Palmierite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Palmierite
Luigi Palmieri
Formula:
K2Pb(SO4)2
K may be replaced by minor Na.
Colour:
Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
4.363
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Luigi Palmieri (22 April 1807, Faicchio, Benevento, Italy – 9 September 1896, Naples, Italy), physicist and meteorologist, and Director of the Vesuvius Observatory. He was famous for his scientific studies of the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, for his research on earthquakes and meteorological phenomena and for improving the seismograph.
Isostructural with:
The lead analogue of Kalistrontite. Compare eleomelanite.
In experimental volcanic gas condensation by Africano et al. (2002) it deposited in the range of ca. 600-400oC.
Commonly found as an alteration product in man made pigments and smelting residues.
In experimental volcanic gas condensation by Africano et al. (2002) it deposited in the range of ca. 600-400oC.
Commonly found as an alteration product in man made pigments and smelting residues.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3071
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3071:3
IMA Classification of Palmierite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Palmierite
7.AD.40
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
28.4.3.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
25.7.5
25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates of Pb
25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates of Pb
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pmi | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Palmierite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Density:
4.363 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.33 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Palmierite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
Chemistry of Palmierite
Mindat Formula:
K2Pb(SO4)2
K may be replaced by minor Na.
K may be replaced by minor Na.
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Palmierite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.4950(6) Å, c = 20.849(4) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.794
Unit Cell V:
545.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals are microscopic micaceous plates {0001}, with hexagonal outlines.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015320 | Palmierite | Tissot R G, Rodriguez M A, Sipola D L, Voigt J A (2001) X-ray powder diffraction study of synthetic palmierite, K2Pb(SO4)2 Powder Diffraction 16 92-97 | 2001 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.948 Å | (35) |
| 4.333 Å | (45) |
| 3.138 Å | (100) |
| 2.749 Å | (70) |
| 2.557 Å | (35) |
| 2.156 Å | (30) |
| 2.068 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Palmierite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As minute crytals, platy on {0001} with hexagonal outline
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Naples, Naples, 17516; Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 107.476, 107.477; The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1927,1049.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Volcanic fumaroles
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Palmierite
Relationship of Palmierite to other Species
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Palmierite associated with Chlorothionite | K2Cu(SO4)Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Palmierite associated with Slag | |
| 1 photo of Palmierite associated with Lanarkite | Pb2(SO4)O |
| 1 photo of Palmierite associated with Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Palmierite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AD. | Bubnovaite | K2Na8Ca(SO4)6 |
| 7.AD. | Dobrovolskyite | Na4Ca(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Calciolangbeinite | K2Ca2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Murphyite | Pb(Te6+O4) |
| 7.AD. | Cuprodobrovolskyite | Na4Cu(SO4)3 |
| 7.AD. | Kristjánite | KNa2H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.05 | Mascagnite | (NH4)2SO4 |
| 7.AD.05 | Arcanite | K2SO4 |
| 7.AD.10 | Mercallite | KHSO4 |
| 7.AD.15 | Misenite | K8H6(SO4)7 |
| 7.AD.20 | Letovicite | (NH4)3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.25 | Thénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 7.AD.25 | Glauberite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.30 | Metathénardite | Na2SO4 |
| 7.AD.30 | Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Celestine | SrSO4 |
| 7.AD.35 | Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) |
| 7.AD.35 | Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 7.AD.40 | Kalistrontite | K2Sr(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.45 | Ivsite | Na3H(SO4)2 |
| 7.AD.55 | Markhininite | TlBi(SO4)2 |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 16.3755% | 5,076 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Palmierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3071.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Palmierite
Reference List:
Moore, Paul Brian (1973) Bracelets and pinwheels: A topological-geometrical approach to the calcium orthosilicate and alkali sulfate structures. American Mineralogist, 58 (1-2) 32-42
Localities for Palmierite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Blass et al. (2001) |
| Auer (2023) |
Chile | |
| samples analysed by Gerhard Mohn and ... |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Schnorrer (1995) | |
| Bender et al. (1994) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
Indonesia | |
| Symonds (1993) |
Italy | |
| Imma Punzo collection |
| Russo +2 other references |
| Pelloux (1927) +1 other reference | |
| Annamaria Pellino et al. (Italy) | |
Japan | |
| Africano et al. (2002) |
Romania | |
| Hansen et al. (2019) |
Russia | |
| Zelenski et al. (2012) |
| Zelenski et al. (2020) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
Quick NavTopAbout PalmieriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatRadioactivityOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia