Gordonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Gordonite
Formula:
MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O
Colour:
Smoky-white, buff, colourless; crystals = pale pink or pale green on tips; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.23
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Samuel (Sam) George Gordon (21 June 1897, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - 17 May 1953, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), mineralogist, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He wrote 'The Mineralogy of Pennsylvania' when he was 24. He made five international trips to collect minerals for the Academy's Vaux collection, traveling to Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Greenland and Africa and described 9 new species. He was also a founder of the Mineralogical Society of America and helped start the American Mineralogist.
The magnesium analogue of Mangangordonite.
A rare secondary mineral formed from the alteration of variscite in nodules in limestone or as a late-stage hydrothermal mineral in complex granitic pegmatites.
A rare secondary mineral formed from the alteration of variscite in nodules in limestone or as a late-stage hydrothermal mineral in complex granitic pegmatites.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1728
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1728:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
87f50afe-8cc3-4925-a453-f91e3737203d
IMA Classification of Gordonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1930
Classification of Gordonite
8.DC.30
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
42.11.14.4
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
19.8.9
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Gdo | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Gordonite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Gordonite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on {010}.
Colour:
Smoky-white, buff, colourless; crystals = pale pink or pale green on tips; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}, perfect; on {100}, fair; on {001}, poor.
On {010}, perfect; on {100}, fair; on {001}, poor.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.23 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gordonite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.534 nβ = 1.543 nγ = 1.558
2V:
Measured: 73°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.024
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v weak
Optical Extinction:
X ≃ ⊥ {010}.
Chemistry of Gordonite
Mindat Formula:
MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O
Crystallography of Gordonite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.246 Å, b = 10.532 Å, c = 6.975 Å
α = 107.51°, β = 111.03°, γ = 72.21°
α = 107.51°, β = 111.03°, γ = 72.21°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.498 : 1 : 0.662
Unit Cell V:
334.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Crystals rare, prismatic [001] to platy {010}, with dominant basal pedions; elongated and strongly striated along [001], and less markedly on [100]. {001} is lacking at times, leaving the crystals terinated entirely by {011}; rarely doubly terinated. May exhibit numerous lesser forms. Commonly in bundles and sheaflike aggregates with all individual crystals of one group similarly terminated.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0014827 | Gordonite | Leavens P B, Rheingold A L (1988) Crystal structures of gordonite, MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)6*2H2O, and its Mn analog Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1988 265-270 | 1988 | Little Green Monster mine, Fairfield, Utah, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
9.78 Å | (100) |
3.17 Å | (80) |
2.83 Å | (70) |
2.56 Å | (60) |
6.32 Å | (50) |
4.76 Å | (50) |
3.07 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Little Green Monster mine, Utah, USA. The data are from Hurlbut and Honea 1962.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Geological Setting:
Complex granitic pegmatite
Type Occurrence of Gordonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Poor crystals, but giving some reflections from faces.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #137128.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Variscite nodules in limestone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Gordonite
Relationship of Gordonite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Ferrolaueite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Kastningite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Kummerite | Mn2+Fe3+Al(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Laueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Mangangordonite | Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Stewartite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Ushkovite | MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
18 photos of Gordonite associated with Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
16 photos of Gordonite associated with Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
10 photos of Gordonite associated with Arrojadite-(KFe) | (KNa)(Fe2+◻)Ca(Na2◻)Fe2+13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH)(OH)2 |
8 photos of Gordonite associated with Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
7 photos of Gordonite associated with Lazulite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
7 photos of Gordonite associated with Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
7 photos of Gordonite associated with Childrenite | Fe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
5 photos of Gordonite associated with Leucophosphite | KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
2 photos of Gordonite associated with Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
2 photos of Gordonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.DC. | Ianbruceite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
8.DC. | Césarferreiraite | Fe2+ Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC. | Ferrivauxite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
8.DC.05 | Nissonite | Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 5H2O |
8.DC.07 | Euchroite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
8.DC.10 | Legrandite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · H2O |
8.DC.12 | Strashimirite | Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4 · 5H2O |
8.DC.15 | Arthurite | CuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Earlshannonite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Ojuelaite | ZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Whitmoreite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Cobaltarthurite | (Co,Mg)Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Bendadaite | Fe2+Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | Kunatite | CuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | UM2006-27-PO:FeHZn | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.15 | UKI-2006-(PO:AlCuFeH) | Fe2+Al3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.17 | Kleemanite | ZnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O |
8.DC.20 | Bermanite | Mn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.20 | Coralloite | Mn2+Mn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.20 | Magnesiobermanite | MgMn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
8.DC.22 | Kovdorskite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
8.DC.25 | Ferristrunzite | Fe3+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
8.DC.25 | Ferrostrunzite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
8.DC.25 | Metavauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.25 | Metavivianite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
8.DC.25 | Strunzite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
8.DC.25 | Zincostrunzite | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6.5H2O |
8.DC.27 | Beraunite | Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O |
8.DC.27 | Tvrdýite | Fe2+Fe3+2 Al3(PO4)4(OH)5(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
8.DC.27 | Zincoberaunite | ZnFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O |
8.DC.30 | Laueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Mangangordonite | Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Pseudolaueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O |
8.DC.30 | Stewartite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Ushkovite | MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Ferrolaueite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Kastningite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Maghrebite | MgAl2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.30 | Nordgauite | MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2 · 5H2O |
8.DC.30 | Kayrobertsonite | [MnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)4] · 2H2O |
8.DC.30 | Kummerite | Mn2+Fe3+Al(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
8.DC.32 | Tinticite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O |
8.DC.32 | Kamarizaite | Fe3+3(AsO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O |
8.DC.35 | Vauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
8.DC.37 | Vantasselite | Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 9H2O |
8.DC.40 | Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
8.DC.45 | Gormanite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
8.DC.45 | Souzalite | (Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
8.DC.47 | Kingite | Al3(PO4)2F2(OH) · 7H2O |
8.DC.50 | Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
8.DC.50 | Allanpringite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
8.DC.50 | Fluorwavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)2F · 5H2O |
8.DC.52 | Kribergite | Al5(PO4)3(SO4)(OH)4 · 4H2O |
8.DC.55 | Mapimite | Zn2Fe3+3(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 10H2O |
8.DC.57 | Ogdensburgite | Ca2Fe3+4(Zn,Mn2+)(AsO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2O |
8.DC.60 | Nevadaite | (Cu2+,Al,V3+)6Al8(PO4)8F8(OH)2 · 22H2O |
8.DC.60 | Cloncurryite | Cu0.5(VO)0.5Al2(PO4)2F2 · 5H2O |
8.DC.62 | Kenngottite | Mn2+3Fe3+4(PO4)4(OH)6(H2O)2 |
8.DC.67 | Molinelloite | Cu(H2O)(OH)V4+O(V5+O4) |
8.DC.70 | Whitecapsite | H16Fe2+5Fe3+14Sb3+6(AsO4)18O16 · 120H2O |
8.DC.75 | Heimite | PbCu2(AsO4)(OH)3 · 2H2O |
8.DC.80 | Lednevite | Cu[PO3(OH)] · H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Fusability of 3.
Heating in a closed tube gives water with a neutral pH.
Heating in a closed tube gives water with a neutral pH.
Notes:
Soluble in acids.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Gordonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1728.html
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References for Gordonite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S., Shannon, Earl V. (1930) The minerals of the phosphate nodules from near Fairfield, Utah. American Mineralogist, 15 (8) 307-337
Larsen, Esper S., 3d, (1942) The mineralogy and paragenesis of the variscite nodules from near Fairfield, Utah, Part 1. American Mineralogist, 27 (4) 281-300
Localities for Gordonite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Francis et al. (self published) |
| Peter Elliott |
| |
| Birch et al. (1993) |
| Mineralogical Magazine 39 (1974) +1 other reference |
Brazil | |
| Sergio Varvello collection |
| Cassedanne et al. (1999) |
Canada | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
150-152. +2 other references | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
Europe | |
Berbain et al. (2012) | |
France | |
| Berbain et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| DILL et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
| Dill et al. (2011) |
Morocco | |
| Favreau (2012) |
Russia | |
| Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 121 (2) |
Voloshin et al. (1992) | |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
USA | |
| Kampf et al. (2016) |
| NIZAMOFF et al. (2004) |
Journal of Pegmatology vol. 1 +2 other references | |
| Thompson et al. (2022) |
| Campbell et al. (1985) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
Rocks & Minerals (1970) +1 other reference |
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Rapid Creek, Dawson mining district, Yukon, Canada