| Boussingaultite | |
| Category: | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula: | (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O |
| Imasymbol: | Bsg[1] |
| Molweight: | 360.60 g/mol |
| Strunz: | 7.CC.60 |
| Dana: | 29.03.07.02 |
| System: | Monoclinic |
| Class: | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Symmetry: | P21/a |
| Unit Cell: | a = 9.324(7) Å, b = 12.597(9) Å, c = 6.211(5) Å; β = 1.472°; Z = 2 |
| Color: | Colorless, yellow pink, light yellow, pink; colorless in transmitted light |
| Cleavage: | perfect (synthetic) |
| Mohs: | 2 |
| Luster: | Vitreous (glassy), silky |
| Streak: | White |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent to translucent |
| Gravity: | 1.73 |
| Opticalprop: | Biaxial (+) |
| 2V: | 51°11′ |
| Dispersion: | r > v, perceptible |
| Solubility: | Soluble in H2O |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Boussingaultite is a rare ammonium magnesium hydrated sulfate mineral of the chemical formula: (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2 · 6 H2O. The formula of boussingaultite is that of Tutton's salts type. It was originally described from geothermal fields in Tuscany, Italy, where it occurs together with its iron analogue mohrite,[5] but is more commonly found on burning coal dumps.[6] The mineral possess monoclinic symmetry and forms clear, often rounded crystals.[3]
The mineral is named after the French chemist Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802–1887).[7]