Mirabilite

Mirabilite, also known as "Glauber's salt", is a hydrous sodium sulfate mineral: Na₂SO₄·10H₂O. It is a vitreous, colorless to white monoclinic mineral which forms as an evaporite from sodium sulfate bearing brines. It is found around saline springs and along saline playa lakes. Associated minerals include gypsum, halite, thenardite, trona, glauberite, and epsomite.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Mirabilite is unstable and quickly dehydrates in dry air, the prismatic crystals turning into a white powder (Na₂SO₄). Mirabilite is soft with a hardness of 1.5–2, and has a low specific gravity of 1.49.

Thenardite (Na₂SO₄) is an orthorhombic anhydrous sodium sulfate mineral found in volcanic caves on Mt. Etna, Italy. Thenardite absorbs water and converts to mirabilite.

Mirabilite is used as a purgative in the traditional Chinese materia medica; in Mandarin it is called máng xiāo.

References

• Maricopa.edu
• Webmineral
• Mindat
• American Mineralogist (1917)