Goslarite
Encyclopedia
Goslarite is a hydrous zinc
sulfate mineral
with formula: ZnSO4·7H2O. It is a secondary mineral which develops after primary zinc minerals within the zone of oxidation and in old sphalerite
mine workings. It is unstable at the surface and dehydrates readily. It is transparent to translucent and variable in color, ranging from colorless, green, blue to brown. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and forms acicular crystals, stalactitic forms and massive clumps. It has a Mohs hardness of 2 - 2.5 and a low specific gravity
of only 2. Related minerals include epsomite
(MgSO4·7H2O) and morenosite (NiSO4·7H2O).
Goslarite was first described in 1847 for an occurrence in Rammelsberg mines
near Goslar
, Harz Mountains, Germany
.
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
sulfate mineral
Sulfate mineral
The sulfate minerals are a class of minerals which include the sulfate ion within their structure. The sulfate minerals occur commonly in primary evaporite depositional environments, as gangue minerals in hydrothermal veins and as secondary minerals in the oxidizing zone of sulfide mineral deposits...
with formula: ZnSO4·7H2O. It is a secondary mineral which develops after primary zinc minerals within the zone of oxidation and in old sphalerite
Sphalerite
Sphalerite is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. It consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains variable iron. When iron content is high it is an opaque black variety, marmatite. It is usually found in association with galena, pyrite, and other sulfides...
mine workings. It is unstable at the surface and dehydrates readily. It is transparent to translucent and variable in color, ranging from colorless, green, blue to brown. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and forms acicular crystals, stalactitic forms and massive clumps. It has a Mohs hardness of 2 - 2.5 and a low specific gravity
Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a volume of the substance to the weight of an equal volume of the reference substance. The reference substance is nearly always water for...
of only 2. Related minerals include epsomite
Epsomite
Epsomite is a hydrous magnesium sulfate mineral with formula MgSO4·7H2O or simply MgSO4. Epsomite forms as encrustations or efflorescences on limestone cavern walls and mine timbers and walls, as a volcanic fumaroles, and as rare beds in evaporate layers...
(MgSO4·7H2O) and morenosite (NiSO4·7H2O).
Goslarite was first described in 1847 for an occurrence in Rammelsberg mines
Mines of Rammelsberg
The Rammelsberg is a mountain, high, on the northern edge of the Harz, south of the town of Goslar in the north German state of Lower Saxony. The mountain is the location of an important mine, the only mine which had been working continuously for over 1,000 years when it finally closed in 1988...
near Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
, Harz Mountains, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.