Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Hydromagnesite

Big Photo

Arensberg Mt., Zilsdorf, Hillesheim, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© JDehove

Show Hydromagnesite Photos (61)
Formula:
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless to white; ...
Hardness:3½
Name:In allusion to the composition, being a HYDRated MAGNESium carbonate.


A low-temperature hydrothermal mineral occurring in veinlets in serpentine and altered magnesium-rich igneous rocks; also as an alteration product of brucite in periclase marbles.

Classification of Hydromagnesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/E.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.DA.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:16b.7.1.1

16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.3.7

11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1979.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Hydromagnesite

Type Locality:Castle Point, Hoboken, Hudson Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1827
Associated Minerals at type locality:
DolomiteBruciteArtiniteAragonite

Occurrences of Hydromagnesite

Geological Setting:Low-temperature, hydrothermal environments in serpentine and altered magnesium-rich igneous rocks.

Physical Properties of Hydromagnesite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky, Pearly, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010}.
Parting:Possible parting on {100}.
Density (measured):2.236 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hydromagnesite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.11Å, b = 8.94Å, c = 8.38Å
β = 114.58°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.131 : 1 : 0.937
Unit Cell Volume:V 688.78 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals small, occurring as tufts, rosettes, or crusts of acicular or bladed crysta;s elongated [001] and flattened {100}. Massive, chalky.
Twinning:Twin plane {100} and composition face {100}. Twinning very common, polysynthetic.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Hydromagnesite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.523 nβ = 1.527 nγ = 1.545
2V:Measured: 30° to 90°, Calculated: 52°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Hydromagnesite

Formula:
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:C, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Hydromagnesite to other Species

Common Associates:
PyroauriteOpalMagnesiteDolomiteDeweylite
CalciteBruciteArtiniteAragonite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.DA.05Dypingite
Mg
 
5
[OH|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Widgiemoolthalite
Ni
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
5.DA.05UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn
Mg
 
5
(Zn,Mn)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH,Cl)
 
12
·H
 
2
O
5.DA.05UM1987-01-CO:HMgS
Mg
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O ?
5.DA.10Artinite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.10Indigirite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 15H
 
2
O
5.DA.10Chlorartinite
[Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(H
 
2
O)(OH)]Cl · H
 
2
O
5.DA.15Otwayite
Ni
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
5.DA.15Zaratite
Ni
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
5.DA.20Kambaldaite
NaNi
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
5.DA.25Callaghanite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
5.DA.30Claraite
(Cu,Zn)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.35Hydroscarbroite
Al
 
14
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
36
·nH
 
2
O
5.DA.35Scarbroite
Al
 
5
(OH)
 
13
CO
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Caresite
Fe
2+
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Quintinite
Mg
 
4
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
12
CO
 
3
H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Charmarite
Mn
2+
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Barbertonite
Mg
 
6
(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Brugnatellite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
 
[(OH)
 
13
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Chlormagaluminite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(Cl
 
2
,CO
 
3
)] · 2H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Manasseite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Sjögrenite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Zaccagnaite
Zn
 
4
Al
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
12
·3H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Comblainite
(Ni
 
x
,Co
 
1-x
)(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
(1-x)/2
·nH
 
2
O
5.DA.50Desautelsite
Mg
 
6
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Hydrotalcite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Pyroaurite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Reevesite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Stichtite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Takovite
Ni
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50UM1998-10-CO:CoHNi
Co
 
6
Fe
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
16
·4H
 
2
O ?
5.DA.55Coalingite
Mg
 
10
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
24
|CO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.3.1Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
11.3.2Barringtonite
MgCO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
11.3.3Nesquehonite
MgCO
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
11.3.4Lansfordite
MgCO
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
11.3.5Pokrovskite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.3.6Artinite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
11.3.8Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.3.9Dypingite
Mg
 
5
[OH|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.3.10Eitelite
Na
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.3.11Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]

Other Names for Hydromagnesite

Synonyms:
Hydrocarbonate of MagnesiaHydromagnesite (of Wachmeister)HydromagnocalciteIdromagnesitePencatite
Predazzite
Other Languages:
German:Hydromagnesit
Idromagnesit
Lancasterit
Japanese:ハイドロマグネサイト
Russian:Гидромагнезит
Spanish:Hydromagnesita
Idromagnesita
Lancasterita
Varieties:
Leesbergite

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.
Industrial Uses:None.

References for Hydromagnesite

Reference List:Wachmeister (1827) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Handlingar: 18.

von Kobell (1835) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 4: 80.

Silliman (1850) American Journal of Science: 9: 216 (as Lancasterite).

Weinschenk (1897) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 27: 570.

Brugnatelli (1899) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 31: 54.

Kramm (1910) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 49: 344.

Wells (1910) American Journal of Science: 30: 189.

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1910) Mineralogia Vesuviana. 368 pp., Naples: 95.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 89.

Rogers (1923) American Journal of Science: 6: 37.

Hintze, Carl (1926) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3522.

Fenoglio, M. (1927) Boll. Soc. geol. Ital.: 46: 13.

Levi and Ghiron (1932) Gazzetta chimica italiana, Rome: 62: 218.

Callaghan (1933) University of Nevada Bull. 27: 7.

Fenoglio M. (1936) Ricerche sull'idromagnesite. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma 257-284.

Meixner (1937) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 363.

Kisselev (1938) Ann. Inst. Mines Leningrad: 11: 59 [Min. Abs. (1946): 9: 267].

Meixner (1938) Zentralblatt Mineralien: 8.

Cummings (1940) Bulletin of the British Columbia Department of Mines, No. 4.

Caillère (1943) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 66: 55.

Murdoch, Joseph (1951), Unit cell of hydromagnesite: (abstract): Geological Society of America Bulletin: 62: 1465.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 271-274.

Murdoch, Joseph (1954), The unit cell of hydromagnesite: (abstract): American Mineralogist: 37: 296-297; …American Mineralogist: 39: 24-29 (1954).

Mineralogical Record (1973): 4: 18-20.

Acta Crystallographica: B33: 1273-1275.

Internet Links for Hydromagnesite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Hydromagnesite on Google
  • Look for Hydromagnesite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Hydromagnesite on Webmineral
  • Look for Hydromagnesite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Hydromagnesite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Hydromagnesite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Hydromagnesite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Hydromagnesite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Search for - Hydromagnesite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Hydromagnesite specimens
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Hydromagnesite

    Show Locality List (214 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 24th Oct 2009 11:02:05