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Donbassite

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Donets (Donetsk) region, Donets'k Oblast' (Donetsk Oblast'), Ukraine
© 2007, J. Weissman

Formula:
Al
 
2
[Al
 
2.33
][Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
](OH)
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:White, light green
Lustre:PearlyHardness:2 - 2½


Chlorite Group

Classification of Donbassite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EC.55

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.4.1.1

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
4 : Sheets of 6-membered rings interlayered 1:1, 2:1, and octahedra
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Type Occurrence of Donbassite

Type Locality:Donets (Donetsk) region, Donets'k Oblast' (Donetsk Oblast'), Ukraine
Year of Discovery:1940

Physical Properties of Donbassite

Lustre:Pearly
Colour:White, light green
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½

Crystallography of Donbassite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.17Å, b = 8.95Å, c = 14.26Å
β = 97.83°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.578 : 1 : 1.593
Unit Cell Volume:V 653.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Donbassite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.560 - 1.578 nβ = 1.566 - 1.582 nγ = 1.572 - 1.596
2V:Measured: 48° to 55°, Calculated: 58° to 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012 - 0.018

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 Donbassite

Formula:
Al
 
2
[Al
 
2.33
][Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
](OH)
 
8
Essential elements:Al, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Ca,Li,Na

Relationship of Donbassite 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.20Biotite
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[(F,OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
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.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.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.60Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
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

Other Names for Donbassite

German names:
Donbassit
Spanish names:
Donbassita

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 Donbassite

Reference List:Clay and Clay Minerals (1989): 37: 193.

Internet Links for Donbassite

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    Localities for Donbassite

    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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Transantarctic Mtns
        • Scott Glacier
    		www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Donbassite.PDF
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
     
    • Serb Republic
      • Prijedor
        • Ljubija
    		www.gl.rhbnc.ac.uk/geode/ABCD/Ljubija.html.
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Allier
        • Ebreuil
    		Clays and Clay Minerals 36:39-46
    Gabon
     
    • Haut-Ogooué
      • Franceville
    		Geological Society of America Bulletin, 113 (1), 32-62
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Triberg
    		www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Donbassite.PDF
    Mozambique
     
    • Zambezia Province
      • Alto Ligonha District
    		www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Donbassite.PDF
    Portugal
     
    • Beja District
      • Castro Verde
    		Relvas, J. M. R. S. et al. (2006): Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization in the Neves-Corvo Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, Portugal. I. Geology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry. Econ. Geology 101, 753-790.
    Ukraine
     
    • Donets'k Oblast' (Donetsk Oblast')
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.