Chemistry:Schwertmannite

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Short description: Sulfate mineral
Schwertmannite
Crosta de schwertmannita obtinguda de zona de drenatge àcid de mines prop de Corta Atalaya, Huelva, Andalusia.jpg
General
CategorySulfate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Fe
8
O
8
(OH)
6
(SO
4
)  · n H
2
O
Strunz classification7.DE.15
Crystal systemTetragonal
Dipyramidal class
Space groupTetragonal
H-M symbol: (4/m)
Space group: P4/m
Identification
Colorbrownish yellow
|re|er}}earthy
Streakyellow
Diaphaneityopaque
References[1][2]

Schwertmannite is an iron-oxyhydroxysulfate mineral with an ideal chemical formula of Fe
8
O
8
(OH)
6
(SO
4
)  · n H
2
O
or Fe3+16O16(OH,SO4)12–13·10-12H2O.[1] It is an opaque tetragonal mineral typically occurring as brownish yellow encrustations. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 - 3.5 and a specific gravity of 3.77 - 3.99.[2]

It was first described for an occurrence in Finland in 1994 and named for Udo Schwertmann (born 1927) soil scientist, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.[4]

Schwertmannite (with a distinct "pin cushion" morphology) commonly forms in iron-rich, acid sulfate waters in the pH-range of 2 - 4. The mineral was first recognised officially as a new mineral from a natural acid-sulfate spring occurrence at Pyhäsalmi, Finland.[5] However, it is more commonly reported as an orange precipitate in streams and lakes affected by acid mine drainage.[6] Schwertmannite is also known to be central to iron-sulfur geochemistry in acid sulfate soils associated with coastal lowlands.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mindat
  2. 2.0 2.1 http://webmineral.com/data/Schwertmannite.shtml Webmineral
  3. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mineralogical-magazine/article/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A. 
  4. http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/schwertmannite.pdf Mineral Handbook
  5. Bigham, JM, Carlson, L, Murad, E (1994) Schwertmannite, a new iron oxyhydroxysulfate from Pyhasalmi, Finland, and other localities. Mineral Mag 58, 641-664
  6. Bigham, JM, Schwertmann, U, Carlson, L, Murad, E (1996) Schwertmannite and the chemical modeling of iron in acid sulfate waters. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 54, 2743-2758.
  7. Burton, ED, Bush, RT, Sullivan, LA (2007) Reductive transformation of iron and sulfur in schwertmannite-rich accumulations associated with acidified coastal lowlands. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71, 4456-4473