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Falcondoite

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Falcondo Mine, Bonao, La Vega Province, Dominican Republic
© 2007, JGW

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Formula:
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:whitish-green
Hardness:2 - 3
Member of:Sepiolite Group
Name:Named after the mining company Falconbridge Dominicana C por A. (Falcondo), which mines at the type locality.


A nickel silicate forming friable masses of minute fibers, less than 10 microns in length.
The Ni analogue of sepiolite.

Classification of Falcondoite

IMA status:Approved 1976
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.33-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:74.3.1b.2

74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.26.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
26 : Silicates of Ni
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Type Occurrence of Falcondoite

Type Locality:Loma Peguera, Bonao, Monseñor Nouel Province, Dominican Republic
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Royal Ontarion Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Geological Setting of type material:In garnierite veins cutting a laterite, associated with a serpentinized harzbergite massif

Physical Properties of Falcondoite

Lustre:Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:whitish-green
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Density (measured):1.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.54 g/cm3

Crystallography of Falcondoite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.5Å, b = 26.9Å, c = 5.24Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.502 : 1 : 0.195
Unit Cell Volume:V 1902.91 ų
Z:4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
12.2 (100)
3.33 (30)
3.19 (25)
2.62 (30)
2.58 (35)
2.44 (30)
2.39 (20)
(
(

Optical Data of Falcondoite

Type:Biaxial
Dispersion:r < v strong

Chemical Properties of Falcondoite

Formula:
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Ni, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, Ni, O, Si
Analytical Data:
SiO2 (45.93)
Al2O3 (0.39)
Cr2O3 (0.45)
FeO (1.99)
NiO (26.7)
MgO (8.46)
loss on ignition (15.0)
Total (98.92)
Common Impurities:Al,Cr,Fe

Relationship of Falcondoite to other Species

Member of:Sepiolite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Ferrisepiolite
(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
O
 
15
)(O,OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 8H
 
2
O
Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
Mn
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.45Makatite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.50Varennesite
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
Na
 
4
Mn
2+
3
Ti
 
0.25
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.75Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.80Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.EE.80Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.85Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.26.1Liebenbergite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.26.2Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.26.3Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.26.4Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
14.26.5Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
 (?)

Other Names for Falcondoite

Synonyms:
IMA1976-018
Other Languages:
German:Falcondoit
Spanish:Falcondoita

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 Falcondoite

Reference List:

- +
Springer, G. (1976): Falcondoite, nickel analogue of sepiolite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 14, 407-409.

Internet Links for Falcondoite

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    • Localities for Falcondoite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Heazlewood district
    		Bottrill, R. S. & Baker, W.E. (2008): A Catalogue of The Minerals of Tasmania. Tasmanian Gelogical Survey Bulletin 73, 254 p
    Dominican Republic
     
    • Monseñor Nouel Province
      • Bonao
    		Springer, G. (1976): Falcondoite, nickel analogue of sepiolite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 14, 407-409.
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