Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Search FormMinerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Meridianiite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
07984700017272264315044.jpg
Meridianiite, etc.

Basque claims, Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
07984700017272264315044.jpg
Meridianiite, etc.

Basque claims, Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
07016300017272471294065.jpg
Meridianiite, etc.

Basque claims, Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About MeridianiiteHide

01101990017272471302931.jpg
Meridiani Planum, Mars
Formula:
MgSO4 · 11H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white
Specific Gravity:
1.512 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
The compound was originally synthesized in 1837 and is known as Fritzsche's salt. The mineral was named by Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W.,Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. in 2007 for Meridiani Planum, the locality on Mars where the MER rover Opportunity observed crystal molds in sedimentary rock that are thought to be caused by minerals that have since dehydrated or dissolved.
A phase that is stable with a saturated brine or with ice and which melts above 2°C into a slurry of Epsomite and water. It has now been found occurring naturally on Earth (on the surface of a frozen pond, and in ice cores) and is suspected of existing on Mars.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
31726
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:31726:1

IMA Classification of MeridianiiteHide

Classification of MeridianiiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
7.CB.90

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
Dana 8th ed.:
29.6.6.8

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
MdnIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of MeridianiiteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white
Streak:
White
Density:
1.512 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Chemistry of MeridianiiteHide

Mindat Formula:
MgSO4 · 11H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O75.342 %
S10.066 %
Mg7.630 %
H6.961 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
S
Mg
H
Elements listed:
H, Mg, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of MeridianiiteHide

Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.7459 Å, b = 6.8173 Å, c = 17.299 Å
α = 88.137°, β = 89.481°, γ = 62.719°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.99 : 1 : 2.538
Unit Cell V:
706.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0009133MeridianiiteFortes A D, Wood I G, Knight K S (2008) The crystal structure and thermal expansion tensor of MgSO4-11D2O (meridianiite) determined by neutron powder diffraction Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 35 207-2212008synthetic0293
0009132MeridianiiteFortes A D, Wood I G, Knight K S (2008) The crystal structure and thermal expansion tensor of MgSO4-11D2O (meridianiite) determined by neutron powder diffraction Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 35 207-2212008synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]

Type Occurrence of MeridianiiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Basque claims (Basque No. 1), Venables Valley, Ashcroft, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:
White granular.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Ponds at an abandoned MgSO4 mine, in winter.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Ice
Reference:
Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007) Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. American Mineralogist, 92 (10) 1756-1759 doi:10.2138/am.2007.2668

Synonyms of MeridianiiteHide

Other Language Names for MeridianiiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Meridianiite associated with IceH2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.CB.SarvodaiteAl2(SO4)3 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.02VoudourisiteCdSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.05SzmikiteMnSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05SzomolnokiteFeSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05CobaltkieseriteCoSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05DwornikiteNi(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05KieseriteMgSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05Poitevinite(Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.05GunningiteZnSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.07SanderiteMgSO4 · 2H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.CB.10BonattiteCuSO4 · 3H2OMon. m : Bb
7.CB.12BelogubiteCuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.15DrobeciteCdSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.15AplowiteCoSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.CB.15CranswickiteMgSO4 · 4H2OMon. m : Bb
7.CB.15RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.15StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.15IlesiteMn2+(SO4) · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.CB.15BoyleiteZnSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.20SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2OTric.
7.CB.20JôkokuiteMnSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.20PentahydriteMgSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.20ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.25ChvaleticeiteMn2+(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25NickelhexahydriteNi2+(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25HexahydriteMg(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.25BianchiteZn(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.25MoorhouseiteCo2+(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25FerrohexahydriteFe2+(H2O)6(SO4)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.30RetgersiteNiSO4 · 6H2OTet. 422 : P41212
7.CB.35ZincmelanteriteZn(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35Alpersite(Mg,Cu2+)(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35BieberiteCo2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.35BoothiteCu2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35MallarditeMn2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.40EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.CB.40GoslariteZnSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.CB.40MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.CB.45Meta-alunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 12H2OOrth.
7.CB.45AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.50AluminocoquimbiteAl2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
7.CB.50LazaridisiteCd3(SO4)3 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.52PararaisaiteCuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.55ParacoquimbiteFe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.CB.55Rhomboclase(H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
7.CB.55RaisaiteCuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.55CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
7.CB.57'Caichengyunite'Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2OMon.
7.CB.60KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.65QuenstedtiteFe2(SO4)3 · 11H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.70LauseniteFe2(SO4)3 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.75RömeriteFe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.75LishizheniteZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.80RansomiteCuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85DietrichiteZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2 : P2
7.CB.85ApjohniteMn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85RedingtoniteFe2+Cr3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2
7.CB.85PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85BíliniteFe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85WupatkiiteCo2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:
Stable only below 2° C. Above that temperature it melts incongruently to a slurry of epsomite and water.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Must be stored below 2° C.
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 MeridianiiteHide

References for MeridianiiteHide

Reference List:
Fritzsche, C.J. (1837) Ueber eine neue Verbindung der schwefelsauren Talkerde mit wasser. Annalen der Physik und Chemie (Peggendorff's Annalen): 42: 577-580. Bulletin scientifique publié par l'Académie Impériale des Science de St. Pétersbourg: 2: 193-196. (synthetic)
Ohno, Hiroshi, Igarashi, Makoto, Hondoh, Takeo (2005) Salt inclusions in polar ice core: Location and chemical form of water-soluble impurities. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 232 (1) 171-178 doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2005.01.001
Peterson, Ronald C.; Wang, Ruiyao (2006) Crystal molds on Mars: Melting of a possible new mineral species to create Martian chaotic terrain. Geology, 34 (11). p.957-960. doi:10.1130/g22678a.1
Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H. F. (2007) Meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O): A New Mineral Species Observed on Earth and Predicted to Exist on Mars. Seventh International Conference on Mars.
Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007) Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. American Mineralogist, 92 (10) 1756-1759 doi:10.2138/am.2007.2668
Genceli, F.E., Lutz, M., Spek, A.L., Witkamp, G.-J. (2007) Crystallization and Characterization of a New Magnesium Sulfate Hydrate MgSO4 · 11H2O. Crystal Growth & Design: 7: 2460-2466.
Peterson, R.C., Nelson, W., Madu, B., Shurvell, H.F. (2007) Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars. American Mineralogist, 92 (10) 1756-1759 doi:10.2138/am.2007.2668
Fortes, A. D.; Wood, I. G.; Knight, K. S. (2008) The crystal structure and thermal expansion tensor of MgSO4–11D2O (meridianiite) determined by neutron powder diffraction. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 35 (4). p.207-221. doi:10.1007/s00269-008-0214-x
Elif Genceli, F., Horikawa, Shinichirou, Iizuka, Yoshinori, Sakurai, Toshimitsu, Hondoh, Takeo, Kawamura, Toshiyuki, Witkamp, Geert-Jan (2009) Meridianiite detected in ice. Journal of Glaciology, 55 (189). 117-122 doi:10.3189/002214309788608921
Fortes, A. Dominic, Browning, Frank, Wood, Ian G. (2012) Cation substitution in synthetic meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O) I: X-ray powder diffraction analysis of quenched polycrystalline aggregates. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 39 (5) 419-441 doi:10.1007/s00269-012-0497-9
Fortes, A. Dominic, Browning, Frank, Wood, Ian G. (2012) Cation substitution in synthetic meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O) II: variation in unit-cell parameters determined from X-ray powder diffraction data. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 39 (6) 443-454 doi:10.1007/s00269-012-0498-8
(2021) Meridianiite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for MeridianiiteHide

Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica
 
  • East Antarctica
Elif Genceli et al. (2009)
Canada (TL)
 
  • British Columbia
    • Kamloops Mining Division
      • Ashcroft
        • Venables Valley
Peatfield (n.d.) +1 other reference
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Okhotsk Subprefecture
Elif Genceli et al. (2009)
Quick NavTopAbout MeridianiiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: November 2, 2026 04:53:05 Page updated: September 1, 2026 13:46:47
Go to top of page