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Alstonite

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Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level), Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
© P N Min.

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Formula:
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
System:TriclinicColour:Colourless, white, ...
Hardness:4 - 4½
Name:After the original locality near Alston, England.
Polymorph of:Barytocalcite, Paralstonite


Alstonite-Barytocalcite Group

A low-temperature hydrothermal mineral.

Classification of Alstonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.04-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.35

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.2.5.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.5.4

11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Alstonite

Co-type Localities:Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level), Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
Fallowfield Mine, Acomb, Tyne Valley, Northumberland, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1841
Geological Setting of type material:Low-temperature hydrothermal deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WitheriteCalciteBaryte

Physical Properties of Alstonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, yellow-gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {110}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):3.67 - 3.711 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.67 g/cm3

Crystallography of Alstonite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 17.38Å, b = 14.4Å, c = 6.12Å
α = 90.35°, β = 90.12°, γ = 120.08°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.207 : 1 : 0.425
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,325.34 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals are pseudo-dihexagonal dipyramids formed by repeated twinning of individuals bounded by {111} and {021}; also as acute dipyramids bounded by {221}. The evident dipyramidal faces are strongly striated horizontally (perpendicular to pseudohexagonal [0001]) and are divided vertically by a medial, slightly reentrant twinning line parallel to the pseudohexagonal [0001].
Twinning:Common on pseudo-orthorhombic {110} and {301}, forming the pseudohexagonal groups.

Optical Data of Alstonite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.526 nβ = 1.671 nγ = 1.672
2V:Measured: 6° , Calculated: 8°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.146

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

Chemical Properties of Alstonite

Formula:
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Essential elements:Ba, C, Ca, O
All elements listed in formula:Ba, C, Ca, O

Relationship of Alstonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AB.05Calcite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.05Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
5.AB.05Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
5.AB.05Otavite
CdCO
 
3
5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Siderite
FeCO
 
3
5.AB.05Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
5.AB.10Ankerite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Kutnohorite
Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.15Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.15Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
5.AB.15Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
5.AB.15Witherite
BaCO
 
3
5.AB.20Vaterite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.25Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
5.AB.30Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Olekminskite
Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.45Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.50Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.55Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
5.AB.60Juangodoyite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.5.1Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
11.5.2Witherite
BaCO
 
3
11.5.3Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.5Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.6Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.7Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13

Other Names for Alstonite

Synonyms:
Barytocalcite (of Johnston)Bicalcareocarbonate of BarytesBromlite
Other Languages:
German:Alstonit
Bariumaragonit
Bromlit
Spanish:Alstonita
Bromlita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Weak yellow fluorescence (LW UV).
Other Information:Soluble in dilute HCl.
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 Alstonite

Reference List:Johnston (1835) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 6: 1 (as Barytocalcite).

Thomson (1835) Records of General Science, London: 1: 373 (as Bicalcareocarbonate of Barytes).

Johnston (1837) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 10: 373.

Thomson (1837) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 11: 45, 48.

Breithaupt, A. (1841) Vollständige Handbuch der Mineralogie, Vol. 2: 255 (as Alstonite).

Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 698.

Becker (1886) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 12: 222.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 284.

Kreutz (1909) Bulletin of the Academy of Science, Krakow: 771.

Spencer (1910) Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 302.

Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 1: 9.

Hintze, Carl (1926) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3096.

Gossner and Mussgnug (1930) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 220.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 218-219.

Lithos (1975): 8: 199.

Internet Links for Alstonite

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    Localities for Alstonite

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