Blödite Dimensions: 50 mm × 20 mm × 15 mm Locality: Enterprise Mine (Deep Copper Mine), Mount Isa Mines, Mount Isa, City of Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia Description: Bloedite found as a post mining mineral in the Enterprise Mine of MIM.Tested by XRD — Photo: Costas Constantinides · Public domain
Blödite
A hydrated sodium-magnesium sulfate evaporite mineral forming clear to yellowish monoclinic crystals.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Blödite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂·4H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/a). It is a member of the Blödite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5–3; specific gravity 2.22–2.24; Vitreous luster; refractive index 1.485; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Blö, IMA status: approved, named in 1821.
Found in lacustrine salt deposits and salt efflorescences; probably a product of metamorphism of marine salt deposits; in nitrate deposits; may be a volcanic sublimate.
It is found associated with Halite, kainite, carnallite, polyhalite (marine salt deposits); halite, thénardite, mirabilite (lacustrine salt deposits).
The mineral was named to honor the German chemist Carl August Blöde (1773–1820).