Henrysunite
A valid IMA mineral species - pending publication
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Formula:
Na2(C2H3O3)2(H2O)
Colour:
colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
1.82
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Henrysunite is named in honor of Dr. Henry J. Sun, a geomicrobiologist at the Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Sun received his Ph.D. in microbiology from Florida State University in 1997 and worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA from 1998 to 2003. Since 2004, Dr. Sun has been a research scientist at DRI. His major scientific interests and contributions include (1) life in extreme environments, (2) planetary life detection, and (3) geomicrobiology. Dr. Sun led the development of a novel concept to distinguish biological activities from abiotic chemical reactions. Moreover, he is among the earliest to reveal Feisotope fractionation in the iron metabolism, lending support to the hypothesis for the biogenic banded-iron-formation, as well as among the first to show the fate of D-amino acids in sediments that are produced by geochemical racemization of proteinaceous material. Dr. Sun has been interested in bacterial formations of carbonate and phosphate minerals, which led to the discovery of biologically-related hazenite (IMA 2007-061).
Type Locality:
Chemically similar to glecklerite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
498776
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:498776:1
IMA Classification of Henrysunite
Classification of Henrysunite
10.AA.
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
A : Formates, Acetates, etc.
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
A : Formates, Acetates, etc.
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hsn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Henrysunite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
1.82(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.87 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Henrysunite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.434(2) nβ = 1.560(2) nγ = 1.568(2)
2V:
Measured: 26° (1), Calculated: 26.5°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.134
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Low (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
none
Orientation:
X = c, Y = b, and Z = a
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Henrysunite
Mindat Formula:
Na2(C2H3O3)2(H2O)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Henrysunite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Ama2
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.3986(2) Å, b = 20.3028(6) Å, c = 5.8384(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.315 : 1 : 0.288
Unit Cell V:
758.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.617 Å | (76) |
| 3.645 Å | (45) |
| 3.205 Å | (72) |
| 2.709 Å | (48) |
| 2.592 Å | (52) |
| 2.352 Å | (100) |
| 1.994 Å | (60) |
| 1.636 Å | (32) |
Reference:
Type Occurrence of Henrysunite
General Appearance of Type Material:
isolated stout prismatic crystals elongated on [001], up to 0.50 x 0.20 x 0.20 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum, 115 N Church Ave Ste 121, Tucson, AZ 85701, USA, catalogue no. 22748 (holotype), and the RRUFF Project, deposition no. R240005 (cotype)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
occur in cracks or fractures in a heavily fractured leucogranite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Henrysunite
Other Language Names for Henrysunite
Dutch:Henrysuniet
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.AA.05 | Formicaite | Ca(HCOO)2 |
| 10.AA.10 | Dashkovaite | Mg(HCOO)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AA.20 | Acetamide | CH3CONH2 |
| 10.AA.25 | Calclacite | Ca(CH3COO)Cl · 5H2O |
| 10.AA.30 | Paceite | CaCu(CH3COO)4 · 6H2O |
| 10.AA.35 | Hoganite | Cu(CH3COO)2 · H2O |
| 10.AA.40 | Lianbinite | (NH4)(C2H3O3)(C2H4O3) |
| 10.AA.40 | Domitrovicite | Zn(C2H3O3)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AA.40 | Puschridgeite | Mn(C2H3O3)2(H2O)2 |
| 10.AA.40 | Lazaraskeite | Cu(C2H3O3)2 |
| 10.AA.40 | Glecklerite | Na(C2H3O3) |
| 10.AA.40 | Jimkrieghite | Ca(C2H3O3)2 |
| 10.AA.40 | Stanevansite | Mg(C2H3O3)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AA.40 | Rasmussenite | Ca(C2H3O3)2 · 3H2O |
| 10.AA.45 | Marchettiite | C5H7N5O3 |
Other Information
Notes:
At room temperature, the two minerals are insoluble in water, but slowly dissolve in hydrochloric acid.
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 Henrysunite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-498776.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Henrysunite
Localities for Henrysunite
Showing 1 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Bosi et al. (2025) |
