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Hydromagnesite

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Arensberg, Zilsdorf, Hillesheim, Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© JDehove

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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
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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:
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
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5-6H
 
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
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 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
)(OH)Cl · 2H
 
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
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
5.DA.30Claraite
(Cu,Zn)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.35Hydroscarbroite
Al
 
14
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
36
 · nH
 
2
O
5.DA.35Scarbroite
Al
 
5
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
13
 · 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
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Charmarite
Mn
2+
4
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
12
[CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Stichtite-2H
Mg
 
6
(Cr,Al)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Brugnatellite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
13
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Chlormagaluminite
Mg
 
4
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
12
Cl
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Hydrotalcite-2H
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Pyroaurite-2H
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Zaccagnaite
Zn
 
4
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
12
[CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Comblainite
Ni
 
4
Co
 
2
(OH)
 
12
[CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
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
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
11.3.6Artinite
Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.3.8Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5-6H
 
2
O
11.3.9Dypingite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.3.10Eitelite
Na
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.3.11Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2

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

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    • Localities for Hydromagnesite

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    Locality Updated: Long Hurst Mine, Jackass Mountain, Kinsley District, East Belt, Mariposa Co., California, USAFrom Chester S. Lemanski, Jr., 22nd May 2013 23:45:13