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Paralstonite

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Big Photo

Dolyhir Quarry, Wethel, Old Radnor, Powys (Radnorshire), Wales, UK
© Van King

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Formula:
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless to white
Hardness:4 - 4½
Polymorph of:Alstonite, Barytocalcite


Olekminskite-Paralstonite Series.

Classification of Paralstonite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.04-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.40

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.2.2.2

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.5.5

11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Paralstonite

Type Locality:Minerva No. 1 Mine (Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 Mine) Ozark-Mahoning Group, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
Year of Discovery:1979
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Baryte

Physical Properties of Paralstonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless to white
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½

Crystallography of Paralstonite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 8.69Å, c = 6.14Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.707
Unit Cell Volume:V 401.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crusts composed of tiny pyramidal crystals to 1 mm.

Optical Data of Paralstonite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.672 nε = 1.527
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.145

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

Chemical Properties of Paralstonite

Formula:
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Essential elements:Ba, C, Ca, O
All elements listed in formula:Ba, C, Ca, O
Common Impurities:Sr

Relationship of Paralstonite to other Species

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

- +
5.AB.05Calcite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.05Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
5.AB.05Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
5.AB.05Otavite
CdCO
 
3
5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Siderite
FeCO
 
3
5.AB.05Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
5.AB.10Ankerite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Kutnohorite
Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.15Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.15Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
5.AB.15Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
5.AB.15Witherite
BaCO
 
3
5.AB.20Vaterite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.25Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
5.AB.30Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.35Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Olekminskite
Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.45Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.50Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.55Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
5.AB.60Juangodoyite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.5.1Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
11.5.2Witherite
BaCO
 
3
11.5.3Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.4Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.6Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.7Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13

Other Names for Paralstonite

Synonyms:
IMA1979-015
Other Languages:
German:Paralstonit
Russian:Паральстонит
Spanish:Paralstonita

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 Paralstonite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 1332.

American Mineralogist (1981): 66: 219.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1980): 353-363.

Internet Links for Paralstonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Paralstonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Paralstonite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    China
     
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture)
        • Bayan Obo Mining District
          • Bayan Obo
    		Zhang Peishan, Yang Zhuming, Tao Kejie, and Yang Xueming (1996): Mineralogy and Geology of Rare Earths in China. Science Press (Beijing), pp. 226.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Aldan Shield
          • Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence
    		[Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20]
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		Sorokhtina, N.V., Chukanov, N.V., Voloshin, A.V., Pakhomovsky, Y.A., Bogdanova, A.N., and Moiseev, M.M. (2008): Geology of Ore Deposits 50(7), 620-628.
    UK
     
    • Wales
      • Powys (Radnorshire)
        • Old Radnor
          • Wethel
    		T.F. Cotterell : "The mineralogy of Dolyhir quarry, Old Radnor, Powys, Wales, U.K. - a major new mineralogical site in Wales", 5th International Conference "Mineralogy & Museums", Paris, Sept. 5-8th 2004, Bull. de Liaison de la Soc. Franç. de Minéralogie et Cristallographie, 2004, Vol 16, N°2.; Cotterell TF et al (2011) The mineralogy of Dolyhir quarry, Old Radnor. Powys, Wales. UKJMM 32:5-61
    USA
     
    • Illinois
      • Hardin Co.
        • Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District
          • Cave-in-Rock Sub-District
    		Mineralogical Record, v. 28, no. 1, 1997
    A. C. Roberts (1979) Paralstonite, a new mineral from the Minerva no. 1 mine, Cave-in-Rock, Illinois. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap.,79-lC, 99-100.; Mineralogical Record (1997) 28:3-49
          • Harris Creek Sub-District
    		Mineralogical Record (1997) 28:3-49
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