Log In
Löweite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Löweite
Formula:
Na12Mg7(SO4)13 · 15H2O
Colour:
Colourless, reddish-yellow, orange; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.374 - 2.423
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in 1846 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger in honour of Alexander Löwe (24 December 1808, St. Petersburg, Russia - 29 March 1895, Vienna, Austria-Hungary), chemist and Chief Assayer at the Mint, Vienna, Austria and later director of the Porcelain Works. He was the first to efficiently extract tellurium from Nagyág ores. He also described gersdorffite. The mineral name also appears as loeweite in English texts, but the löweite spelling was confirmed in 2008.
A (copyright-protected) image of Alexander Löwe can be found at https://www.liechtensteincollections.at/sammlungen-online/alexander-loewe-1808-1895
A (copyright-protected) image of Alexander Löwe can be found at https://www.liechtensteincollections.at/sammlungen-online/alexander-loewe-1808-1895
This page provides mineralogical data about Löweite.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Loweite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2463
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2463:7
Similar Names
| Roweite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ca2Mn22+B4O7(OH)6 |
IMA Classification of Löweite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na12Mg7(S6+O4)13(H2O)15
First published:
1847
Classification of Löweite
7.CC.45
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
29.4.3.1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1
25.3.11
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Löw | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Löweite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, reddish-yellow, orange; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.374 - 2.423 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.35 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Löweite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.490 nε = 1.471
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.019
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Löweite
Mindat Formula:
Na12Mg7(SO4)13 · 15H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Löweite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.866(2) Å, c = 13.434(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.712
Unit Cell V:
4,140.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Comment:
Point Group: 3 2/m?
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.37 Å | (100) |
| 4.294 Å | (65) |
| 4.046 Å | (60) |
| 2.458 Å | (50) |
| 3.277 Å | (45) |
| 2.698 Å | (45) |
| 3.175 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Type Occurrence of Löweite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, A.x.583–A.x.585.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oceanic salt deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Löweite
Other Language Names for Löweite
Varieties of Löweite
| Chile-Loeweite | A provisional name for a inadequately studied material allegedly differing to a degree from Löweite in composition. |
| Chromlöweite | A variety of Löweite containing Chromium |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CC. | Cobaltoblödite | Na2Co(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC. | Andychristyite | PbCu2+Te6+O5(H2O) |
| 7.CC. | Ammoniovoltaite | (NH4)2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12(H2O)18 |
| 7.CC.05 | Krausite | KFe(SO4)2 · H2O |
| 7.CC.10 | Tamarugite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.15 | Mendozite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.CC.15 | Kalinite | KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Alum-(Na) | NaAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Lonecreekite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Alum-(K) | KAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.20 | Lanmuchangite | Tl+Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Zincovoltaite | K2Zn5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Voltaite | K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Magnesiovoltaite | K2Mg5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Pertlikite | K2(Fe2+,Mg)2(Mg,Fe3+)4Fe3+2Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.25 | Ammoniomagnesiovoltaite | (NH4)2Mg2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.CC.30 | Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.35 | Ferrinatrite | Na3Fe(SO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.CC.40 | Goldichite | KFe(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Nickelblödite | Na2Ni(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Blödite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.50 | Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.55 | Leonite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.55 | Mereiterite | K2Fe(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Nickelpicromerite | K2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Nickelboussingaultite | (NH4)2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Katerinopoulosite | (NH4)2Zn(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Picromerite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Cyanochroite | K2Cu(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Mohrite | (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.60 | Boussingaultite | (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.65 | Polyhalite | K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.70 | Leightonite | K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CC.75 | Amarillite | NaFe(SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.CC.80 |
Bad Ischler Salzberg, Perneck, Bad Ischl, Gmunden District, Upper Austria, Austria