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Gordonite

Big Photo

Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Oquirrh Mts, Utah Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

Show Gordonite Photos (3)
Formula:
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Smoky-white, buff, ...
Hardness:3½
Name:After Samuel George Gordon (1897-1953), American mineralogist, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.


Paravauxite Group. The magnesium analogue of Mangangordonite.

A rare secondary mineral formed from the alteration of Variscite in nodules in limestone or as a late-stage hydrothermal mineral in complex grantitic pegmatite.

Classification of Gordonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DC.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.11.14.4

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.9

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Gordonite

Type Locality:Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Oquirrh Mts, Utah Co., Utah, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #137128.
Year of Discovery:1930
Geological Setting of type material:Variscite nodules in limestone.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WarditeVarisciteCrandallite

Occurrences of Gordonite

Geological Setting:Complex granitic pegmatite

Physical Properties of Gordonite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:Lustre pearly on {010}.
Colour:Smoky-white, buff, colourless; crystals = pale pink or pale green on tips; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010}, perfect; on {100}, fair; on {001}, poor.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.23 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.22 g/cm3

Crystallography of Gordonite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pedial
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 5.246Å, b = 10.532Å, c = 6.975Å
α = 107.51°, β = 111.03°, γ = 72.21°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.498 : 1 : 0.662
Unit Cell Volume:V 334.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals rare, prismatic [001] to platy {010}, with dominant basal pedions; elongated and strongly striated along [001], and less markedly on [100]. {001} is lacking at times, leaving the crystals terinated entirely by {011}; rarely doubly terinated. May exhibit numerous lesser forms. Commonly in bundles and sheaflike aggregates with all individual crystals of one group similarly terminated.

Optical Data of Gordonite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.534 nβ = 1.543 nγ = 1.558
2V:Measured: 73°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.024

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v weak

Chemical Properties of Gordonite

Formula:
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, Mg, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Mg, O, P

Relationship of Gordonite to other Species

Common Associates:
RobertsiteMontgomeryiteApatite-(CaOH)Collinsite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DC.05Nissonite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.07Euchroite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DC.10Legrandite
Zn
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DC.12Strashimirite
Cu
 
8
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Arthurite
CuFe
3+
2
[(OH,O)|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Earlshannonite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Ojuelaite
ZnFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Whitmoreite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Cobaltarthurite
(Co,Mg)Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Bendadaite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15IMA 2007-057
CuFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.DC.17Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DC.20Bermanite
Mn
2+
 
Mn
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.22Kovdorskite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)·3H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Ferristrunzite
Fe
3+
3
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.DC.25Ferrostrunzite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Metavauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Strunzite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.27Beraunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
5
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Laueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Mangangordonite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Paravauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Pseudolaueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Sigloite
Fe
3+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Stewartite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Ushkovite
MgFe
3+
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Ferrolaueite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Kastningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Maghrebite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.32Tinticite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.35Vauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.37Vantasselite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.DC.40Cacoxenite
Fe
3+
24
Al[(OH)
 
12
|O
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
17
] · 17H
 
2
O
8.DC.45Gormanite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DC.45Souzalite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DC.47Kingite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.DC.50Wavellite
Al
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.50Allanpringite
Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.52Kribergite
Al
 
5
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.55Mapimite
Zn
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 10H
 
2
O
8.DC.57Ogdensburgite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
4
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.60Nevadaite
(Cu
2+
 
,Al,V
3+
 
)
 
6
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
8
(OH)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
22
8.DC.60Cloncurryite
(Cu,VO)Al
 
2
[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4.5-5H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
19.8.5Bertossaite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
4
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH·9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
11
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
CaAl
 
18
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
4
 · 28H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.20Millisite
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Gordonite

Other Languages:
German:Gordonit
Russian:Гордонит
Spanish:Gordonita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
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 Gordonite

Reference List:Larsen, E.S. and Shannon (1930) American Mineralogist: 15: 307-337.

Pough, F. (1937) American Mineralogist: 22: 625.

Larsen, E.S. (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 295.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 975-976.

Hurlbut, C., Jr. and R. Honea (1962) Sigloite, a new mineral from
Llallagua, Bolivia. Amer. Mineral., 47, 1–8 [X-ray data].

Leavens, P.B. and A.L. Rheingold (1988) Crystal structures of gordonite, MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)6 •2H2O, and its Mn analog. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1988): 265-270.

Articles/Blogs about Gordonite

Internet Links for Gordonite

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    Localities for Gordonite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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
     
    • South Australia
      • Mt Lofty Ranges
        • South Mt Lofty Ranges
          • Noarlunga
    • Victoria
      • Bacchus Marsh
    		No reference listed
    • Western Australia
    		Min.Mag. 39,577-579(1974)
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Doce valley
          • Galiléia
            • Sapucaia do Norte
    		Cassedanne, J.P. & Baptista, A. (1999): Famous Mineral Localities: The Sapucaia Pegmatite Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record, 30: 347-360 + 365
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    		MinRec 23:4-47
    [MinRec 23:22]
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 121(2): 95-103(1992)
    USA
     
    • New Hampshire
      • Grafton Co.
        • Groton
    		No reference listed
    Journal of Pegmatology vol. 1, no. 1
    • South Dakota
      • Custer Co.
        • Custer District
          • Fourmile
    		Rocks & Minerals: 60: 117.
    • Utah
      • Utah Co.
        • Oquirrh Mts
          • Fairfield
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 976; UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah.
    Rocks & Minerals (1970): 45(11): 667-674.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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