Carlosruizite
A colorless to pale-yellow potassium-sodium-magnesium sulfate-selenate-iodate from Chilean nitrate deposits.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Carlosruizite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the iodate class, with the chemical formula K₃Na₂Na₃Mg₅(IO₃)₆(SeO₄)₆·6H₂O.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P-3c1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–3; specific gravity 3.4; Vitreous luster; refractive index 1.649; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Crz, IMA status: approved, named in 1993.
A rare constituent of nitrate ores.
It is found associated with Iquiqueite, nitratine, halite, darapskite, and residues containing dietzeite, brüggenite, tarapacaite, lopezite, ulexite, probertite.
The mineral was named to honor Carlos Ruiz F. (1916–), first Director of the Chilean Geological Survey.