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Carlsonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Carlsonite
Ernest H. Carlson (1933–2010)
Formula:
(NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 7H2O
Colour:
yellow to orange-brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.167 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Dr. Ernest H. Carlson (1933–2010) professor of mineralogy at Kent State University, Ohio from 1966 to 2009. At the time of his death, he had completed and submitted a revision of his popular Minerals of Ohio, originally published in 1991 by the Ohio Geological Survey, and was engaged in a study of the Huron River shale fire.
Type Locality:
Chemically related especially to clairite and lonecreekite; Unnamed (Fe analogue of huizingite-(Al)); also somewhat to mohrite. The first NH4-Fe oxysulphate mineral. Probably has a narrow stability range.
The bipartite structure (related to that of metavoltine and scordariite) consist of:
- [Fe3O(H2O)3(SO4)6]5- cluster, comprising the structural unit, and being the same as in metavoltine
- [(NH4)5(H2O)4]5+ complex, comprising the interstitial unit.
In the structural unit three FeO6 octahedra are vertex-sharing.
The bipartite structure (related to that of metavoltine and scordariite) consist of:
- [Fe3O(H2O)3(SO4)6]5- cluster, comprising the structural unit, and being the same as in metavoltine
- [(NH4)5(H2O)4]5+ complex, comprising the interstitial unit.
In the structural unit three FeO6 octahedra are vertex-sharing.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46504
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46504:5
Similar Names
| Carltonite | A variety of Native Iron |
IMA Classification of Carlsonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(N3-H4)5Fe3+3O(S6+O4)6·7H2O
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2016
Type description reference:
Kampf, Anthony R., Richards, R. Peter, Nash, Barbara P., Murowchick, James B., Rakovan, John F. (2016) Carlsonite, (NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6·7H2O, and huizingite-(Al), (NH4)9Al3(SO4)8(OH)2·4H2O, two new minerals from a natural fire in an oil-bearing shale near Milan, Ohio. American Mineralogist, 101 (9) 2095-2107 doi:10.2138/am-2016-5680
Classification of Carlsonite
7.DF.
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Csn | 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 Carlsonite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow to orange-brown
Streak:
Tan
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.167 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Carlsonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.576(1) nβ = 1.585(1) nγ = 1.591(1)
2V:
Measured: 80° (1), Calculated: 78°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
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 (positive)
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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
strong (r > v)
Comments:
yellow (X), orange (Y & Z); X < Y ~ Z
Chemistry of Carlsonite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Carlsonite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.5927(2) Å, b = 9.7679(3) Å, c = 18.3995(13) Å
α = 93.250(7)°, β = 95.258(7)°, γ = 117.993(8)°
α = 93.250(7)°, β = 95.258(7)°, γ = 117.993(8)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.982 : 1 : 1.884
Unit Cell V:
1506.15 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Forms observed: {100}, {001}, {110}, {111}, {111}, {012}
Twinning:
cross-hatched, rare
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.23 Å | (100) |
| 8.26 Å | (40) |
| 7.57 Å | (43) |
| 4.93 Å | (23) |
| 3.328 Å | (20) |
| 3.246 Å | (15) |
| 3.144 Å | (41) |
| 3.035 Å | (16) |
Comments:
From type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Carlsonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
It occurs in crystal form as thin to thick tablets up to about 0.5 mm but often much smaller; the tablets are flattened on {001); at this scale, the yellow to orange-brown crystals are best viewed through a high-powered microscope; also as stout prisms el
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type and cotype material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue numbers 65544 and 65545, respectively
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Carlsonite was produced by the condensation of gases in the oil-shale fire. The shale fire occurred in a rock outcrop of the Late Devonian Huron Shale Member of the Ohio Shale along River Road, northeast of the town of Monroeville in Ridgefield Township, Huron County. At the time of inspection, geologists were uncertain of the cause. The current hypothesis suggests the fire started in September 2009 as the result of spontaneous combustion. The shale fire burned until March 2011 and created a variety of exotic mineral species, such as boussinggaulite and lonecreekite, as well as the never-before-observed carlsonite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, Anthony R., Richards, R. Peter, Nash, Barbara P., Murowchick, James B., Rakovan, John F. (2016) Carlsonite, (NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6·7H2O, and huizingite-(Al), (NH4)9Al3(SO4)8(OH)2·4H2O, two new minerals from a natural fire in an oil-bearing shale near Milan, Ohio. American Mineralogist, 101 (9) 2095-2107 doi:10.2138/am-2016-5680
Synonyms of Carlsonite
Other Language Names for Carlsonite
Dutch:Carlsoniet
German:Carlsonit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DF. | Siligiite | [Pb(H2O)5(SO4)][Zn9(OH)18] |
| 7.DF. | Alcaparrosaite | K3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2 |
| 7.DF. | Flaggite | Pb4Cu2+4Te6+2(SO4)2O11(OH)2(H2O) |
| 7.DF. | Bairdite | Pb2Cu2+4Te6+2O10(OH)2(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.DF. | Tzeferisite | CaZn8(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2(H2O)9 |
| 7.DF. | Cherokeeite | [Pb2Zn(OH)4](SO4) · H2O |
| 7.DF. | Ammoniomathesiusite | (NH4)5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2O |
| 7.DF. | Sigogglinite | [Pb6Zn(OH)8]2(SO4)6 · (H2O)8-x |
| 7.DF.X | Blueridgeite | [Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)2(S2O3)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF. | Erssonite | Mg7Fe3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.DF. | Poellmannite | Ca6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DF. | Cuprocherokeeite | [Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.DF. | Haywoodite | [Pb(H2O)10][Zn12(OH)20(H2O)(SO4)3] |
| 7.DF. | Chromschieffelinite | Pb10Te6+6O20(OH)14(CrO4)(H2O)5 |
| 7.DF.05 | Uklonskovite | NaMg(SO4)F · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.10 | Kainite | KMg(SO4)Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.10 | Kaliochalcite | KCu2(SO4)2[(OH)(H2O)] |
| 7.DF.15 | Natrochalcite | NaCu2(SO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.17 | Genplesite | Ca3Sn(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.17 | 'Unnamed (Ba-Sb Silicate-Sulphate-Hydroxide-Hydrate)' | Ba3Sb5+[(Si,S)O3(OH)]2(OH,O)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.20 | Sideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.20 | Metasideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Fleischerite | Pb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Mallestigite | Pb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Schaurteite | Ca3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Despujolsite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.30 | Slavíkite | (H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O |
| 7.DF.35 | Metavoltine | K2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.DF.40 | Lannonite | Mg2Ca4Al4(SO4)8F8 · 24H2O |
| 7.DF.40 | Vlodavetsite | AlCa2(SO4)2F2Cl · 4H2O |
| 7.DF.45 | Peretaite | Ca(SbO)4(SO4)2(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.50 | Gordaite | NaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
| 7.DF.50 | Calamaite | Na2TiO(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.52 | Huizingite-(Al) | [(NH4)9(SO4)2][(Al,Fe3+)3(OH)2(H2O)4(SO4)6] |
| 7.DF.52 | Scordariite | K8(Fe3+0.67◻0.33)[Fe3+3O(SO4)6]2 · 14H2O |
| 7.DF.55 | Clairite | (NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.55 | Giacovazzoite | K5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 10H2O |
| 7.DF.57 | Magnanelliite | K3Fe3+2(SO4)4(OH)(H2O)2 |
| 7.DF.60 | Arzrunite | Cu4Pb2(SO4)(OH)4Cl6 · 2H2O (?) |
| 7.DF.60 | Evdokimovite | Tl4(VO)3(SO4)5(H2O)5 |
| 7.DF.62 | Bridgesite-(Ce) | CaCe2Cu6(SO4)4(OH)12 · 8H2O |
| 7.DF.65 | Elyite | Pb4Cu(SO4)O2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 7.DF.70 | Yecoraite | Fe3+3Bi5(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)O9 · 9H2O |
| 7.DF.70 | Lautenthalite | PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.75 | Riomarinaite | Bi(SO4)(OH) · H2O |
| 7.DF.80 | Dukeite | Bi3+24Cr6+8O57(OH)6 · 3H2O |
Fluorescence of Carlsonite
not observed
Other Information
Notes:
easily soluble in RT water; Lewis basicity: (1) structural unit: 0.23-0.11 valence units (vu); (2) interstitial unit: 0.13
Raman bands [cm-1]: 245, 275, 436, 478, 514, 552, 576, 617, 629, 670, 1015, 1066, 1104, 1140, 1160, 1188, 1219
Raman bands [cm-1]: 245, 275, 436, 478, 514, 552, 576, 617, 629, 670, 1015, 1066, 1104, 1140, 1160, 1188, 1219
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Carlsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46504.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Pécs-Vasas, Pécs District, Baranya County, Hungary