How do I identify Carlosruizite?

Carlosruizite can be identified by its hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale, Colourless to pale yellow. color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Carlosruizite?

Carlosruizite typically appears in Colourless to pale yellow.. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Carlosruizite?

Carlosruizite has a hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Carlosruizite

A variety of Minerals

What is Carlosruizite?

Carlosruizite is a sulfate or selenate – iodate mineral with chemical formula: K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SeO4)12(IO3)12·12H2O. It has a low density (specific gravity of 3.36), colorless to pale yellow, transparent mineral which crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system. It forms a series with fuenzalidaite. It was first discovered in 1994 in the locality of Zapiga, Tarapacá Region of Chile. Its name came from Carlos Ruiz Fuller (1916–1997), founder of the Institute of Geological Investigations. It is found in samples of iquiqueite leached from caliche amarillo (yellow nitrate ore).

Carlosruizite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Carlosruizite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Carlosruizite Localities Map

See where Carlosruizite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Carlosruizite

Carlosruizite occurs as thin, colorless to pale yellow, transparent, euhedral, platy crystals with hexagonal outline, generally <200 μm in diameter and 20 μm thick. The crystals have a pseudorhombohedral habit, flattened on {0001} with beveled edges {1012}. They are slowly soluble in H2O. Surfaces of some crystals show abundant round or elongate cavities, which probably were formerly filled with saline fluids. The crystals are brittle and break easily into multiple fragments. Hardness is on the order of 2-3. The luster is vitreous.

Composition of Carlosruizite

Carlosruizite and fuenzalidate are members of a solid solution series K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(XO4)12(IO3)12·12H2O, for which the end-members have X = Se for the former and X = S for the latter. With the exception of selenium, the components of these minerals are widespread constituents of the Chilean nitrate ores. Se was not known to occur in these ores until it was discovered as a major component in carlosruizite by X-ray spectroscopy in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Subsequent analyses of several specimens of nitrate ore from scattered localities in the Chilean nitrate fields showed them all to contain Se in amounts ranging from a few parts per million to nearly 50 ppm.