Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Paralstonite

Big Photo

Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
© Alan Goldstein

Formula:
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless to white
Hardness:4 - 4½


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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3097.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Paralstonite

Type Locality:Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, 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 pyraidal 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,Mn
2+
 
)(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
German names:
Paralstonit
Russian names:
Паральстонит
Spanish names:
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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Paralstonite on Google
  • Look for Paralstonite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Paralstonite on Webmineral
  • Look for Paralstonite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Paralstonite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Paralstonite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Paralstonite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Paralstonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Paralstonite specimens
  • Search for Paralstonite on minvision.com
  • Find Paralstonite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Paralstonite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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
        • Darhan Muminggan United Banner
          • 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
          • Torgo River Basin
            • Davan
              • Chara River (Charo River)
    		[Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20]
                • Olekminsk
    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.
    USA
     
    • Illinois
      • Hardin Co.
        • Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District
          • Cave-in-Rock Sub-District
    		Mineralogical Record, v. 28, no. 1, 1997
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.