Sasaite Mineral Data

Sasaite Mineral Data +

General Sasaite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Al,Fe+++)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7·84(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 3,208.56 gm

Aluminum 10.09 % Al 19.07 % Al₂O₃

Iron 3.48 % Fe 4.98 % Fe₂O₃

Phosphorus 10.62 % P 24.33 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 5.50 % H 49.13 % H₂O

Sulfur 1.00 % S 2.50 % SO₃

Oxygen 69.31 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Al₁₂Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₁₁(SO₄)(OH)₇·84(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1978

Locality:

West Dreifontein cave, near Carlstonville, Transvaal, South Africa. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the South African Speleological Society (SAS).

Sasaite Image

Images:

Sasaite

Comments: Whitish sasaite coatings on altering serpentinite rock.
Location: Breitenau, Steiermark, Austria. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Sasaite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.7191:1:1.5344

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.81, b = 15.031, c = 23.064, Z = 1; V = 3,747.56 Den(Calc)= 1.42

Crystal System:

OrthorhombicSpace Group: P 222 or Pmm2 or P mmm

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 11.52(1), 2.9(0.42), 6.99(0.23),

Physical Properties of Sasaite

Cleavage:

[001] Perfect

Color:

White.

Density:

1.75

Habit:

Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).

Habit:

Nodular - Tuberose forms having irregular protuberances over the surface.

Hardness:

2-3 - Gypsum-Calcite

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Sasaite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.006 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.225 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.3322,KPDmeas= 0.2695,KC= 0.2711

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.465, b=1.473, g=1.477, bire=0.0120, 2V(Calc)=70, 2V(Meas)=15.

Calculated Properties of Sasaite

Electron Density:

r_electron=1.83 gm/cc
note: r_Sasaite=1.75 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00115
Boson Index = 0.99885

Photoelectric:

PE_Sasaite= 1.97 barns/electron
U=PE_Sasaite x r_electron= 3.60 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Sasaite is Not Radioactive

Sasaite Classification

Dana Class:

43.5.4.1 (43)Compound Phosphates, etc.

(43.5)(Hydrated Compound Anions With Hydroxyl or Halogen)

(43.5.4)Dana Group

43.5.4.1 Sasaite (Al,Fe)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7·84(H2O) P 222 or Pmm2 or P mmm Ortho

Strunz Class:

VII/D.12-05 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/D - Water-bearing phosphates with unfamiliar anions, cations of medium size: Cu, Zn, Mn, Al, Fe

VII/D.12 - Sasaite - Kribergite ? series

VII/D.12-03 Mitryaevaite! Al5[(PO4)2[(P,S)O3(OH,O)]2F2(OH)2(H2O)8·6.48(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.12-05 Sasaite (Al,Fe)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7·84(H2O) P 222 or Pmm2 or P mmm Ortho

VII/D.12-10 Vashegyite Al11(PO4)9(OH)6·38(H2O)orAl6(PO4)5(OH)3·23(H2O) Pna2 or P na2₁ mm2

VII/D.12-20 Vantasselite Al4(PO4)3(OH)3·9(H2O) Pma2,P 2₁am,Pmam Ortho

VII/D.12-30 Sanjuanite Al2(PO4)(SO4)(OH)·9(H2O) P1 or P1 Tri

VII/D.12-40 Kribergite Al5(PO4)3(SO4)(OH)4·4(H2O) P1 or P1 Tri

Other Sasaite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Sasaite

(Al,Fe+++)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7·84(H2O)
Dana No: 43.5.4.1 Strunz No: VII/D.12-05
Locality:

Notes: