Å
β = 108.252(1)°
β = 108.252(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.784 : 1 : 2.696
Unit Cell V:
3,795.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:
none
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.848 Å | (100) |
| 4.589 Å | (36) |
| 4.363 Å | (46) |
| 4.189 Å | (57) |
| 4.127 Å | (50) |
| 3.898 Å | (39) |
| 3.701 Å | (80) |
| 2.663 Å | (46) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Alterite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
carbonaceous petrified wood from an unnamed uranium prospect
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Alterite
Other Language Names for Alterite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Alterite associated with 'Petrified Wood' | |
| 4 photos of Alterite associated with Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 3 photos of Alterite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DE. | Magnesioalterite | Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
| 7.DE. | Fabritzite | Zn9(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE. | Cossaite | (Mg0.5,◻)Al6(SO4)6(HSO4)F6 · 36H2O |
| 7.DE. | Downsite | K2(MoO3)3(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.DE. | Liangjunite | K2(Mo2O5)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.05 | Mangazeite | Al2(SO4)(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | 'UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu)' | (Cu, Al, SO4, H2O) |
| 7.DE.10 | Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | Cyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.15 | Schwertmannite | Fe3+16(OH,SO4)12-13O16 · 10-12H2O |
| 7.DE.20 | Tlalocite | Cu10Zn6(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)(OH)25Cl · 27H2O |
| 7.DE.25 | Utahite | MgCu4Zn2Te6+3O14(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.35 | Coquandite | Sb6+xO8+x(SO4)(OH)x(H2O)1- x (x = 0.3) |
| 7.DE.40 | Osakaite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 5H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Barrotite | Cu9Al(HSiO4)2[(SO4)(HAsO4)0.5](OH)12 · 8H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Wilcoxite | MgAl(SO4)2F · 17H2O |
| 7.DE.47 | Tiberiobardiite | {Cu9Al[SiO3(OH)]2(OH)12(H2O)6}(SO4)1.5 · 10H2O |
| 7.DE.50 | Bouškaite | (MoO2)2O(SO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 7.DE.50 | Stanleyite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.57 | 'Khangalasite' | Fe(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.60 | Hydrobasaluminite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 12-36H2O |
| 7.DE.62 | Volaschioite | Fe4(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.65 | Zaherite | Al12(SO4)5(OH)26 · 20H2O |
| 7.DE.75 | Camérolaite | Cu6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb(OH)6](SO4) |
Other Information
Notes:
insoluble in water, but slowly dissolve in hydrochloric acid.
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 Alterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53102.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Alterite
Localities for Alterite
Showing 2 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 | |
| Aguila Resources |
USA (TL) | |
| Mineralogical Magazine +2 other references |
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Marble Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USA