Dresserite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Dresserite
John Alexander Dresser
Formula:
BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.96
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of John Alexander Dresser (27 June 1866, Richmond, Quebec, Canada - 5 July 1954, Montreal, Quebec, Canada), geologist, for his contributions to the understanding of the Monteregian Hills. He worked, at varying times, at St. Francis College (Richmond), McGill University, the Geological Survey of Canada, and was Directing geologist with the Quebec Department of Mines.
Type Locality:
Visually similar to hydrodresserite, which has the same chemistry except for more water. Hydrodresserite forms coarser crystals, resulting in rougher spheres than dresserite, and dresserite spheres are less translucent than hydrodresserite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1319
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1319:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
6b4904a6-9c0a-4d08-a351-4e146961ca54
IMA Classification of Dresserite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ba2Al4(CO3)4(OH)8 · 3H2O
Approval year:
1968
First published:
1969
Classification of Dresserite
5.DB.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
B : With large and medium-sized cations
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
B : With large and medium-sized cations
16b.2.1.2
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : AmBn(XO3)pZqxH2O & with (m+n):p = 3:2
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : AmBn(XO3)pZq
11.7.12
11 : Carbonates
7 : Carbonates of Al
11 : Carbonates
7 : Carbonates of Al
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dsr | 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 Dresserite
Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Density:
2.96(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Dresserite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.518 nγ = 1.601
2V:
Measured: 30° to 40°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.083
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Comments:
X = a; Y = b; Z = c
Chemistry of Dresserite
Mindat Formula:
BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O
Crystallography of Dresserite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.27 Å, b = 16.83 Å, c = 5.63 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.551 : 1 : 0.335
Unit Cell V:
878.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tapering acicular crystals, typically in divergent spherical and hemispherical aggregates to 3mm.
Comment:
Space Group: [P bnm] (by analogy with dundasite).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.09 Å | (100) |
| 6.23 Å | (60) |
| 3.66 Å | (50) |
| 2.73 Å | (40) |
| 4.68 Å | (30) |
| 3.17 Å | (30) |
| 2.667 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Francon quarry, Québec, Canada. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Dresserite
General Appearance of Type Material:
White spherical aggregates averaging about 2 mm in diameter, each made up of tapering fibers elongated parallel to c.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Vugs in alkalic sill in limestone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Jambor, J.L., Fong, D.G., Sabina, A.P. (1969) Dresserite, the new barium analogue of dundasite. The Canadian Mineralogist: 10: 84-89.
Synonyms of Dresserite
Other Language Names for Dresserite
German:Dresserit
Spanish:Dresserita
Relationship of Dresserite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Alumohydrocalcite | CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Dundasite | PbAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Grguricite | CaCr2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Hydrodresserite | BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Kochsándorite | CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
| Petterdite | PbCr3+2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Strontiodresserite | SrAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Unnamed (Ca-analogue of Petterdite) | CaCr3+2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 38 photos of Dresserite associated with Weloganite | Na2Sr3Zr(CO3)6 · 3H2O |
| 17 photos of Dresserite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 9 photos of Dresserite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 6 photos of Dresserite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 5 photos of Dresserite associated with Marcasite | FeS2 |
| 4 photos of Dresserite associated with Hydrodresserite | BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Dresserite associated with Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 2 photos of Dresserite associated with Celestine | SrSO4 |
| 2 photos of Dresserite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2 photos of Dresserite associated with Dawsonite | NaAlCO3(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.DB. | Grguricite | CaCr2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 5.DB.05 | Alumohydrocalcite | CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 5.DB.05 | Nasledovite | PbMn3Al4(CO3)4(SO4)O5 · 5H2O |
| 5.DB.05 | Para-alumohydrocalcite | CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 5.DB.05 | UM1977-02-CO:AlCaH | Ca6Al2(CO3)3O6 · 32H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Dundasite | PbAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Montroyalite | Sr4Al8(CO3)3(OH,F)26 · 10-11H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Strontiodresserite | SrAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Petterdite | PbCr3+2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Kochsándorite | CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 5.DB.10 | Unnamed (Ca-analogue of Petterdite) | CaCr3+2(CO3)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 5.DB.15 | Hydrodresserite | BaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 5.DB.20 | Schuilingite-(Nd) | PbCu(Nd,Gd,Sm,Y)(CO3)3(OH) · 1.5H2O |
| 5.DB.25 | Sergeevite | Ca2Mg11(CO3)9(HCO3)4(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 5.DB.30 | Szymańskiite | [H3O]+8[Hg2]2+8(Ni,Mg)6[CO3]12(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 5.DB.35 | Lusernaite-(Y) | Y4Al(CO3)2(OH)10F · 6H2O |
| 5.DB.40 | Putnisite | SrCa4Cr3+8(CO3)8SO4(OH)16 · 23H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble with effervescence in dilute HCl.
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 Dresserite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1319.html
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References for Dresserite
Localities for Dresserite
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.
Canada (TL) | |
| 176-178. +3 other references |
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Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada