Polyhalite and its analogous triple salts

Polyhalite (K₂SO₄ · MgSO₄ · 2CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) and analogue triple salts, where Mg²⁺ is substituted by Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, have been synthesized. The salts were characterized by thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Diffraction patterns and Raman spectra resemble those of natural polyhalite, except K₂SO₄ · CuSO₄ · 2CaSO₄ · 2H₂O. The latter corresponds to the mineral leightonite, which is structurally different. For polyhalite analogues the cell parameters of the triclinic unit cell have been determined from the powder diffraction patterns. The length of the unit cell vectors varies regularly with the ionic radius of the substituted ion M ²⁺ and is explained by changes in the extension of the coordination octahedron of M ²⁺. Thereby increasing distances of the coordinated water molecules at M ²⁺ parallel with decreasing dehydration temperatures of the corresponding polyhalite. Correspondence: Daniela Freyer, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.