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Anhydrous sodium sulfate is a type of sodium sulfate mineral that does not contain water. It belongs to the monoclinic crystal system, and its crystals are biconical, prismatic, or tabular. Aggregates are granular, powdery, or in block form. It can be colorless, grayish-white, yellow, or yellow-brown, and ranges from transparent to translucent. It exhibits a vitreous or resinous luster, with a white streak. It has a hardness of 2.5-3 and a density of 2.66-2.7g/cm3. Anhydrous sodium sulfate is highly soluble in water and imparts a cooling sensation. It has a cool and slightly salty taste. In humid air, it easily undergoes hydration, transforming into a powdery form of hydrated sodium sulfate on the surface. Anhydrous sodium sulfate is found in salt lakes containing sodium sulfate brine, where it coexists with mirabilite, gypsum, thenardite, bloedite, glauberite, halite, and trona. It can also be dehydrated from mirabilite, and small amounts can be found around volcanic fumaroles.
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