Changoite

{{Short description|Rare zinc sulfate mineral}}

{{infobox mineral

| name = Changoite

| category = Sulfate mineral

| image = Changoite.jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption = Yellowish crystals of changoite associated to hexagonal colorless caracolite in an aesthetic combination.

| formula = Na₂Zn(SO₄)₂·4H₂O

| IMAsymbol = Cgo{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

| strunz = 7.CC.50 (10 ed)
6/C.18-25 (8 ed)

| dana =

| system = Monoclinic

| class = Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)

| symmetry = P2₁/a

| unit cell = a = 11.08, b = 8.25,
c = 5.53 [Å], β = 100.18° (approximated); Z = 2

| color = Colorless

| colour =

| habit = Anhedral crystals, in small veins

| twinning =

| cleavage =

| fracture =

| tenacity =

| mohs = 2-3

| luster = Vitreous

| streak = White

| diaphaneity = Transparent

| gravity = 2.50 (measured)

| density =

| polish =

| opticalprop = Biaxal (-)

| refractive = nα=1.51, nβ=1.51, nγ=1.52 (approximated)

| birefringence =

| pleochroism =

| 2V = 83° (calculated)

| dispersion =

| extinction =

| length fast/slow =

| fluorescence =

| absorption =

| melt =

| fusibility =

| diagnostic =

| solubility =

| impurities =

| alteration =

| other =

| references = [https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/MineralData?mineral=Changoite Mineralienatlas]Schlüter, J., Klaska, K.-H., and Gebhard, G., 1999. Changoite, Na₂Zn(SO₄)₂·4H₂O, the zinc analogue of blödite, a new mineral from Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta, Chile. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte 3(3), 97-103.{{cite web |url=http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/changoite.pdf |title=Chagoite- Handbook of Mineralogy |website=Handbookofmineralogy.org |accessdate=2016-03-11}}

}}

Changoite is a rare zinc sulfate mineral with the formula Na₂Zn(SO₄)₂·4H₂O.{{cite web |url=http://www.mindat.org/min-6861.html |title=Changoite: Changoite mineral information and data |website=Mindat.org |accessdate=2016-03-11}} Chagoite was discovered in the San Francisco Mine near Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta, Chile. The mineral is a zinc-analogue of blödite, cobaltoblödite, manganoblödite and nickelblödite - other representatives of the blödite group. In terms of chemistry changoite is somewhat similar to gordaite.{{cite web |url=http://www.mindat.org/min-6975.html |title=Gordaite: Gordaite mineral information and data |website=Mindat.org |accessdate=2016-03-11}} The mineral's name comes from the Chango people, a group of early inhabitants of northern Chile.

Traces of magnesium and calcium in changoite are negligible.

Minerals associating with changoite are gypsum, zinc-bearing paratacamite, and thénardite.