Xitieshanite

{{Short description|Sulfate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Xitieshanite | category = Sulfate mineral | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = | imagesize = | caption = | formula = Fe3+(SO4)Cl·6(H2O) | IMAsymbol = Xit<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref> | molweight = 313.47 g/mol | strunz = 7.DC.20 | system = Monoclinic | class = Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) | symmetry = ''P''21/a | unit cell = a = 14.1 Å, b = 6.9 Å c = 10.67 Å; β = 111.26°; Z = 4 | color = Green; yellow green | habit = Acicular | twinning = | cleavage = Uncertain / indistinct | fracture = Conchoidal to uneven | tenacity = | mohs = 2.5 - 3 | luster = Vitreous | polish = | refractive = nα = 1.536 nβ = 1.570 nγ = 1.628 | opticalprop = Biaxial (-) | birefringence = 0.092 | dispersion = r > v | pleochroism = Colorless (x) to pale yellow (y) to light greenish yellow (z) | 2V = Measured: 77° | fluorescence= | absorption = | streak = Yellow | gravity = 1.99 | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Transparent to translucent | other = | references =<ref>[http://webmineral.com/data/Xitieshanite.shtml Xitieshanite mineral data from Webmineral]</ref><ref name=Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/min-4341.html Mindat.org]</ref> }}

'''Xitieshanite''' is a hydrous iron sulfate–chloride mineral with chemical formula: Fe3+(SO4)Cl·6(H2O).

It was discovered in 1983 and named for the discovery location of Xitieshan lead/zinc ore deposit in the Qinghai Province, China. It was approved by the IMA in the year of its discovery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Xitieshanite Mineral Data |url=http://www.webmineral.com/data/Xitieshanite.shtml#.YioS9HrMIdU |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.webmineral.com}}</ref> The mineral has also been reported in 2005 from acid mine drainage from a coal mine in Green Valley, Vigo County, Indiana.<ref>Melchiorre, Erik, et al., ''A new occurrence of xitieshanite [Fe3+(SO4)Cl·6H2O] crystals in acid-mine seepways, Green Valley, Vigo County, Indiana, U.S.A.,'' American Mineralogist, v. 90 no. 10 p. 1518-1521, 2005</ref>

== Properties == Xitieshanite mainly consists of oxygen (56.14%) and iron (17.82%), but otherwise contains chlorine (11.31%), sulphur (10.23%) and hydrogen (4.50%). This mineral grown in lead-zinc mines, in the oxidation zone of it. Xitieshanite is a pleochroic mineral, which is an optical phenomenon, meaning the mineral appears as if it's changing colors depending on the axis it is being inspected at. On the X axis it appears as it's colorless, while it looks pale yellow if viewed on the Y axis, and light greenish yellow on the Z axis. It doesn't show any radioactive properties whatsoever.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Iron(III) minerals Category:Sulfate minerals Category:Halide minerals Category:Monoclinic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 14