a = 6.95 Å, b = 8.88 Å, c = 6.95 Å; α = 104.06°, β = 113.94°, γ = 101.15°; Z = 4
Identification
Color
Colorless, white, gray; often salmon-pink to brick-red from included iron oxide
Crystal habit
Typically fibrous, foliated, massive; rarely as tabular crystals; pseudo-orthorhombic
Twinning
Characteristically polysynthetic on {010}, {100}
Cleavage
Perfect on {101}; parting on {010}
Fracture
Conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Mohs scale hardness
3.5
Luster
Vitreous to resinous
Streak
White
Diaphaneity
Transparent
Specific gravity
2.78
Optical properties
Biaxial (−)
Refractive index
nα = 1.546 – 1.548 nβ = 1.558 – 1.562 nγ = 1.567
Birefringence
δ = 0.021
2V angle
Measured: 60° to 62°
Solubility
Soluble in water, with precipitation of gypsum and perhaps syngenite
References
[2][3][4]
Polyhalite is an evaporite mineral, a hydrated sulfate of potassium, calcium and magnesium with formula: K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O. Polyhalite crystallizes in the triclinic system, although crystals are very rare. The normal habit is massive to fibrous. It is typically colorless, white to gray, although it may be brick red due to iron oxide inclusions. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 and a specific gravity of 2.8.
It is used as a fertilizer.
Polyhalite was first described in 1818 for specimens from its type locality in Salzburg, Austria.[2]
It occurs in sedimentary marine evaporites and is a major potassium ore mineral in the Carlsbad deposits of New Mexico. It is also present as a 2–3% contaminant of Himalayan salt.
The only deposit currently being mined lies under North Yorkshire, UK, extending under the adjacent North Sea.
Polyhalite is an evaporite mineral, a hydrated sulfate of potassium, calcium and magnesium with formula: K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O. Polyhalite crystallizes in...
Woodsmith Mine is a deep potash and polyhalite mine located near to the hamlet of Sneatonthorpe, Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. The venture was started...
subsidiary of Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL). In early 2016, polyhalite mining commenced. Polyhalite is a natural multi-nutrient fertiliser providing a source...
well as being a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore, polyhalite and steelmaking coal. The company has operations in Africa, Asia, Australia...
calcite, gypsum and anhydrite, halite, sylvite, carnallite, langbeinite, polyhalite, and kainite. Kieserite (MgSO4) may also be included, which often will...
the people in it, pulled the wall down and sowed the site with salt." Polyhalite, a mineral fertilizer, is not an NaCl-polymer, but hydrated K2Ca2Mg-sulfate...
potassium and magnesium evaporite minerals: sylvite, kainite, picromerite, polyhalite, and kieserite. Carnallite is an uncommon double chloride mineral that...
K2Mg2(SO4)3 Aphthitalite (previously known as glaserite), K3Na(SO4)2 Polyhalite, K2SO4·MgSO4·2CaSO4·2H2O The potassium sulfate can be separated from some...
development of its North Yorkshire polyhalite project which aimed to exploit the world’s largest deposit of polyhalite, a type of potash. The company planned...
400 ft) Woodsmith Mine Tunnel in North Yorkshire that will transport polyhalite from North Yorkshire to a port on Teesside. Standedge Tunnel at 5,029...
1 billion. York Potash Ltd put forward the idea of mining potash and polyhalite on the moors above Whitby in 2010. Originally, three options for moving...
previous mining industry. To avoid damaging the sensitive surroundings, the polyhalite is transported 36 km (22 mi) underground from the mine. However, ICL UK...
since then it has been a freight-only line dedicated to the potash and polyhalite traffic from Boulby, and steel products into Skinningrove Steelworks....
company Sirius Minerals to help bring to fruition their North Yorkshire Polyhalite Project. In the 1970s, Rinehart was an active supporter of the Westralian...
deposits, particularly salts. She was the co-discoverer of a deposit of polyhalite salts in the area of the Bay of Puck in the southern Baltic Sea, off the...
laureth sulfate, or SLES, a common detergent in shampoo formulations Polyhalite, K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O, used as fertiliser. Sulfate-reducing bacteria, some...
430 feet (440 m) of halite with significant anhydrite, red beds, and polyhalite. The formation is found within the Delaware Basin and was deposited after...
environmental conditions. Potassium salts such as carnallite, langbeinite, polyhalite, and sylvite form extensive evaporite deposits in ancient lake bottoms...
1987–present Output is used for plasters, renders etc. Boulby Mine Potash/Polyhalite, rock salt 54°33′11″N 0°49′26″W / 54.553°N 0.824°W / 54.553; -0.824...
environments as a sublimate. It occurs in association with halite, carnallite, polyhalite, anhydrite, boracite, sulfoborite, leonite, epsomite and celestine. In...
nitrate deposits in arid climates. It occurs associated with halite, polyhalite, anhydrite, gypsum, thenardite, mirabilite, sassolite and blodite. Because...
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