May 7 2013
Mereiterite is a monoclinic-prismatic pale yellow mineral containing sulfur, potassium, oxygen, iron and hydrogen. It is a member of the leonite group. The mineral was first discovered in the D-level of the Hilarion adit, Agios Konstadinos, Lavrion Mining District, Greece in 1995. It was named after Prof. Dr. Kurt Mereiter, Technical University of Vienna, in recognition of his contributions to the crystal chemistry of various iron sulfates
Properties of Mereiterite
The following are the key properties of Mereiterite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: C2/m
- a = 11.844(1)
- b = 9.556(1)
- c = 9.947(1)
- β = 94.90(1)°
- Z = 4
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- Point Group: 2/m
- Crystals are subhedral, strongly etched, to 1 cm
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 3.440 (100), 3.505 (52), 3.490 (49), 3.331 (48), 4.778 (30), 2.405 (30), 3.051 (29)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| SO3 |
40.22 |
40.21 |
| FeO |
17.88 |
18.04 |
| K2O |
22.7 |
23.65 |
| H2O |
18.0 |
18.10 |
| Total |
98.8 |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Biaxial (+)
- Orientation: X = b; Z ^ c ≈ 20°
- Dispersion: r > v, very weak.
- α = 1.497(1)
- β = 1.501(1)
- γ = 1.509(1)
- 2V(meas.) = 71°
- 2V(calc.) = 73°
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density)=2.37 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Mereiterite =2.36 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEMereiterite = 7.02 barns/electron
U= PEMereiterite x ρElectron density= 16.64 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.0044
Boson index = 0.9955 |
| Radioactivity |
Mereiterite is barely detectable |
How to Identify Mereiterite
Mereiterite is pale yellow, non-fluorescent mineral having transparent appearance, vitreous luster and white streak. Its fractures are very brittle producing small, conchoidal fragments. It can be formed as well-formed coarse sized crystals. The density of mereiterite is 2.36 g/cm3, and its relative hardness ranges from 2.5 to 3.
Global Distribution
Mereiterite is only known to occur in Laurium, Greece.
Occurrence of Mereiterite and Useful Mineral Association
Mereiterite occurs as a rare secondary mineral imbedded in gypsum, which is formed by decomposition of sulfides in a hydrothermal Pb–Zn–Cu ore deposit. The minerals that are closely associated with mereiterite include goethite, smithsonite and gypsum.
References