Meridianiite

Meridianiite
Meridianiite
	Meridianiite crystals displaying blocky, triclinic, crystal forms.
General
Category	Sulfate minerals
Formula; (repeating unit)	Magnesium sulfate 11 hydrate MgSO4·11H2O
IMA symbol	Mdn
Strunz classification	7.CB.90
Crystal system	Triclinic
Crystal class	Pinacoidal (1) ; (same H-M symbol)
Space group	P1
Unit cell	a = 6.7459 Å; b = 6.8173 Å; c = 17.299 Å; ; α = 88.137°, β = 89.481°, γ = 62.719°; Z = 2
Identification
Formula mass	318.55 g/mol
Color	Colorless or white
Crystal habit	Needle-shaped to broad flat crystals
Tenacity	Brittle
Luster	Vitreous – dull
Streak	White
Diaphaneity	Transparent
Specific gravity	1.512
Melting point	At temperatures above 2 °C
Solubility	Highly soluble in water
References

Meridianiite is the mineral consisting of magnesium sulfate undecahydrate, MgSO
₄·11H
₂O. It is colorless transparent crystalline salt that precipitates from solutions saturated in Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ ions at temperatures less than 2 °C.^[4] The synthetic compound was formerly known as Fritzsche's salt.^[4]^[5]

Meridianiite is a naturally occurring mineral species found on Earth in a variety of environments including sea ice, crusts and efflorescences in coal/metal mines, cave systems, oxidized zones of sulfide deposits, salt lakes/playas and Antarctic ice-cores.^[6]^[4] It is commonly associated with other evaporite minerals such as epsomite, mirabilite, halides, and other sodium-magnesium-sulfates. There is some evidence that it was once present on the surface of Mars, and may occur in several bodies of the Solar System.^[4] As of 2012, it was the only undecahydrate sulfate known.^[7]

^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
^ Mindat.org
^ Webmineral.com
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: The named reference pete2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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[1] Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.

[Mindat-2] Mindat.org

[Webmin-3] Webmineral.com

[pete2007-4] Cite error: The named reference pete2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[genc2007-5] Cite error: The named reference genc2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[genc2009-6] Cite error: The named reference genc2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[fort2012-7] Cite error: The named reference fort2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Meridianiite

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