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Rectorite

Formula:
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White to light brown
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named after E.W. Rector, an attorney in Hot Springs, Arkansas.


A clay mineral with a 1:1 regular interstratification of a dioctahedral Mica and a dioctahedral Smectite.

Classification of Rectorite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.18-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EC.60

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.4.2.7

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
4 : Sheets of 6-membered rings interlayered 1:1, 2:1, and octahedra
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.2.9

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
2 : Aluminosilicates of Na
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Type Occurrence of Rectorite

Type Locality:Blue Mountain District, Marble Township, Garland Co., Arkansas, USA
Year of Discovery:1891

Physical Properties of Rectorite

Lustre:Waxy, Earthy
Colour:White to light brown
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2

Crystallography of Rectorite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.13Å, b = 8.88Å, c = 23.85Å
β = 96.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.578 : 1 : 2.686
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,079.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Rectorite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.519 nβ = 1.550 nγ = 1.559
2V:Measured: 5° to 20°, Calculated: 54°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Rectorite

Formula:
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,K

Relationship of Rectorite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EC.05Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Talc
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Pyrophyllite
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Celadonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chernykhite
(Ba,Na)(V
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Montdorite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
9.EC.15Muscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Roscoelite
K(V,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Aluminoceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromphyllite
K(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferro-aluminoceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferroceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tainiolite
KLiMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ganterite
(Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Annite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Masutomilite
(K,Rb)(Li,Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Norrishite
KLiMn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Phlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Preiswerkite
NaMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Siderophyllite
KFe
2+
2
Al[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
](OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Tetra-ferriphlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Wonesite
(Na,K)(Mg,fe,Al)
 
6
(Al,Si)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH,F)
 
4
9.EC.20Zinnwaldite
KLiFe
2+
 
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Eastonite
KMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Tetraferriannite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Trilithionite
K(Li,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorannite
KFe
2+
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirokshinite
KNaMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirozulite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Sokolovaite
CsLi
 
2
AlSi
 
4
O
 
10
F
 
2
9.EC.20Aspidolite
NaMg
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorophlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi
(Cs,K)(Al,Li)
 
2.6
[(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
](F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Suhailite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
 
3
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-017
KMg
 
2.5
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]F
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-006
KLi
 
2
TiSi
 
4
O
 
11
F
9.EC.25Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.30Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(O,OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Bityite
CaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
]
9.EC.35Kinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Ferrokinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Oxykinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.40Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
·27H
 
2
O (or near)
9.EC.40Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Nontronite
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Volkonskoite
Ca
 
0.3
(Cr,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Yakhontovite
(Ca,Na)
 
0.5
(Cu,Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Smectite
9.EC.45Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Saponite
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
,(OH,F)
 
4
·xH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Ferrosaponite
Ca
 
0.3
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.50Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.55Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
FeMn
 
3
MnZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Gonyerite
(Mn,Mg)
 
5
Fe(Si
 
3
Fe)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Nimite
(Ni,Mg,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Orthochamosite
(Fe,Mg,Fe)
 
5
Al(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH,O)
 
8
9.EC.55Pennantite
(Mn
 
5
Al)(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Donbassite
Al
 
2
[Al
 
2.33
][Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
](OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Glagolevite
Na(Mg,Al)
 
6
[(OH,O)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Borocookeite
Li
 
1+3x
Al
 
4-x
[(BSi
 
3
)O
 
10
](OH)
 
8
[0.00 <= x <=0.33]
9.EC.60Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.60Dozyite
Mg
 
7
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.EC.60Hydrobiotite
9.EC.60Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.60Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
)O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
9.EC.60Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(Si
 
7
AlO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
9.EC.60Saliotite
Li
 
0.5
Na
 
0.5
Al
 
3
Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
(OH)
 
5
9.EC.60Tosudite
9.EC.60Brinrobertsite
Na
 
0.3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
· 3.5 H
 
2
O
9.EC.65Macaulayite
(Fe,Al)
 
24
Si
 
4
O
 
43
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.70Burckhardtite
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Mn)AlTeO
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.75Ferrisurite
(Pb,Ca)
 
2-3
(CO
 
3
)
 
1.5-2
(OH,F)
 
0.5-1
[(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
]·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.75Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.75Niksergievite
(Ba,Ca)
 
2
(Al,Si)
 
7
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.80Kegelite
Pb
 
12
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Si
 
11
O
 
38
or near
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.2.1Albite
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.2.2Analcime
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.3Ussingite
Na
 
2
AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
OH
16.2.4Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.2.5Natrolite
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.6Tetranatrolite
16.2.7Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·3H
 
2
O
16.2.8Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.2.10Jadeite
Na(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.2.11Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Rectorite

Other Languages:
German:Rectorit
Spanish:Rectorita

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 Rectorite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 394-398.

Clays and Clay Minerals: 18: 115-119.

American Mineralogist (1995): 80: 247.

Clay Minerals (1997): 32: 89-95.

Internet Links for Rectorite

Search Engines:
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  • External Links:
  • Look for Rectorite on Webmineral
  • Look for Rectorite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Rectorite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Rectorite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Rectorite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Rectorite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Rectorite

    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
     
    • Salzburg
      • Oberndorf
    R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Brazil
     
    • Northeast Region
      • Bahia
        • Boquira (former Macaúbas)
    MinRec 6:286
    Colombia
    Clay Min 32:425 (1997)
    Clay Min 32:425 (1997)
    France
     
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Isère
    ClayMin 32:89 (1997)
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Zempléni Mts.
        • Mád
    Koch: Minerals of Hungary, 1985
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Nagano Prefecture
    Clays and Clay Minerals 45:773 (1997)
    • Kyushu Island
      • Kagoshima Prefecture
    Kawano, M. & Tomita, K. (1989) Mineralogical Journal, 14, 351-372.
    Russia
     
    • Western-Siberian Region
    No reference listed
        • Tyumenskaya Oblast'
    [Lapis 1995:3 p13-35]
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Štiavnica Mts
        • Banská Štiavnica Mining District
          • Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya; Schemnitz)
    Pauliš,P.,Ďuďa,R.,2002: Nejzajímavejší mineralogická naletište Slovenska. Kuttna,K.Hora, 136p
    South Africa
     
    • Free State Province
    Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Castile-La Mancha
      • Ciudad Real
        • Almadén District
          • Almadén
    Higueras, P., Oyarzun, R., Lunar, R., Sierra, J., and Parras, J. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 211-214.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Whetstone Mts
          • Whetstone District
    www.caves.org; Hill, C.A. (1999) Mineralogy of Kartchner Caverns, Arizona, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies: 61(2): 73-78; Grant, Raymond W., Richard A. Bideaux & Sidney A. Williams (2006), Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995 to 2005: 7.
    • Arkansas
      • Garland Co.
        • Marble Township
    [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]; Dana System of Mineralogy 6th ed.; Rocks & Min.:64:327
      • Perry Co.
        • Hollis
    Rocks & Min.:63:115; Miser & Milton(1964).
        • Nimrod
          • Deckard Mountain
    Rocks & Min.:63:115; Engel(1952).
      • Pulaski Co.
        • Jeffrey
    Newsom, G.(1978): The Jeffrey Quarry. Mineralogical Record 9 (2),75-79
        • Little Rock
    Rocks & Min.: 63:122.
      • Saline Co.
        • Bland
    MinRec 17:151
        • Paron
    Rocks & Min.:63:122.
    Rocks & Min.: 63:122.
    • California
      • El Dorado Co.
        • Flagstaff Hill Area
    www.agry.purdue.edu/cjohnston/sourceclays/RAr-1.pdf.
    • Colorado
      • Lake Co.
        • Alicante
          • Buckeye Gulch
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
      • San Juan Co.
        • Red Mountain District
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Utah
      • Tooele Co.
        • Oquirrh Mts
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Stansbury Mts
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Utah Co.
        • Beverly Hills
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Lehi District (Lake Mountain)
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Thorpe Hills
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Wasatch Mts
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
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