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Minerals explained 59: Ettringite
Author(s) -
Thiery Vincent,
Rica Brunilda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1365-2451
pISSN - 0266-6979
DOI - 10.1111/gto.12346
Subject(s) - ettringite , mineral , honour , geology , geochemistry , mineralogy , cement , archaeology , materials science , metallurgy , portland cement , history
Some minerals are of interest both in fundamental and applied sciences. This is especially the case for ettringite Ca 6 Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 (OH) 12 ·26H 2 O (hexagonal). As a secondary mineral, it was described in 1874 in limestone xenoliths from the Eifel volcanic area in Germany. As a synthetic phase, in the same decades following its discovery in nature, it was recognized in cementitious material as hydrated calcium sulphoaluminate, eventually leading this phase to be known as ‘Candlot's salt’ in honour of the pioneering work of the French chemist Edouard Candlot who studied cement hydration. As ettringite‐group minerals cover a wide chemical range, it may also be an interesting mineral to consider for long‐term stabilization of toxic wastes such as heavy metals (Cr, Se,…) or boron, which might thus be of interest also for radioactive waste management.