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Imogolite

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Big Photo

Fukaiwa, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto Region, Honshu Island, Japan
© 2008, JGW




Formula:
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
Name:For the Japanese name, Imogo, of the brownish yellow volcanic ash soil of Japan in which it occurs.


Described in 1962, rejected by the IMA, but the name Imogolite was approved by the AIPEA Nomenclature Committee at its 1970 Tokyo meeting (Clays and Clay Minerals 19, 131 (1971).

Widespread component of volcanic-ash-derived soils, but occurs also in other environments.
The nano-sized particles have a tube-like morphology.

Related to allophane.

Classification of Imogolite

IMA status:Redefined Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.26-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.ED.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.1.5.3

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
1 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 1:1 layers
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Type Occurrence of Imogolite

Type Locality:Uemura, Kumamoto prefecture, Kyushu Region, Japan
Year of Discovery:1962
Geological Setting of type material:Decomposition product of volcanic ash in soils in humid environments.

Chemical Properties of Imogolite

Formula:
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Al, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, Si

Relationship of Imogolite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.ED.05Dickite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Kaolinite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Nacrite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.ED.10Halloysite-7Å
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Berthierine
(Fe,Fe,Mg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Greenalite
Fe
 
2-3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
9.ED.15Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Guidottiite
Mn
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
SiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
 · 2.5-3H
 
2
O
9.ED.20Chrysocolla
Cu
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(H
 
2-x
Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (x < 1)
9.ED.20Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
9.ED.25Bismutoferrite
Fe
3+
2
Bi(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
9.ED.25Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Imogolite

Other Languages:
German:Imogolit
Japanese:芋子石
Spanish:Imogolita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Imogolite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Magazine (1987): 51: 327. [Redefinition]

Clays and Clay Minerals (1994): 42: 276.

Internet Links for Imogolite

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    • Localities for Imogolite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    China
     
    • Fujian Province
      • Xiamen Prefecture
        • Tong'an District
    		Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica 11(2), 146-156 (1992)
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Tochigi Prefecture
          • Kanuma City
    		Alfredo Petrov collection
    • Kyushu Region
      • Kumamoto prefecture
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    USA
     
    • Hawaii
      • Maui Co.
    		Wada, K. et al (1972) Clays and Clay Minerals; v. 20; no. 6; p. 375-380.
    Jan H.Bernard and Jaroslav Hyrsl,2004,Minerals and their Localities,pg # 299
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