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Leonite [K (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 4H (sub 2) O], konyaite [Na (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 5H (sub 2) O] and syngenite [K (sub 2) Ca(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . H (sub 2) O] from Tausoare Cave, Rodnei Mts., Romania

B. P. Onac, W. B. White and I. Viehmann
Leonite [K (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 4H (sub 2) O], konyaite [Na (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 5H (sub 2) O] and syngenite [K (sub 2) Ca(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . H (sub 2) O] from Tausoare Cave, Rodnei Mts., Romania
Mineralogical Magazine (February 2001) 65 (1(428)): 103-109

Abstract

Tausoare Cave is renowned in Romania for its gypsum and mirabilite speleothems. Of interest are the white crystalline speleothems formed on the floor of the "Sala de Mese" (Dining Room) that were previously described as consisting of mirabilite. The samples we collected reveal crystals of two different habits. One shows the characteristic mirabilite fibrous crystals (cotton-like speleothem) while the other formed bladed and short prismatic crystals which comprise the delicate "cave flowers". The mineral association was characterized by means of X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe. Beside thenardite (dehydration product of mirabilite) we also identified three sulphate minerals: leonite [K (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) .4H (sub 2) O], syngenite [K (sub 2) Ca(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) .H (sub 2) O] and konyaite [Na (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) .5H (sub 2) O]. Of these, leonite and konyaite have never been reported in a cave environment. This paper describes the mineralogy of this particular sulphate deposit and offers some viewpoints on the crystallogenesis.


ISSN: 0026-461X
EISSN: 1471-8022
Coden: MNLMBB
Serial Title: Mineralogical Magazine
Serial Volume: 65
Serial Issue: 1(428)
Title: Leonite [K (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 4H (sub 2) O], konyaite [Na (sub 2) Mg(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . 5H (sub 2) O] and syngenite [K (sub 2) Ca(SO (sub 4) ) (sub 2) . H (sub 2) O] from Tausoare Cave, Rodnei Mts., Romania
Affiliation: "Babes-Bolyai" University, Department of Mineralogy, Cluj, Romania
Pages: 103-109
Published: 200102
Text Language: English
Publisher: Mineralogical Society, London, United Kingdom
References: 23
Accession Number: 2001-034752
Categories: Mineralogy of non-silicates
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Illustration Description: illus. incl. 1 table, sketch map
N47°25'00" - N47°34'60", E24°19'60" - E25°00'00"
Secondary Affiliation: Speleogical Institute "Emil Racovita", ROM, RomaniaPennsylvania State University, USA, United States
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2017, American Geosciences Institute.
Update Code: 200111
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