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Macdonaldite

Big Photo

Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
© JBS 2006

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Formula:
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White, colourless.
Lustre:Vitreous, SilkyHardness:3½ - 4
This page provides mineralogical data about Macdonaldite.

Classification of Macdonaldite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.38-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:72.5.1.3

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.7.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Macdonaldite

Co-type Localities:Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
Esquire No. 1 claim, Rush Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1964

Physical Properties of Macdonaldite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky
Colour:White, colourless.
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4

Crystallography of Macdonaldite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.06Å, b = 23.52Å, c = 13.08Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.598 : 1 : 0.556
Unit Cell Volume:V 4,325.44 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Macdonaldite

Type:Biaxial (+/-)
RI values: nα = 1.518 nβ = 1.524 nγ = 1.530
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

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

Chemical Properties of Macdonaldite

Formula:
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ba, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ba, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Sr

Relationship of Macdonaldite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EB.05Rhodesite
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
·5H
 
2
O
9.EB.10Delhayelite
(Na,K)
 
10
Ca
 
5
Al
 
6
Si
 
32
O
 
80
(Cl
 
2
,F
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
·18H
 
2
O
9.EB.10Hydrodelhayelite
KCa
 
2
AlSi
 
7
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EB.15Monteregianite-(Y)
(Na,K)
 
6
(Y,Ca)
 
2
Si
 
16
O
 
38
·10H
 
2
O
9.EB.20Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.7.1Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.2Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·3H
 
2
O
14.7.3Walstromite
BaCa
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.7.5Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.7.6Orthoericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.7.7Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.8Andrémeyerite
BaFe
2+
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.7.9Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
14.7.10Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
14.7.11Willemite
Zn
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.7.12Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
14.7.13Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
14.7.14Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.7.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.7.16Clinohedrite
CaZn[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.7.17Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
14.7.18Larsenite
PbZn[SiO
 
4
]
14.7.19Esperite
PbCa
 
3
Zn
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
14.7.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
14.7.21Gerstmannite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Zn[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
14.7.22Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
14.7.23Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
FeMn
 
3
MnZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Macdonaldite

Synonyms:
IMA1964-010
German names:
Macdonaldit
Russian names:
Макдональдит
Spanish names:
Macdonaldita

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 Macdonaldite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1965): 50: 314-340.

Internet Links for Macdonaldite

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    Localities for Macdonaldite

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    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.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
    		[Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p124]
    [Amer.Min.(1965) 50, 314-340; MinRec 33:161]
    Bob Walstrom, p.c.
        • Rush Creek
    		[Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p123]
      • Mariposa Co.
        • Incline
    		[MinRec 30:414]
      • Tulare Co.
        • Chickencoop Canyon
    Mineral and/or Locality
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