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Portlandite

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Ettringer Bellerberg Mt., Ettringen, Mayen, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
Ca(OH)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, light yellow
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:In allusion to the occurrence of Ca(OH)2 as a product of hydration of portland cement.
This page provides mineralogical data about Portlandite.

Classification of Portlandite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/F.03-100
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FE.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
E : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:6.2.1.4

6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
2 : X(OH)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.4.12

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

Type Locality:Scawt Hill, Larne, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
Year of Discovery:1933

Physical Properties of Portlandite

Lustre:Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Perfect
{0001}
Density (measured):2.227 - 2.233 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.24 g/cm3

Crystallography of Portlandite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:a = 3.59Å, c = 4.9Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.365
Unit Cell Volume:V 54.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Minute hexagonal plates. Tabular {0001}, with {101¯0} as linear faces (artificial material).

Optical Data of Portlandite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.574 nε = 1.547
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.027

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

Chemical Properties of Portlandite

Formula:
Ca(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:Ca, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O

Relationship of Portlandite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.FE.05Amakinite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Brucite
Mg(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Pyrochroite
Mn(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Theophrastite
Ni(OH)
 
2
4.FE.10Bayerite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Doyleite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Gibbsite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Nordstrandite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.15Böhmite
AlO(OH)
4.FE.15Lepidocrocite
γ-Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.20Grimaldiite
CrO(OH)
4.FE.20Heterogenite
CoO(OH)
4.FE.25Feitknechtite
Mn
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.25Lithiophorite
(Al,Li)MnO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
4.FE.30Quenselite
PbMnO
 
2
(OH)
4.FE.35Ferrihydrite
Fe
 
5
O
 
3
(OH)
 
9
4.FE.40Feroxyhyte
Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.40Vernadite
(Mn
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ca,Na)(O,OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
4.FE.45Quetzalcoatlite
Zn
 
6
Cu
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·Ag
 
x
Pb
 
y
Cl
 
x+2y
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
7.4.7Periclase
MgO
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
7.4.13Mayenite
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 Portlandite

German names:
Portlandit
Russian names:
Портландит
Spanish names:
Portlandita

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 Portlandite

Reference List:Tilley (1933), Mineralogical Magazine: 23: 419.

American Mineralogist (1934): 19: 35.

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: 641-642.

American Mineralogist (1963): 48: 924-930.

Internet Links for Portlandite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Portlandite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Portlandite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Portlandite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • Lake Boga
    		Bill Birch (1996) Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 2, #2, 47-50.
    Belgium
     
    • Hainaut (Henegouwen; Hennegau) Province
      • Charleroi
        • Montignies-sur-Sambre
    		RN06042006
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Clermont-Ferrand
          • Ceyrat
    		Queneau Patrice Collection
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Aveyron
    		Eytier J.R. & Ch., Favreau G., Devouard B., Vigier J. (2004), Minéraux de pyrométamorphisme de Lapanouse-de Sévérac (Aveyron), Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°85, pp: 3-58
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Maroldsweisach
    		Pöllmann, H. (1991): Die Afwillit-Portlandit Paragenese im Basalt des Zeilbergs bei Maroldsweisach/Unterfranken. Aufschluss, 42, 257-266
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Daun
          • Hinterweiler
    		collection C.&H.Schäfer
          • Üdersdorf
    		Schüller, W., Betz, V., Die Mineralien vom Emmelberg, Lapis 12/1986
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		[Jasmund, K., Hentschel, G., Seltene Mineralparagenesen in den Kalksteineinschlüssen der Lava des Ettringer Bellerberges bei Mayen (Eifel), Beitr. Minera. Petr. 10, 296-314, 1964] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Hungary
     
    • Nógrád Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Bátonyterenye
    		Szakáll-Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary
    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
    		Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI
    • Latium
      • Viterbo Province
        • Montalto di Castro
          • Pietra Massa Locality
    		Passaglia, E. & Turconi, B. (1982): Silicati ed altri minerali di Montalto di Castro - VT. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1982, 97-110.
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 22 (3), 39-41.
    Jordan
     
    http://www.natural-analogues.com/maqarin.htm
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
    		Mineralogical Record: 32: 196.
    Palestine
     
    • West Bank
    		Shulamit Gross (1977) The mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geol. Surv. of Israel, bull. # 70.
    Poland
     
    • 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
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Marincea, Ş., Bilal, E., Verkaeren, J., Pascal, M.-L., and Fonteilles, M. (2001) Superposed paragenesis in spurrite-, tilleyite- and gehlenite-bearing skarns from Cornet Hill, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1435-1453.
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
        • Chelyabinsk coal basin
          • Korkino
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 48
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Black Rock
    		Minerals of South Africa
        • Hotazel
    		No reference listed
        • N'Chwaning Mines
    		[Von Bezing, K. L. et al. (1991) - The Kalahari (Afrique du Sud) manganese field : an update, Mineralogical Record, 22 (3), 279-302.]
    Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Larne
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1933): 23: 419-420; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 590.
    USA
     
    Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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