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Monticellite

Big Photo

Crestmore quarries, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
© Elmar Lackner

Show Monticellite Photos (7)
Formula:
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, grey or ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:5½


Olivine Group. Kirschsteinite-Monticellite Series.

Classification of Monticellite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AC.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.3.2.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.6.10

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
6 : Silicates of Ca with alkali or Mg or both
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Type Occurrence of Monticellite

Type Locality:Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1831

Physical Properties of Monticellite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless, grey or greenish
Hardness (Mohs):5½

Crystallography of Monticellite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 4.81Å, b = 11.08Å, c = 6.37Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.434 : 1 : 0.575
Unit Cell Volume:V 339.49 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
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 Monticellite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.639 - 1.663 nβ = 1.645 - 1.674 nγ = 1.653 - 1.680
2V:Measured: 88° to 65°, Calculated: 72° to 84°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014 - 0.017

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

Chemical Properties of Monticellite

Formula:
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Zn,H2O

Relationship of Monticellite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Kirschsteinite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AC.05Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Forsterite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Kirschsteinite
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AC.05Liebenbergite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Tephroite
Mn
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.15Ringwoodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.20Chesnokovite
Na
 
2
[SiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.6.1Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
14.6.2Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.3Pectolite-M2abc
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.4Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
14.6.5Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
14.6.6Mountainite
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
14.6.7Rhodesite
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
·5H
 
2
O
14.6.8Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
14.6.9Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.6.11Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.6.12Diopside
CaMg[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.6.13Tremolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Monticellite

Other Languages:
German:Monticellit
Russian:Монтичеллит
Spanish:Monticellita

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 Monticellite

Reference List:Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1935), Monticellite from San Bernardino County, California, and the monticellite series: American Mineralogist: 20: 815-827.

Neuvonen, Kalle J. (1952), Heat of formation of Merwinite and monticellite: American Journal of Science, Bowen volume: 373-380.

Journal of the Mineral Society of Japan (1979): 14: 129.

Valley, J.W. and Essene, E.J. (1979) Vesuvianite, akermanite, monticellite and wollastonite equlibria and high X H2O/CO2 at Cascade slide, Mt Marcy Quad, Adirondack Mts. EOS: 60: 423.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1987): 160-170.

Articles/Blogs about Monticellite

Internet Links for Monticellite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Monticellite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Monticellite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Monticellite

    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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Mac Robertson Land
        • Prince Charles Mts
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Mt Lofty Ranges
        • North Mt Lofty Ranges
          • Pandappa
    		Reference: Keeling J. et al.MESA Journal 39, 30-33, Oct 2005
    Bolivia
     
    • Cochabamba Department
      • Ayopaya Province
    		Schultz, F. et al. (2004) Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 148, 391-408.
    Brazil
     
    • South Region
      • Santa Catarina
    		1995, Geochimica Brasiliensis, 8: 179-214.
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Atlin Mining Division
        • Rainy Hollow District
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Labrador
    		Am Min 85:1595–1605, (2000)
    • Northwest Territories
    • Ontario
      • Hastings Co.
        • Bancroft District
          • Dungannon Township
    		Sabina, A.P. (1982): Some rare minerals of the Bancroft area. Mineralogical Record 13 (4), 226-228
    • Québec
      • Deux-Montagnes Co.
        • Oka complex
    Sabina (1968)
    Gold (1969)
    Sabina (1968)
    Williams, Turner, Gilbert, 1954.
      • Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Co.
        • (13 km NNW of Chicoutimi)
          • Saint Honoré
    		Currie (1976) GSC Bulletin 239, 109-110
    China
     
    • Guangdong Province
      • Heyuan Prefecture
        • Lianping Co.
    		Wang, S. (1983): Bull. lnst. Min. Deposits, Chinese Acad. Geol. Sci. 9, 72.
    • Hebei Province
      • Xingtai Prefecture
        • Xingtai Co.
    		Cao Zhengmin, and Zhu Hong (2000): Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica [Yanshikuangwuxue Zazhi] 19(1), 69-77.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Benešov (Beneschau)
          • Český Šternberk
    		Šrein, V. et al.: Mineralogická charakteristika metasomatického rudního ložiska Malovidy u Českého Šternberka. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2007, roč. 14-15, s. 149-158.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Gwena
    		MinMag 58:496
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		[Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise (München), 1983] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
    Greenland
     
    • Tunu (East Greenland) Province
      • Kangerlussuaq Firth
        • Kangerlussuaq complex
    		MinRec 16:485-494
    Indonesia
     
    • Papua Province (Irian Jaya Province)
      • New Guinea
        • Carstensz Mts
          • Gunung Bijih District (Grasberg District)
    Am Min 73:3-4 pp 365-375
    Iraq
     
    • Qala-Diz (Qala-Dizeh; Qala-Diza)
      • Hero
    Israel
     
    Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		[Phil.Mag.(1831) 10, 265; Lapis 1994:5 p.13-23,58]
    • Latium
      • Rieti Province
        • Santa Rufina
    		F. Stoppa and Y. Liu, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1995, 7, pp. 391-402.
      • Rome Province
        • Alban Hills
          • Albano Laziale
    		Orlandi P. - (1975) La monticellite di Albano. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 145-149
    • Lombardy
      • Sondrio Province
        • Valfurva
          • Zebrù Valley
    		Bedognè, F., Montrasio, A., Sciesa, E. (2006). I minerali della medio-alta Valtellina, delle Orobie valtellinesi e della val Poschiavo. Aggiornamenti sulle altre località della provincia di Sondrio. Tip. Bettini, Sondrio, 255 pp.
    • Trentino-Alto Adige
      • Trento Province
        • Daone
    		Avanzini M. & Wachtler M. (2007): Minerali e fossili del Trentino dalle Dolomiti al Lago di Garda. Athesia. Bressanone, 55pp.
        • Fassa Valley
          • Monzoni Mts
    		Exel, R. (1987): Guida mineralogica del Trentino e del Sudtirolo. Athesia, Bolzano, 204 pp.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    Exel, R. (1987): Guida mineralogica del Trentino e del Sudtirolo. Athesia, Bolzano, 204 pp.
        • Fiemme Valley
          • Predazzo
    		De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    • Umbria
      • Terni Province
    		F. Stoppa and Y. Liu, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1995, 7, pp. 391-402.
    • Veneto
      • Vicenza Province
        • Tretto di Schio
          • Val Munari
            • Contrade Maglio-Pornaro
    		Ref. Boscardin M. (1988) - I minerali di un nuovo giacimento di contatto presso Schio (VI) - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 2, pp.73-78
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Kanagawa Prefecture
          • Yamakita
    		Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
    Mexico
     
    • Hidalgo
      • Mun. de Zimapán
        • Zimapán
    		Panczner(1987): 93-396.
    Norway
     
    • Finnmark
      • Alta
    • Telemark
      • Skien
    		Jamtveit B., Dahlgren S. and Austrheim H., (1997): "High-grade contact metamorphism of calcareous rocks from the Oslo Rift, Southern Norway".
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Marincea, Ş., Bilal, E., Verkaeren, J., Pascal, M.-L., and Fonteilles, M. (2001) Superposed paragenesis in spurrite-, tilleyite- and gehlenite-bearing skarns from Cornet Hill, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1435-1453.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
            • Dovyren Highlands
    		Galuskin, Evgeny V. et al. (2007) Dovyrenite Ca6Zr[Si2O7]2(OH)4: Vol. 38(1) , 15-27.
            • Slyudyanka
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Khabarovskiy Kray
        • Ayan-Maya district
          • Aldan shield
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm
          • Kovdor Massif
    		M. V. Seredkin et al.: Zap. Vses. Min. Obshch.:132(1), 67-75 (2003)
          • Turii Cape
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/tury.htm
    www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/vuori.htm
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Štiavnica Mts
    		Ďuďa R.,Kotuľak P., Káňa R., 1993: Bergbau und Mineralien von Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz), Slowakei. Emser Hefte, 14, 3, 1-70, Haltern
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Eastern Bushveld Complex
        • Lydenburg District
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Sweden
     
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    		No reference listed
    Tanzania
     
    • Arusha Region
    		Mitchell, R.H. and Belton, F. (2004) Niocalite-cuspidine solid solution and manganoan monticellite from natrocarbonatite, Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Mineralogical Magazine: 68: 787-799.
    Uganda
     
    • Kabarole District
    		Barker, D.S. and Nixon, P.H. (1989) High-Ca, low-alkali carbonatite volcanism at Fort Portal, Uganda. Contributions to Minralogy and Petrology.: 103: 166-177.
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Skye
          • Broadford
            • Kilchrist
            • Torrin
    		[Specimen in the Natural History Museum, London]
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone District
          • Tombstone
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 179, 251, 414; Butler, B.S., et al (1938b), Geology and ore deposits of the Tombstone district, AZ, AZ Bur. Mines Bull. 143; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 95, 97, 99, 103.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 304; Butler, B.S., et al (1938b), Geology and ore deposits of the Tombstone district, AZ, AZ Bur. Mines Bull. 143.
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
        • Magnet Cove
    		Rocks & Min.: 64:326.
    • California
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
    		American Mineralogist: 51: 56-74
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		AmMin 26:352-381
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
        • Fontana
    		MinRec 15:273-290
    AmMin 20:815
        • Clark Mountain area
    		Abstracts with Program of the Geological Society of America: 11: 65.
    Museum Quarterly 43:99-104.
    • Colorado
      • Gunnison Co.
        • Dorchester District
          • Taylor Park
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
        • White Earth District (Powderhorn District)
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 17, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
      • San Juan Co.
        • Animas District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Michigan
      • Iron Co.
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    • Nevada
      • Pershing Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Luna Co.
        • Tres Hermanas District
          • South Sisters Peak
    		NMGS 21st Field Conference
    • New York
      • Essex Co.
        • Keene
    		AmMin 63:991
    EOS: 60: 423.
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
        • Christmas Mts
    		Rocks & Minerals (1991): 66:3: 196-224.
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Rocks & Minerals: 66(3): 196-224.
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Utah Co.
        • Wasatch Mts
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Wasatch Co.
    		Field, V.W. (1917) American Mineralogist, 2, #7, 92-93
    • Virginia
      • Highland Co.
        • Hightown
    		Minerals of Virginia, 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
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