Boyleite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Boyleite
Robert W. Boyle
Formula:
ZnSO4 · 4H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Earthy
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.41 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after Dr. Robert William Boyle (3 June 1920 – 5 August 2003), Canadian geochemist, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. He noted the same mineral earlier at Keno Hill, Canada.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
746
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:746:1
IMA Classification of Boyleite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Zn(SO4) · 4H2O
First published:
1978
Classification of Boyleite
7.CB.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.6.5
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.5.6
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boy | 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 Boyleite
Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.41 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Boyleite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.522 nβ = 1.531 nγ = 1.536
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 72°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.014
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Boyleite
Mindat Formula:
ZnSO4 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Boyleite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.95 Å, b = 13.60 Å, c = 7.96 Å
β = 90.4°
β = 90.4°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.438 : 1 : 0.585
Unit Cell V:
644.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
P 21/n
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019607 | Boyleite | Anderson J L, Peterson R C, Swainson I (2012) The atomic structure of deuterated boyleite ZnSO4*4D2O, ilesite MnSO4*4D2O, and bianchite ZnSO4*6D2O American Mineralogist 97 1905-1914 | 2012 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010369 | Boyleite | Blake A J, Cooke P A, Hubberstey P, Sampson C L (2001) Zinc(II) sulfate tetrahydrate Acta Crystallographica E57 i109-i111 |  | 2001 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.46 Å | (100) |
| 4.47 Å | (100) |
| 6.85 Å | (80) |
| 3.96 Å | (80) |
| 3.39 Å | (70) |
| 2.95 Å | (70) |
| 2.55 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Boyleite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Reniform masses
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137413.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alteration of sphalerite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Boyleite
Other Language Names for Boyleite
Relationship of Boyleite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Rozenite Group:
| Aplowite | (Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
| Ilesite | Mn2+(SO4) · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | (Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | Mn2+(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | MgSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Moorhouseite | Co(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | FeSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Zincmelanterite | (Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu)(SO4) · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | CuSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | MnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | 3CdSO4 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Rhomboclase | (H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Raisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.57 | Caichengyunite | Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2O |
| 7.CB.60 | Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.65 | Quenstedtite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 11H2O |
| 7.CB.70 | Lausenite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Dietrichite | (Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | (Fe2+,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | (Co,Mg,Ni)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.90 | Meridianiite | MgSO4 · 11H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Dehydrates in dry rooms to gunningite.
Soluble in water.
Soluble in water.
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 Boyleite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-746.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Boyleite
Reference List:
Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Pabst, and Adolf (1979) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 241-245
Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Pabst, and Adolf (1979) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 64 (3-4) 464-467
Blake, Alexander J.; Cooke, Paul A.; Hubberstey, Peter; Sampson, Claire L. (2001) Zinc(II) sulfate tetrahydrate. Acta Crystallographica Section E Structure Reports Online, 57 (12). i109-i111 doi:10.1107/s1600536801017998
Localities for Boyleite
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.
Argentina | |
| Bengochea +1 other reference |
Australia | |
| Anderson et al. (2012) |
| Ashley et al. (1999) |
| Ashley et al. (1999) |
Bulgaria | |
| Zidarov et al. (2010) |
Canada | |
| Anderson et al. (2012) |
| Gait et al. (1990) |
| CMMA Micro-News 41-1 (2007) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Costa Rica | |
| Ulloa et al. (2018) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš et al. (2015) |
Germany (TL) | |
| Walenta (1978) |
| Jambor et al. (1962) |
| SEM-EDS and XRD by Joy Desor and ... |
Greece | |
| Blaß et al. (1998) |
| Lapis et al. (1999) | |
| Triantafyllidis et al. (2007) |
Ireland | |
| Balassone et al. (2008) |
Italy | |
| Del Prete S. et al. (2002) |
| Ciriotti M.E. & Blass.G. (2010) |
Japan | |
| Shimada (1982) |
Mexico | |
| Yta et al. (2005) |
| Morgan (2017) |
Norway | |
| Bryhni (1993) |
| Bryhni (1993) | |
Poland | |
| Cabała et al. (2008) |
Russia | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2014) |
| Eremin et al. (2014) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
| FMF Forum |
Switzerland | |
| Perroud et al. (1987) +2 other references |
USA | |
| Jeff Weissman collection (purchased from Excalibur Minerals) |
| Kampf et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Kampf et al. (2015) |
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Baccu Locci Mine, Villaputzu, South Sardinia Province, Sardinia, Italy