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Periclase

Big Photo

Nordmark, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
© K.Gatedal

Show Periclase Photos (6)
Formula:
MgO
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, grayish ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:5½
Name:From the Greek περικλάω, to break around, in allusion to the cleavage.


Periclase Group

Periclase is a rare magnesium oxide mineral. It is usually found as a component of metamorphosed dolomitic limestones. It readily alters to Brucite and other magnesium minerals under conditions.

Classification of Periclase

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/A.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.AB.25

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
Dana 8th edition ID:4.2.1.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
2 : AX
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.4.7

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
4 : Oxides of Be, Mg and the alkaline earths
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Type Occurrence of Periclase

Type Locality:Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1840

Physical Properties of Periclase

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, grayish white, yellow, brownish yellow, green, black
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Cleavage:Perfect
{001} perfect; {111} imperfect.
Parting:On {011} at times on glide faces. Translation gliding: T{011), t[110].
Density (measured):3.55 - 3.57 g/cm3

Crystallography of Periclase

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Fm3m (F4/m 3 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.21Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 74.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Often octahedral, less often cubo-octahedral or cubic, rarely dodecahedral (Crestmore, CA). Usually irreglar or rounded grains.

Optical Data of Periclase

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Periclase

Formula:
MgO
Essential elements:Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Mg, O
Common Impurities:Fe

Relationship of Periclase to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.AB.05Crednerite
CuMnO
 
2
4.AB.10Tenorite
CuO
4.AB.15Delafossite
CuFeO
 
2
4.AB.15Mcconnellite
CuCrO
 
2
4.AB.20Bromellite
BeO
4.AB.20Zincite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
4.AB.25Bunsenite
NiO
4.AB.25Lime
CaO
4.AB.25Manganosite
MnO
4.AB.25Monteponite
CdO
4.AB.25Wüstite
FeO
4.AB.30Palladinite
PdO
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.4.1Bromellite
BeO
7.4.2Behoite
Be(OH)
 
2
7.4.3Clinobehoite
Be(OH)
 
2
7.4.4Chrysoberyl
BeAl
 
2
O
 
4
7.4.5Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S
Mg
 
3
Al
 
8
BeO
 
16
7.4.6Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
(Mg,Fe,Zn)
 
2
Al
 
6
BeO
 
12
7.4.8Brucite
Mg(OH)
 
2
7.4.9Spinel
MgAl
 
2
O
 
4
7.4.10Meixnerite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
18
·4H
 
2
O
7.4.11Lime
CaO
7.4.12Portlandite
Ca(OH)
 
2
7.4.13Mayenite
Ca
 
12
Al
 
14
O
 
33
7.4.14Hydrocalumite
Ca
 
2
Al(OH)
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
7.4.15Marokite
CaMn
 
2
O
 
4
7.4.16Ranciéite
(Ca,Mn)Mn
 
4
O
 
9
·3H
 
2
O
7.4.17Hollandite
Ba(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
16
7.4.18Romanèchite
(Ba,H
 
2
O)
 
2
Mn
 
5
O
 
10
7.4.19Todorokite
(Mn,Mg,Ca,Ba,K,Na)
 
2
Mn
 
3
O
 
12
·3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Periclase

Synonyms:
PericlasaPericlasiaPericlasite
German names:
PericlasitPeriklas
Russian names:
Периклаз
Spanish names:
Periclasita
Varieties:
FerropericlaseLavernite

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 Periclase

Reference List:Scacchi (1841).

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 499-501.

American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 266.

Internet Links for Periclase

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Periclase

    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.
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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.
    Austria
     
    • Burgenland
      • Mattersburg
        • Sieggraben
          • Auwiesenbach valley
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Styria
      • Bad Radkersburg
        • Klöch
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Lac de Gras
        • Diavik Mine
    		[var: Ferropericlase] Donnelly, C. L. et al. (2007): Lithos 98, 160-176.
    • Ontario
      • Hastings Co.
        • Bancroft District
          • Dungannon Township
    		MSC Report 39
    • Québec
      • Deux-Montagnes Co.
        • Oka complex
    China
     
    • Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet)
      • Shannan Prefecture
        • Qusum (Qusong) Co.
    		http://www.ngu.no/FileArchive/165/2003_055.pdf Geological Survey of Norway / The Alice Wain Memorial West Norway Eclogite Field Symposium / Abstract Volume p. 8.
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Pyrénées-Orientales
        • Céret
          • Prats de Mollo-La Preste (Prats de Molló-La Presta)
    		Dubru. M, (1986) Pétrologie et géochimie du marbre à brucite et des borates associés au gisement de tungstène de Costabonne, (Pyrénées orientales, France) 930p
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Bad Harzburg
    		No reference listed
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Hillesheim
          • Zilsdorf
    		Beyer, H., Eine Magnesium-Mineralparagenese als Folge primärer biologischer Stoffanlage und sekundärem vulkanischen Erhitzungsprozeß am Arensberg / Eifel, Der Aufschluß SB 30, 1980
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		[Hentschel, G., Seltene Minerale in Calcium-reichen Auswürflingen vom Bellerberg bei Mayen/Eifel, Aufschluß 29, 77-83, 1978] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		XRD and SEM-EDX analysis (T. Witzke)
    Hungary
     
    • Fejér Co.
      • Szár Hill
        • Kőszárhegy
    		Szakáll: Minerals of Szár Hill, 2004
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Recsk
    		Mineral species of Hungary, 2005
    Mineral Species of Hungary, 2005
    Israel
     
    Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Mem.Min.Geol.(1841) 23
            • Pollena - Trocchia area
    		Carati M., 1982. Guida alla mineralogia vesuviana. Guide Calderini, Bologna.
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
        • Alban Hills
    		De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol
    • Lombardy
      • Sondrio Province
        • Malenco Valley
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    • Sardinia
      • Cagliari Province
        • Teulada
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    • Trentino-Alto Adige
      • Trento Province
        • Fassa Valley
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
        • Fiemme Valley
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu region
        • Gifu prefecture
          • Neo-mura
    Norway
     
    • Aust-Agder
    • Telemark
      • Nome
    		Sæther (1957, p. 101); Neumann (1985, p. 53).
    Poland
     
    • Małopolskie
      • Olkusz District
    		Ref.: Kucha H., Jędrzejczyk B. 1995: Primary minerals of mining and metallurgical Zn-Pb dumps at Bukowno, Poland, and their stability during weathering. Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 26, No 2, 75-99
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
        • Katowice area
          • Siemianowice Śląskie
    		Kruszewski L. 2006: Oldhamite-periclase-portlandite-fluorite assemblage and coexisting minerals of burnt dump in Siemianowice Śląskie - Dąbrówka Wielka area (Upper Silesia, Poland) - preliminary report. Mineralogia Polonica Special Papers, vol.28, 118-120
    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]
        • Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field
          • Daldyn
    		N. Sobolev et al. , Eos Trans. AGU, 82(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract xxxxx-xx, 2001.
    • Urals Region
      • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
        • Chelyabinsk coal basin
          • Kopeisk
          • Korkino
    		Am Min 90:1556-1562
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Kremnica Mts
    		Ďuďa R., 1993 : Die mineralien der Gold und Silber - lagersttäte von Kremnitz ( Kremnica) in der Slowakei. Mineralien Welt /Haltern,Nemecko/,5, s. 20 - 32
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Eastern Bushveld Complex
        • Potgietersrus
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Ludvika
        • Grängesberg
    		No reference listed
      • Smedjebacken
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    		No reference listed
    • Uppland
      • Östhammar
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183.
        • Nordmark
    		Kjell Gatedal
    Dana 6: 207.
    Uganda
     
    • Kabarole District
    		Barker, D.S. and Nixon, P.H. (1989) High-Ca, low-alkali carbonatite volcanism at Fort Portal, Uganda. Contributions to Minralogy and Petrology.: 103: 166-177.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 325.
      • Mohave Co.
        • Black Mts
          • Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District)
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 325.
    • California
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
          • Crestmore quarries
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		AmMin 26:352-381
        • Fontana
    		MinRec 15:273-290
    • Colorado
      • Larimer Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Gabbs District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Doña Ana Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    • New York
      • Putnam Co.
    		NY State Museum spec. no. 19294
    • Texas
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Rocks & Minerals: 66(3): 196-224.; Am Min 51:1766-1774
        • Sierra Diablo
    		R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Wasatch Mts
          • Big Cottonwood District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
            • Little Cottonwood Canyon
    		AmerJrnSci. 276: 502-524. (1976)
      • Utah Co.
        • Wasatch Mts
          • Silver Lake District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Washington Co.
        • Mineral Mountain
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
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