Polyhalite
- Syn.
- Polyhalite. Stromeyer in Schweiggers Journal, 21, 297 et seq. see Thompson’s Annals 13, 112.
- Fibrous Anhydrite. Jameson, ed 2. vol. II. p. 249.
- Fasriger Muriacite. Werner.
A recent account of this mineral has been published in the following translation of part of a letter from Professor Stromoyer, as quoted above, by Dr. Thompson:
“I shall conclude this letter by informing you of a new mineral, very remarkable, on account of its composition. I have given it the name Polyhalite. According to my analysis, 100 parts of it contain the following ingredients:
Hydrous Sulhate of Lime | 28.74 |
Anhydrous Sulphate of Lime | 22.36 |
Sulphate of Potash | 27.48 |
Anhydrous Sulphate of Magnesia | 20.11 |
Common Salt | 0.19 |
Oxide of Iron | 0.32 |
99.20 |
“This mineral occurs in the beds of rock salt at Ischel, in Upper Austria, and has been hitherto erroneously considered by mineralogists as Muriacite; and under the name of fibrous muriacite, it has been described as a variety of that mineral substance.”
The characters by which it may be recognized are its partial solubility in water, a hardness superior to Fibrous Gypsum; also a greater specific gravity, and a compact fibrous structure; between the teeth it feels rather gritty: it is nearly tasteless. When fresh broken it has a shining, slightly pearly surface, which becomes dull and rather whiter by exposure. Its fibres penetrate both ways into the Muriate of Soda, which serves for its matrix; they are of a dull red in the middle, and yellow brown at their extremities. The salt in which they are imbedded is white.