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ClassicGems.net |
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Syngenite |
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Discovered in 1872. IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
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Chemistry |
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K2Ca(SO4)2•(H2O) |
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Hydrated Potasium Calcium Sulfate |
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Molecular Weight: |
328.42. gm |
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Composition: |
Potasium |
23.81 % |
K |
28.68 % |
K2O |
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Calcium |
12.20 % |
Ca |
17.08 % |
CaO |
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Hydrogen |
0.61 % |
H |
5.49 % |
H2O |
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Sulfur |
19.53 % |
S |
48.76 % |
SO3 |
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Oxygen |
43.85 % |
O |
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100.00 % |
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100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
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Classification |
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Sulfates |
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6/C.21-60 |
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7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates,
molybdates, wolframates) |
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Related to: |
None |
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Varieties: |
None |
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Synonyms: |
Kaluszite, Kaluszyt |
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Crystal Data |
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As crystals, tabular on {100} to prismatic along [001], with many forms recorded, to 14 cm; forms lamellar aggregates and crystalline crusts. |
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Contact twins on {100} common. |
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Physical Properties |
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On {110} and {100}, perfect; on {010}, distinct. |
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Conchoidal |
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Brittle |
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2.5 |
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2.579 - 2.603 (g/cm3) |
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None |
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Barely Detectable; GRapi = 343.09 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) |
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Other: |
Soluble in H2O, with separation of gypsum. |
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Optical Properties |
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Colorless, milky White, faintly Yellow due to inclusions; Colorless in transmitted light. |
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Transparent to Translucent |
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Vitreous |
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1.501 - 1.518 Biaxial ( - ) |
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0.0170 |
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Very Strong; r < v |
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None |
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Occurances |
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Geological Setting: |
An uncommon diagenetic component of marine salt deposits; a volcanic sublimate or pneumatolytic reaction product; a hydrothermal vein filling in a geothermal field; derived from bat guano in caves. |
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Common Associations: |
Halite, Arcanite (salt deposits); Biphosphammite, Aphthitalite, Monetite, Whitlockite, Uricite, Brushite, Gypsum (caves). |
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Type Locality: |
Kalusa Salt deposit (Kalusz), Ivanovo-Frankovsk Oblast', Ukraine |
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Year Discovered: |
1872 |
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View mineral photos: |
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More Information |
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Syngenite is a typically colorless or white saline evaporite mineral composed of hydrous potassium calcium sulphate and occurring in tabular crystals. Crystals are rarely transparent or translucent enough for faceting as they are typically mostly opaque from impurities. These impurities also often color the crystals faintly yellowish or pinkish brown. Faceted gems are vary rare and really only faceted as a collector odity. Syngenite was named in 1872 by Czech mineralogist Victor Leopold Ritter von Zepharovich (1830-1890) from the Greek word aυγγευής meaning related, for its chemical resemblance to Polyhalite. Zepharovich also named the minerals Barrandite (Ferrian Variscite), Corynite (Antimonian Gersdorffite), Diaphorite, Sphaerite (Variscite) and Strakonitzite. Syngenite is found at several locations worldwide. In Ukraine, large crystals from the Kalush salt deposit (Kalusz, Poland, and at Stebnyk. In Germany, from Thuringia, in the Glückauf mine, near Sondershausen, from Bischofferode, and at Volkenroda-Pöther, near Mühlhausen; from the Stassfurt salt district, Saxony-Anhalt; in the Sigmundshall mine, Bokeloh, and at the Kalkberg, near Lüneburg, Lower Saxony. On Vesuvius, Campania, and in the Cesano geothermal field, Latium, Italy. From Haleakala volcano, Maui, Hawaii, USA. In Murra-el-elevyn, Dingo Dongo, and Petrogale Caves, Western Australia. From Gcwihaba Cave, 280 km west of Maun, northwestern Botswana. On volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Around Mt. Erebus, Victoria Land, Antarctica. From the “Q” Basin [Jianghan Plain] potash deposits, Hubei Province, China. |
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Syngenite gems for sale: We have not photographed our Syngenite gems. Please check back soon. |
