Hydrohalite
| Hydrohalite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Halide mineral |
| Formula | NaCl·2H2O |
| IMA symbol | Hhl[1] |
| Strunz classification | 3.BA.05 |
| Dana classification | 9.1.2.1 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/c |
| Identification | |
| Colour | Colourless or white |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
Hydrohalite is a halide mineral that occurs in saturated halite brines at cold temperatures (below 0.1 °C) and is the most common form of hydrated sodium chloride. It was first described in 1847 from an occurrence in Dürrnberg, Austria.
Physical properties
[edit | edit source]Hydrohalite has a high nucleation energy, it decomposes at 0.1°C, giving a salty brine and solid halite.
The cryohydric point of hydrohalite is at −21.2 °C (−6.2 °F), solutions will normally need to be supercooled for crystals to form. Above this temperature, liquid water saturated with salt can exist in equilibrium with hydrohalite. Unlike halite, hydrohalite has a strong positive temperature coefficient of solubility.[2] Under pressure, hydrohalite is stable between 7,900 and 11,600 atmospheres pressure. The decomposition point increases at the rate of 0.007K per atmosphere (for 1–1000 atmospheres),[2] reaching a maximum decomposition temperature is at 25.8°C around 9400 atmospheres. The decomposition temperature reduces again at higher pressures.[2]
Occurrence
[edit | edit source]The type locality is the Hallein Salt Mine in Austria.[3]
Ceres
[edit | edit source]Hydrohalite was discovered on Ceres by Dawn,[4] suggesting an early ocean, possibly surviving as a relict ocean.
References
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- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Page Hydrohalite: Mineral information, data and localities on Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ De Sanctis, M.C., Ammannito, E., Raponi, A. et al. Fresh emplacement of hydrated sodium chloride on Ceres from ascending salty fluids. Nat Astron 4, 786–793 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1138-8