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Muskoxite

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Formula:
Mg
 
7
Fe
 
4
O
 
13
 · 10H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Dark reddish brown
Hardness:3
Member of:Hydrotalcite Supergroup
Name:For the type locality, the Muskox intrusion, Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut, Canada.


As part of the recent re-evaluation of the nomenclature of the hydrotalcite supergroup (Mills et al., 2012), muscoxite was identified as a questionable species which needs further investigation. The range of composition currently ascribed to muskoxite may represent more than one species.

Classification of Muskoxite

IMA status:Questionable/Doubtful 2012
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/F.05-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FL.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:7.11.1.1

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
11 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.20.12

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe
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Type Occurrence of Muskoxite

Type Locality:Muskox Intrusion, Coppermine River area, Northwest Territories, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:Veins in drill core
Year of Discovery:1969

Physical Properties of Muskoxite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Dark reddish brown
Streak:Light orange-brown
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Basal
Density (measured):3.10 - 3.20 g/cm3

Crystallography of Muskoxite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:a = 3.07Å, c = 4.6Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.498
Unit Cell Volume:V 37.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Paper thin hexagons, trigonal equant grains.
Comment:Pseudo cell - actual cell believed to be larger

Optical Data of Muskoxite

Type:Biaxial (-)
Dispersion:relatively strong
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Muskoxite

Formula:
Mg
 
7
Fe
 
4
O
 
13
 · 10H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Muskoxite to other Species

Member of:Hydrotalcite Supergroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Brugnatellite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
13
 · 4H
 
2
O
Coalingite
Mg
 
10
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
24
[CO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Cualstibite Group
Fougèrite Group
Glaucocerinite Group
Hydrocalumite Group
Hydrotalcite Group
Mg
 
6
R
3+
2
(OH)
 
16
CO
 
3
·4H
 
2
O, where R
3+
 
 = Al, Cr, or Fe
Quintinite Group
Wermlandite Group
Woodwardite Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.FL.Trébeurdenite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
4
O
 
2
(OH)
 
10
CO
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Woodallite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
(OH)
 
16
Cl
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Iowaite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
16
Cl
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Jamborite
(Ni
2+
 
,Ni
3+
 
,Co,Fe)(OH)
 
2
(OH,S,H
 
2
O)
4.FL.05Meixnerite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
16
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Fougèrite
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
12
[CO
 
3
]·3H
 
2
O
4.FL.10Hydrocalumite
Ca
 
8
Al
 
4
(OH)
 
12
(Cl,CO
 
3
,OH)
 
2-x
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.15Kuzelite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2.4
(OH)
 
12
[SO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Aurorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ag,Ca)Mn
4+
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Chalcophanite
(Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Ernienickelite
NiMn
 
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Jianshuiite
(Mg,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.25Woodruffite
Zn(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
5
O
 
10
·3½H
 
2
O
4.FL.30Asbolane
(Ni,Co)
 
2-x
Mn
4+
 
(O,OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
4.FL.35Buserite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
14
O
 
27
 · 21H
 
2
O
4.FL.40Ranciéite
(Ca,Mn)Mn
 
4
O
 
9
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.40Takanelite
(Mn,Ca)Mn
 
4
O
 
9
 · H
 
2
O
4.FL.45Birnessite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.5
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
4
 · 1.5H
 
2
O
4.FL.55Cianciulliite
Mn(Mg,Mn)
 
2
Zn
 
2
(OH)
 
10
 · 2-4H
 
2
O
4.FL.60Jensenite
Cu
 
3
[TeO
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
4.FL.65Leisingite
Cu(Mg,Cu,Fe,Zn)
 
2
[TeO
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
4.FL.70Akdalaite
4Al
 
2
O
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
4.FL.75Cafetite
(Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)
 
2
Ti
 
4
O
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.80Mourite
UMo
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
10
4.FL.85Deloryite
Cu
 
4
(UO
 
2
)(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.20.1Wüstite
FeO
7.20.2Magnetite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
O
 
4
7.20.3Maghemite
Fe
3+
2
O
 
3
7.20.4Hematite
Fe
 
2
O
 
3
7.20.5Goethite
α-Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
7.20.6Akaganeite
β-Fe
3+
 
O(OH,Cl)
7.20.7Feroxyhyte
Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
7.20.8Lepidocrocite
γ-Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
7.20.9Ferrihydrite
Fe
3+
5
O
 
3
(OH)
 
9
7.20.10Amakinite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(OH)
 
2
7.20.11Magnesioferrite
MgFe
3+
2
O
 
4
7.20.13Srebrodolskite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
O
 
5
7.20.14Hercynite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
O
 
4
7.20.15Brownmillerite
Ca
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5

Other Names for Muskoxite

Synonyms:
IMA1967-043
Other Languages:
German:Muskoxit
Spanish:Muskoxita

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 Muskoxite

Reference List:

- +
JAMBOR, J.L. (1969): Muskoxite, a new hydrous magnesium - ferric iron oxide from the Muskox Intrusion, Northwest Territories, Canada. American Mineralogist 54, 684-696.

Mills, S.J., Christy, A.G., Genin, J.-M.R., Kameda, T., Colombo, F. (2012): Nomenclature of the hydrotalcite supergroup: natural layered double hydroxides. Mineralogical Magazine, 76, 1289-1336.

Internet Links for Muskoxite

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    • Localities for Muskoxite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Coppermine River area
    		JAMBOR, J.L. (1969): Muskoxite, a new hydrous magnesium - ferric iron oxide from the Muskox Intrusion, Northwest Territories, Canada. American Mineralogist 54, 684-696.
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