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Wightmanite

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Crestmore quarries, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
Mg
 
5
[O|(OH)
 
5
|BO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless or light green
Hardness:5½
Name:Named after Randall H. Wightman (1915-1969), director of exploration and mining, Riverside Cement Company (California - USA).
This page provides mineralogical data about Wightmanite.

Classification of Wightmanite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/G.06-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.AB.55

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:26.1.2.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Monoborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.2.7

9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Wightmanite

Type Locality:Crestmore quarries, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1962

Physical Properties of Wightmanite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless or light green
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½

Crystallography of Wightmanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.46Å, b = 3.1Å, c = 18.17Å
β = 91.6°
Ratio:a:b:c = 4.342 : 1 : 5.861
Unit Cell Volume:V 757.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Wightmanite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.585 nβ = 1.603 nγ = 1.604
2V:Measured: 33° , Calculated: 26°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.019

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

Chemical Properties of Wightmanite

Formula:
Mg
 
5
[O|(OH)
 
5
|BO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Wightmanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
6.AB.05Hambergite
Be
 
2
[O|OH|BO
 
2
]
6.AB.10Berborite
Be
 
2
[(OH,F)|BO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
6.AB.15Jeremejevite
Al
 
6
[(F,OH)
 
3
|(BO
 
3
)
 
5
]
6.AB.20Warwickite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Ti[O|BO
 
3
]
 
2
6.AB.20Yuanfuliite
Mg(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)[O|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.25Karlite
Mg
 
7
[(OH,Cl)
 
5
|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
]
6.AB.30Azoproite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Mg)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.30Bonaccordite
Ni
 
2
Fe
3+
 
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.30Fredrikssonite
Mg
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.30Ludwigite
Mg
 
2
Fe
3+
 
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.30Vonsenite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.35Pinakiolite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
3+
 
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.40Blatterite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Sb
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.40Chestermanite
Mg
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
,Al,Sb
3+
 
)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.40Orthopinakiolite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
3+
 
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.40Takéuchiite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.45Hulsite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Sn)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.45Magnesiohulsite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Sn,Mg)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.45Aluminomagnesiohulsite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Al,Mg,Sn)[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.50Fluoborite
Mg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
3
|BO
 
3
]
6.AB.50Hydroxylborite
Mg
 
3
(BO
 
3
)(OH)
 
3
6.AB.55Shabynite
Mg
 
5
[(Cl,OH)
 
2
|(OH)
 
5
|BO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
6.AB.60Gaudefroyite
Ca
 
4
Mn
3+
2-3
[(O,OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
]
6.AB.65Sakhaite
Ca
 
12
Mg
 
4
[Cl|(OH)
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
4
|(BO
 
3
)
 
7
]
6.AB.70Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
6.AB.75Pertsevite
Mg
 
2
BO
 
3
F
6.AB.80Jacquesdietrichite
Cu
 
2
BO(OH)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
6.AB.85Painite
ZrCaAl
 
9
[O
 
15
|BO
 
3
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
9.2.1Hambergite
Be
 
2
[O|OH|BO
 
2
]
9.2.2Suanite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.2.3Kotoite
Mg
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
9.2.4Szaibélyite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
] · H
 
2
O
9.2.5Preobrazhenskite
Mg
 
3
B
 
11
O
 
15
(OH)
 
9
9.2.6Aksaite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.2.8Pinnoite
Mg[B
 
2
O
 
5
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.2.9Kurnakovite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.10Halurgite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.11Inderite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.12Hungchaoite
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 9H
 
2
O
9.2.13Admontite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.2.14Mcallisterite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
9.2.15Rivadavite
Na
 
6
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.2.16Kaliborite
KMg
 
2
H[B
 
6
O
 
8
(OH)
 
5
]
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
9.2.17Iquiqueite
K
 
3
Na
 
4
Mg(CrO
 
4
)B
 
24
O
 
39
(OH)·12H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wightmanite

German names:
Wightmanit
Spanish names:
Wightmanita

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 Wightmanite

Reference List:Murdoch, J. (1962): Wightmanite, a new borate mineral from Crestmore, California: American Mineralogist, 47, 718-722.

Moore, P.B. & Araki, T. (1972): Wightmanite, Mg5(O)(OH)5[BO3]•nH2O a natural drainpipe. Nature: Phys. Sci., 239, 25-26.

American Mineralogist (1974): 59, 985-1004.

Grew, E.S., & Anovitz, L.M. (1996): BORON. Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Articles/Blogs about Wightmanite

Internet Links for Wightmanite

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  • Wightmanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Wightmanite

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    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.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Kaiser Peak quadrangle
    		www.mineralsocal.org
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
    		American Mineralogist 47 (1962), 718-722 (1962); American Mineralogist, 59, 985-1004 (1974)
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