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Palygorskite

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Milltown Quarry, Milltown, Ashover, Derbyshire, England, UK
© Steve Rust

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Formula:
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White. grayish, ...
Hardness:2 - 2½
Member of:Palygorskite Group
Name:For the type locality


May be confused with sepiolite.

Results of García-Romero & Suárez (2010) indicate that no compositional gap exists between sepiolite and palygorskite.

Classification of Palygorskite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.33-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:74.3.1a.1

74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.7.6

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
7 : Aluminosilicates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Palygorskite

Type Locality:Second Mine, Popovka River, Palygorskaya Distance of Perm Railways, Permskaya Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1862

Occurrences of Palygorskite

Geological Setting:Alteration product of magnesium silicates

Physical Properties of Palygorskite

Lustre:Waxy, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White. grayish, yellowish, gray-green
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {110}
Comment:Tough
Density (measured):1 - 2.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.35 g/cm3

Crystallography of Palygorskite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.78Å, b = 17.86Å, c = 5.24Å
β = 95.78°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.716 : 1 : 0.293
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,189.95 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystal are lath, commonly fibrous, tangled mats known as mountain leather
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
10.44 (100)
6.36 (13)
4.466 (20)
4.262 (22)
3.679 (15)
3.096 (16)
2.539 (20)

Optical Data of Palygorskite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.522 - 1.528 nβ = 1.530 - 1.546 nγ = 1.533 - 1.548
2V:Measured: 30° to 61°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011 - 0.020

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= pale yellow
Y=Z= pale yellow-green

Chemical Properties of Palygorskite

Formula:
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,K

Relationship of Palygorskite to other Species

Member of:Palygorskite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Unnamed (Na-Ca-Fe-Silicate-Hydrate)
NaCa(Fe
2+
 
,Al,Mn)
 
5
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)](OH)
 
7
 · 5H
 
2
O
Windhoekite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2.67
[Si
 
8
O
 
20
](OH)
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
7
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
Mn
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Windhoekite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2.67
[Si
 
8
O
 
20
](OH)
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
NaCa
 
16
Si
 
23
AlO
 
60
(OH)
 
8
 · 14H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.45Makatite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.50Varennesite
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
Na
 
4
Mn
2+
3
Ti
 
0.25
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.75Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.80Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.EE.80Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.85Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.7.1Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
16.7.2Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.3Sapphirine-1A
(Mg,Al,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
[(Al,Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.4Magnesiochloritoid
MgAl
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
16.7.5Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
16.7.7Saponite
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.7.8Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.7.9Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.7.10Baumite
(Mg,Al,Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Palygorskite

Synonyms:
AttapulgiteAttapulgite-PalygorskitePolygorskite
Other Languages:
Anglo-Saxon:Attapulgite
Catalan:Paligorskita
Dutch:Palygorskiet
Esperanto:Paligorskito
German:Palygorskit
Attapulgit
Polygorskit
Italian:Palygorskite
Portuguese:Paligorsquite
Russian:Палыгорскит
Simplified Chinese:凹凸棒石
Slovak:Palygorskit
Spanish:Attapulgita
Palygorskita
Polygorskita

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 Palygorskite

Reference List:

- +
Huggins, Charles W., Marion V. Denny & Haskell R. Shell (1962), Properties of palygorskite, an asbestiform mineral: US Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigaton 6071, 17pp.

Christ, C.L., J.C. Hathaway, P.B. Hostetler, and A.O. Shepard (1969): Palygorskite: new X-ray data. Amer. Mineral., 54, 198-205.

Serna, C., G.E. VanScoyoc, and J.L. Ahlrichs (1977) Hydroxyl groups and water in palygorskite. Amer. Mineral., 62, 784-792.

Permskiye gubernskiye vedomosti (Perm District Gazette): 26: 127.

Chisholm, J.E. (1992) Powder-diffraction patterns and structural models for palygorskite. Can. Mineral., 30, 61-73.

Minerals Science Forum: 166 (1994): 647-652.

Chryssikos, G. D. et al. (2009): octahedral cation distribution in palygorskite. American Mineralogist 94, 200-203.

García-Romero, E. & Suárez, M. (2010): On the chemical composition of sepiolite and palygorskite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 58, 1-20.

Internet Links for Palygorskite

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