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Molysite

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Sasso Pisano, Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
© 2008, JGW

Formula:
FeCl
 
3
System:HexagonalColour:Yellow, brown-red, ...
Name:From the Greek μόλυσις, a stain, in allusion to its staining the lavas of the volcanoes where it was found.
This page provides mineralogical data about Molysite.

Classification of Molysite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/A.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.AC.10

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
C : M:X = 1:3
Dana 8th edition ID:9.3.1.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
3 : AX3
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.11.1

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
11 : Halides of Fe and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Molysite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:Coatings on lava.
Year of Discovery:1868
Geological Setting of type material:Active volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Molysite

Colour:Yellow, brown-red, purple-red
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001}.
Density (measured):2.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.04 g/cm3

Crystallography of Molysite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.69Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals tabular {0001} with a hexagonal outline (artificial material). Massive, coatings.

Optical Data of Molysite

Type:Uniaxial (-)

Chemical Properties of Molysite

Formula:
FeCl
 
3
Essential elements:Cl, Fe
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Fe

Relationship of Molysite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.AC.05Zharchikhite
AlF(OH)
 
2
3.AC.15Fluocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)F
 
3
3.AC.15Fluocerite-(La)
(La,Ce)F
 
3
3.AC.20Gananite
BiF
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.11.2 Hydromolysite
FeCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.11.3Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.11.4Douglasite
K
 
2
[Fe
2+
 
Cl
 
4
(OH
 
2
)
 
2
]
8.11.5Erythrosiderite
K
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(OH
 
2
)]
8.11.6Rinneite
K
 
3
Na[FeCl
 
6
]
8.11.7Kremersite
(NH
 
4
,K)
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.11.8Iowaite
Mg
 
4
Fe(OH)
 
8
OCl·4H
 
2
O
8.11.9Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
8.11.10Lawrencite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)Cl
 
2

Other Names for Molysite

Synonyms:
MolisiteStagmatite
Other Languages:
German:Eisenchlorid
Molysit
Russian:Молизит
Spanish:Molysita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Melting point = 282°.
Other Information:Very deliquescent. Readily hydrolyzed by water to hydrous iron oxide.
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 Molysite

Reference List:Hausmann (1819) (as Eisenchlorid).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: vol. 2, in two parts: 1463.

Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 118.

Daubrée (1877) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 84: 69 (as stagmatite).

Biltz and Birk (1924) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 134: 125.

Wooster (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 83: 35.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (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: 47-48.

Journal of Applied Crystallography (1989): 22: 173.

Articles/Blogs about Molysite

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    Localities for Molysite

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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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Western Antarctica
      • Antarctic Peninsula
        • South Shetland Islands
    		Viramonte, J.G., Sureda, R.J., Bossi, G.E., Fourcade, N.H., Omarini, R.H., Geochemical and mineralogical study of the high temperature fumaroles from Decepcion Island, South Shetland, Antarctica. Inst. Assoc. of Volc. and chemistry of the erath interior. Symposium Andean and Antarctic Volcanology Problems. Chile (1974).
    Iceland
    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: 48.
    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: 48.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		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: 48.
    • Sicily
      • Catania Province
        • Etna Volcanic Complex
    		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: 48; AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
      • Messina Province
        • Lipari
          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
            • Vulcano Island
    		FOUQUÉ F.A. (1865) - Sur les phénomènes éruptifs de l'Italie Méridionale. - Comptes Rendus de Séances de l'Académie des Sciences de Paris - 41, 564-567
    Morocco
     
    • Meknès-Tafilalet Region
      • Khénifra Province
        • M'Rirt
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1984, 107, pp. 255-272.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Tarragona
        • Conca de Barberà
          • Vimbodí
            • Poblet Monastery
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1987, 110, pp. 603-611.
    USA
     
    • Oklahoma
      • Okmulgee Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals: 72(4): 252-264.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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