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Periclase

Big Photo

Nordmark, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
© K.Gatedal

Show Periclase Photos (8)
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
(Ca,K,Na,Mg,Ba,Mn)(Mn,Mg,Al)
 
6
O
 
12
·3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Periclase

Synonyms:
PericlasaPericlasiaPericlasite
Other Languages:
German:Periclasit
Periklas
Russian:Периклаз
Spanish: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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  • Periclase details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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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.
    (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
      • Laurentides
        • Deux-Montagnes RCM
          • Oka
    		Gold (1969)
    China
     
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Shannan (Lhokha; Lhoka) 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
    		Quakenack, K.-H. (1967): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 14, 204-223.
    • 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
            • Bellerberg volcano
              • Ettringer Bellerberg Mt. (Bellberg Mt.; Bellenberg Mt.; Billenberg Mt.; Boilenberg Mt.)
    		[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
     
    • Negev desert
    		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
            • Ercolano
              • San Vito
    		[var: Ferropericlase] Luigi Chiappino data, Pavel M. Kartashov analytical confirmation
            • Pollena - Trocchia area
    		Carati M., 1982. Guida alla mineralogia vesuviana. Guide Calderini, Bologna.
      • Phlegrean Volcanic Complex
        • Salerno Province
          • Sarno
            • Lavorate (Nocera)
    		Carati, M., (????): I minerali degli inclusi metamorfosati nel tufo grigio campano, ???
    • 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.
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d\'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo \"F. Eusebio\" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    • 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
    Lesotho
     
    • Mokhotlong District
      • Maluti Mts.
    		[var: Ferropericlase] Field, M., Stiefenhofer, J., Robey, J., and Kurszlaukis, S. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 34, 33-75.
    Norway
     
    • 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
          • Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence
    		[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.
    • Northern Caucasus Region
      • Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1361–1370, 2009
    A. E. Zadov data
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Chelyabinsk coal basin
            • Kopeisk
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
            • 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
     
    • Free State Province
      • Koffiefontein
    		[var: Ferropericlase] Field, M., Stiefenhofer, J., Robey, J., and Kurszlaukis, S. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 34, 33-75.
    • Limpopo Province
      • Eastern Bushveld Complex
        • Mokopane (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.
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Muck
    		Tilley, C.E. (1947) The gabbro-limestone contact zone of Camas Mor, Muck, Inverness-shire. Comptes Rendus de la Société geologique de Finlande, No. 140, 97–105.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone Hills
    		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
        • Jurupa
    		MinRec 15:273-290
    Cal Div of Mines & Geo Bulletin 189 " Minerals of California"
        • Riverside
    		Cal Div of Mines & Geo Bulletin 189 " Minerals of California"
    • 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.; Am Min (1937), 22:1151-1160
    NMBMMR Bull 11 The Geology of the Organ Mountains
    Am Min (1937), 22:1151-1160
    • 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
    Venezuela
     
    • Bolívar
    		Canadian Mineralogist (2000) Vol. 38, pp. 1347-137
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Matabeleland South
      • Beitbridge
    		[var: Ferropericlase] Kopylova, M.G., Gurney, J.J., and Daniels, L.R.M. (1997): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 129, 366-384.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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