Dehydration of blödite, Na2Mg(SO4)2(H2O)4, and leonite, K2Mg(SO4)2(H2O)4

The high-temperature behaviour of blödite (Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄) and leonite (K₂Mg(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄) was studied by X-ray diffraction on powder samples in open capillaries and by thermo-gravimetry/calorimetry. The stability of blödite and leonite below 380 K and 420 K, respectively, shows that these minerals are limited to low-temperature assemblages of hydrous sulphates and are expected mostly as evaporite products on the surfaces of the Earth and other water-saturated planets. Their high-temperature transformations, however, link them to the fumarolic minerals löweite (Na₁₂Mg₇(SO₄)₁₃(H₂O)₁₅), α-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ with still unknown crystal structure, β-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ isomorphous with langbeinite, and langbeinite (K₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃). Blödite dehydrates with two steps, at approximately 380 K and 500 K. During the first dehydration it transforms into löweite. At the second dehydration step, löweite transforms into α-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ and vanthoffite (Na₆Mg(SO₄)₄) or thenardite (Na₂SO₄). The α-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ phase transforms at around 850 K into β-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ which is stable to over 980 K (all at atmospheric pressure). The two dehydrations have a strong endothermic character, whereas the 850 K phase transition gives a weaker endothermic signal. It is reversible and β-Na₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ cannot be quenched to room temperature. The thermal expansion of blödite increases on approaching the dehydration temperature. On the contrary, the expansion of löweite ceases on approaching the dehydration. Unlike blödite, which shows relatively isotropic thermal expansion, leonite has a pronounced anisotropic expansion with shortening of the a crystal-lattice period with increasing temperature. The volume expansion of leonite does not show any significant departure from linearity. On dehydration at approximately 410–420 K it transforms into langbeinite and arcanite (K₂SO₄).