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Nitromagnesite

Big Photo

Baume-les-Messieurs, Jura, Franche-Comté, France
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
Mg(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless to white
Name:In allusion to the composition, being a NITRate of MAGNESIum.
This page provides mineralogical data about Nitromagnesite.

Classification of Nitromagnesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/A.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.NC.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
C : With H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:18.2.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:18.2.3.1

18 : NORMAL NITRATES
2 : A(XO3)2·xH2O, where x can equal zero
Hey's CIM Ref.:13.4

13 : Nitrates
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Type Occurrence of Nitromagnesite

Type Locality:Nicajack Cave (Nicojack Cave), Marion Co., Tennessee, USA
Year of Discovery:1835

Physical Properties of Nitromagnesite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless to white
Cleavage:Perfect
On {110}.
Density (measured):1.46 g/cm3

Crystallography of Nitromagnesite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.19Å, b = 12.71Å, c = 6.6Å
β = 93°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.487 : 1 : 0.519
Unit Cell Volume:V 518.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Flocculent to earthy efflorescences. Artificial crystals long prismatic [001] with {001} and {110} dominant.

Optical Data of Nitromagnesite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.340 nβ = 1.506 nγ = 1.506
2V:Measured: 4° to 6°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.166

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Nitromagnesite

Formula:
Mg(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, N, O
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, N, O

Relationship of Nitromagnesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.NC.10Nitrocalcite
Ca(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
13.1Nitratine
NaNO
 
3
13.2Niter
KNO
 
3
13.3Gerhardtite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|NO
 
3
]
13.5Nitrocalcite
Ca(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
13.6Nitrobarite
Ba(NO
 
3
)
 
2
13.7Buttgenbachite
Cu
 
19
[(OH)
 
32
|(NO
 
3
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
13.8Sveite
KAl
 
7
[Cl|(OH)
 
8
|(NO
 
3
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
13.9Darapskite
Na
 
3
NO
 
3
SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
13.10Humberstonite
Na
 
7
K
 
3
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
13.11Mbobomkulite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|{(NO
 
3
)
 
2
,SO
 
4
}] · 3H
 
2
O
13.12Hydrombobomkulite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|{(NO
 
3
)
 
2
,SO
 
4
}] · 13-14H
 
2
O
13.13Nickelalumite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|{SO
 
4
,(NO
 
3
)
 
2
}] · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Nitromagnesite

Synonyms:
Magnesium nitrate
Other Languages:
French:Magnésie nitratée
Magnesinitre
Nitrate de magnésie
German:Magnesiasalpeter
Nitromagnesit
Spanish:Nitromagnesita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Melting Point = 90°.
Other Information:Readily soluble in water.
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 Nitromagnesite

Reference List:Naumann, C.F. (1828) Lehrbuch der Mineralogie, Berlin: 263 (as Magnesiasalpeter).

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 384 (as Nitrate de magnésie)

Shepard C.U. (1832) Treatise on Mineralogy. First edition, vol. 2: 85.

Huot, J.J. (1841) Manuel de Minéralogie. 2 volumes, Paris: 2: 431 (as Magnesinitre).

Marignac (1856) Annales des mines: 9: 31.

Ogérien in: Lacroix, A. (1901) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 3: 414 (French localities).

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 116.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 307.

Articles/Blogs about Nitromagnesite

Internet Links for Nitromagnesite

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    Localities for Nitromagnesite

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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.
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
      • Mt Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
          • Cloncurry
    France
     
    • Franche-Comté
      • Jura
    		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: 307.
    South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Tennessee
      • Marion Co.
    		Acta Cryst. 14 (1961), 1296
    • Virginia
      • Botetourt Co.
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
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