Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Changoite

Changoite is a rare zinc sulfate mineral with the formula Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O. 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. The mineral's name comes from the Chango people, a group of early inhabitants of northern Chile.

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Jun 21, 2026
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Changoite
Yellowish crystals of changoite associated to hexagonal colorless caracolite in an aesthetic combination.
General
CategorySulfate mineral
FormulaNa2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O
IMA symbolCgo1
Strunz classification7.CC.50 (10 ed)
6/C.18-25 (8 ed)
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/a
Unit cella = 11.08, b = 8.25,
c = 5.53 [Å], β = 100.18° (approximated); Z = 2
Identification
ColorColorless
Crystal habitAnhedral crystals, in small veins
Mohs scale hardness2-3
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.50 (measured)
Optical propertiesBiaxal (-)
Refractive indexnα=1.51, nβ=1.51, nγ=1.52 (approximated)
2V angle83° (calculated)
References2345

Changoite is a rare zinc sulfate mineral with the formula Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O.53 Chagoite was discovered in the San Francisco Mine near Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta, Chile.4 The mineral is a zinc-analogue of blödite, cobaltoblödite, manganoblödite and nickelblödite - other representatives of the blödite group.5 In terms of chemistry changoite is somewhat similar to gordaite.6 The mineral's name comes from the Chango people, a group of early inhabitants of northern Chile.4

Traces of magnesium and calcium in changoite are negligible.4

Minerals associating with changoite are gypsum, zinc-bearing paratacamite, and thénardite.3

References

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. Mineralienatlas
  3. 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.
  4. "Chagoite- Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  5. "Changoite: Changoite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  6. "Gordaite: Gordaite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.