Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Melanterite


Melanterite
Melanterite as found in nature
Sulfate mineral
FeSO4·7H2O
Mln
7.CB.35
29.06.10.01
Monoclinic
Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
P21/c
Green, pale green, greenish blue, bluish green, colorless
Encrustations and capillary efflorescences; rarely as equant pseudo-octahedral, prismatic or tabular crystals
{001} Perfect, {110} Distinct
Conchoidal
2
Vitreous
White
Subtransparent to translucent
1.89 – 1.9
Biaxial (+)

Melanterite is a mineral form of hydrous iron(II) sulfate: FeSO4·7H2O. It is the iron analogue of the copper sulfate chalcanthite. It alters to siderotil by loss of water. It is a secondary sulfate mineral which forms from the oxidation of primary sulfide minerals such as pyrite and marcasite in the near-surface environment. It often occurs as a post mine encrustation on old underground mine surfaces. It also occurs in coal and lignite seams exposed to humid air and as a rare sublimate phase around volcanic fumaroles. Associated minerals include pisanite, chalcanthite, epsomite, pickeringite, halotrichite and other sulfate minerals.

It was first described in 1850.

  • Crystal structure of melanterite
  • Cuprian melanterite
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Melanterite — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report