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Mountkeithite

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Mount Keith nickel deposit, Wiluna Shire, Western Australia, Australia
© Thomas Witzke

Formula:
(Mg,Ni)
 
11
(Fe
3+
 
,Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
24
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3.5
] · 11H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalHardness:2
This page provides mineralogical data about Mountkeithite.

Classification of Mountkeithite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.09-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DD.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:32.4.3.1

32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
4 : Hydrated Compound Sulfates containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:12.2.23

12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
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Type Occurrence of Mountkeithite

Type Locality:Mount Keith nickel deposit, Wiluna Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1981

Physical Properties of Mountkeithite

Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Mountkeithite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 10.69Å, c = 22.54Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.109
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,230.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Mountkeithite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.520 nε = 1.510
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Mountkeithite

Formula:
(Mg,Ni)
 
11
(Fe
3+
 
,Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
24
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3.5
] · 11H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, Mg, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Cr, Fe, H, Mg, Ni, O, S

Relationship of Mountkeithite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DD.05Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.05Hydrobasaluminite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 12-36H
 
2
O
7.DD.05Zaherite
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
26
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · 20H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Guarinoite
(Zn,Co,Ni)
 
6
[(OH,Cl)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
[(OH)
 
10
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Thérèsemagnanite
(Co,Zn,Ni)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH,Cl)
 
10
·8H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Montetrisaite
Cu
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
·H
 
2
O
7.DD.15Spangolite
Cu
 
6
Al[(OH)
 
12
|Cl|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.20Ktenasite
(Cu,Zn)
 
5
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.25Christelite
Cu
 
2
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Lautenthalite
PbCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Orthoserpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Serpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Niedermayrite
CdCu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Carrboydite
(Ni,Cu)
 
14
Al
 
9
[(OH)
 
43
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Glaucocerinite
(Zn,Cu)
 
10
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
32
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 18H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Honessite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrohonessite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Motukoreaite
NaMg
 
19
Al
 
12
(CO
 
3
)
 
6.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
54
·28H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Shigaite
Al
 
4
Mn
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
22
·8H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Wermlandite
Mg
 
7
(Ca,Mg)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
7.DD.35Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincaluminite
Zn
 
6
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
13
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrowoodwardite
Cu
 
1-x
Al
 
x
[(OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
] · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincowoodwardite
Zn
 
1-x
Al
 
x
(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O (?)
7.DD.35Natroglaucocerinite
[(Zn,Cu)
 
5
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
16
][(SO
 
4
)
 
1.5
Na
 
1.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
0.75
(H
 
2
O)
 
9
]
7.DD.35Nikischerite
[AlFe
 
2
(OH)
 
6
]
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Na(H
 
2
O)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
7.DD.40Lawsonbauerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.40Torreyite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.45Mooreite
(Mg,Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
15
[(OH)
 
13
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.50Namuwite
(Zn,Cu)
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.55Bechererite
(Zn,Cu)
 
6
Zn
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(SO
 
4
,HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
7.DD.60Ramsbeckite
(Cu,Zn)
 
15
[(OH)
 
22
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.65Vonbezingite
Ca
 
6
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
12
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.70Redgillite
Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Nickelalumite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|{SO
 
4
,(NO
 
3
)
 
2
}] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Kyrgyzstanite
ZnAl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
12.2.1Burkeite
Na
 
6
CO
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
12.2.2Hanksite
Na
 
22
K(SO
 
4
)
 
9
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
12.2.3Tychite
Na
 
6
Mg
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.4Motukoreaite
NaMg
 
19
Al
 
12
(CO
 
3
)
 
6.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
54
·28H
 
2
O
12.2.5Ferrotychite
Na
 
6
(Fe,Mn,Mg)
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.6Nakauriite
Cu
 
8
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 48H
 
2
O
12.2.7Carbonatecyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O
12.2.8Rapidcreekite
Ca
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
12.2.9Tatarskite
Ca
 
6
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
 
4
(OH)
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
12.2.10Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
[(OH)
 
10
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
12.2.11Leadhillite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.12Macphersonite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.13Susannite
Pb
 
4
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.14Wherryite
Pb
 
4
CuCO
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(Cl,OH)
 
2
O
12.2.15Caledonite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
5
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
12.2.16Nasledovite
PbMn
 
3
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
SO
 
4
O
 
5
·5H
 
2
O
12.2.17Jouravskite
Ca
 
6
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)]
 
3
 · 26H
 
2
O
12.2.18Schröckingerite
NaCa
 
3
(UO
 
2
)[F|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
|SO
 
4
] · 10H
 
2
O
12.2.19Manganotychite
Na
 
6
Mn
 
2
SO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
12.2.20Hauckite
Fe
3+
3
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
24
Zn
 
18
[(OH)
 
81
|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
]
12.2.21Paraotwayite
Ni(OH)
 
2-x
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
0.5x
12.2.22Carrboydite
(Ni,Cu)
 
14
Al
 
9
[(OH)
 
43
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
12.2.24Camerolaite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
10
|CO
 
3
|(HSbO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)] · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Mountkeithite

Synonyms:
IMA1980-038
Other Languages:
German:Mountkeithit
Spanish:Mountkeithita

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 Mountkeithite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 624.

Mineralogical Magazine: 44: 345-350.

Articles/Blogs about Mountkeithite

Internet Links for Mountkeithite

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    Localities for Mountkeithite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Zeehan District
        • Dundas mineral field
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    • Western Australia
      • Wiluna Shire
    		MM 1981, 345-50
    Mineral and/or Locality
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