Mascagnite

Short description: Rare ammonium sulfate mineral

Mascagnite

Acicular crystals and flakes of Mascagnite

General
Category| Sulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)| (NH4)2SO4
Strunz classification| 7.AD.05
Crystal system| Orthorhombic
Crystal class| Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group| Pnam
Identification
Color| Colorless, grey, yellowish-grey, yellow
Cleavage| Distinct/ good
On {001}
Fracture| Irregular/ uneven
Tenacity| Sectile
Mohs scale hardness| 2 – ​2 1⁄2
|re|er}}| Vitreous, dull
Diaphaneity| Transparent, translucent, opaque
Density| 1.768 g/cm3
References| [1][2][3][4]

Mascagnite is a rare ammonium sulfate mineral (NH4)2SO4. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system typically forming as stalactitic masses exhibiting good cleavage. It is soft (not higher than 2.5 on the Mohs scale) and water-soluble. Optical properties are variable; the purest form is transparent and colorless, but opaque gray or yellow deposits are also known.

It occurs in fumaroles, as at Mount Vesuvius and associated with coal seam fires. It was named for Italian anatomist Paolo Mascagni (1752–1815) who first described the mineral.

## References

1. ↑ Mineralienatlas
2. ↑ Mineral Handbook
3. ↑ Webmineral Data
4. ↑ Mindat
5. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode: 2021MinM...85..291W. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mineralogical-magazine/article/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A.

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