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Gordonite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About GordoniteHide

00433560015069090481253.jpg
Samuel G. Gordon
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:
Specific Gravity:
2.23
Crystal System:
Triclinic
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.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1728
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1728:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
87f50afe-8cc3-4925-a453-f91e3737203d

IMA Classification of GordoniteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1930

Classification of GordoniteHide

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
42.11.14.4

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
GdoIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of GordoniteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of GordoniteHide

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.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.23 g/cm3 (Measured)    2.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of GordoniteHide

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.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v weak
Optical Extinction:
X ≃ ⊥ {010}.

Chemistry of GordoniteHide

Mindat Formula:
MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Crystallography of GordoniteHide

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°
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 StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0014827GordoniteLeavens 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 265-2701988Little Green Monster mine, Fairfield, Utah, USA0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
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 EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest 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 GordoniteHide

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 GordoniteHide

German:Gordonit
Spanish:Gordonita

Relationship of Gordonite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of this group:
FerrolaueiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
Kastningite(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
KummeriteMn2+Fe3+Al(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
LaueiteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
MangangordoniteMn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
ParavauxiteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
SigloiteFe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
StewartiteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
UshkoviteMgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
18 photos of Gordonite associated with WarditeNaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O
16 photos of Gordonite associated with CrandalliteCaAl3(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 LazuliteMgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2
7 photos of Gordonite associated with VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
7 photos of Gordonite associated with ChildreniteFe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O
5 photos of Gordonite associated with LeucophosphiteKFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O
2 photos of Gordonite associated with CacoxeniteFe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O
2 photos of Gordonite associated with QuartzSiO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.DC.IanbruceiteZn2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.CésarferreiraiteFe2+ Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.FerrivauxiteFe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.05NissoniteCu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.DC.07EuchroiteCu2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2OOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
8.DC.10LegranditeZn2(AsO4)(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.12StrashimiriteCu8(AsO4)4(OH)4 · 5H2OMon.
8.DC.15ArthuriteCuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15EarlshannoniteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15OjuelaiteZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15WhitmoreiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15Cobaltarthurite(Co,Mg)Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15BendadaiteFe2+Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15KunatiteCuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.15UM2006-27-PO:FeHZnZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon.
8.DC.15UKI-2006-(PO:AlCuFeH)Fe2+Al3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O
8.DC.17KleemaniteZnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2OMon.
8.DC.20BermaniteMn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.DC.20CoralloiteMn2+Mn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.20MagnesiobermaniteMgMn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2 : P21
8.DC.22KovdorskiteMg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.25FerristrunziteFe3+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2OTric.
8.DC.25FerrostrunziteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2OTric.
8.DC.25MetavauxiteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.25MetavivianiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.25StrunziteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.25ZincostrunziteZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6.5H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.27BerauniteFe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2OMon. m : Bb
8.DC.27TvrdýiteFe2+Fe3+2 Al3(PO4)4(OH)5(H2O)4 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.DC.27ZincoberauniteZnFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.DC.30LaueiteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30MangangordoniteMn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30ParavauxiteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30PseudolaueiteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.30SigloiteFe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30StewartiteMn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30UshkoviteMgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30FerrolaueiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30Kastningite(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30MaghrebiteMgAl2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30NordgauiteMnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30Kayrobertsonite[MnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)4] · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.30KummeriteMn2+Fe3+Al(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.32TinticiteFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.32KamarizaiteFe3+3(AsO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.35VauxiteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.37VantasseliteAl4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 9H2OOrth.
8.DC.40CacoxeniteFe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2OHex. 6/m : P63/m
8.DC.45Gormanite(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2OTric.
8.DC.45Souzalite(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2OTric. 1
8.DC.47KingiteAl3(PO4)2F2(OH) · 7H2OTric.
8.DC.50WavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.DC.50AllanpringiteFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.DC.50FluorwavelliteAl3(PO4)2(OH)2F · 5H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.DC.52KribergiteAl5(PO4)3(SO4)(OH)4 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DC.55MapimiteZn2Fe3+3(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 10H2OMon. m : Bm
8.DC.57OgdensburgiteCa2Fe3+4(Zn,Mn2+)(AsO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmmm
8.DC.60Nevadaite(Cu2+,Al,V3+)6Al8(PO4)8F8(OH)2 · 22H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.DC.60CloncurryiteCu0.5(VO)0.5Al2(PO4)2F2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.DC.62KenngottiteMn2+3Fe3+4(PO4)4(OH)6(H2O)2 Mon. 2/m : P2/b
8.DC.67MolinelloiteCu(H2O)(OH)V4+O(V5+O4)Tric. 1 : P1
8.DC.70WhitecapsiteH16Fe2+5Fe3+14Sb3+6(AsO4)18O16 · 120H2OHex. 6/m : P63/m
8.DC.75HeimitePbCu2(AsO4)(OH)3 · 2H2OMon. 2/m
8.DC.80LedneviteCu[PO3(OH)] · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:
Fusability of 3.
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 GordoniteHide

References for GordoniteHide

Localities for GordoniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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.
Australia
 
  • South Australia
    • Mt Lofty Ranges
      • North Mt Lofty Ranges
        • Barossa Valley
          • Penrice
Francis et al. (self published)
        • Kapunda
Peter Elliott
      • South Mt Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills)
        • Noarlunga
  • Victoria
    • Moorabool Shire
      • Bacchus Marsh
Birch et al. (1993)
  • Western Australia
    • Meekatharra Shire
      • Milgun Station
Mineralogical Magazine 39 (1974) +1 other reference
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Conselheiro Pena
      • Barra do Cuieté
Sergio Varvello collection
    • Galiléia
      • Sapucaia do Norte
Cassedanne et al. (1999)
Canada
 
  • Yukon
    • Dawson mining district
Robinson et al. (1992)
150-152. +2 other references
        • Kulan Camp (Area A; Area 1)
Robinson et al. (1992)
Europe
 
Berbain et al. (2012)
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Pyrénées-Orientales
      • Céret
        • Collioure
Berbain et al. (2012)
Germany
 
  • Bavaria
    • Upper Palatinate
      • Neustadt an der Waldnaab District
        • Pleystein
DILL et al. (2008) +1 other reference
        • Waidhaus
Dill et al. (2011)
Morocco
 
  • Drâa-Tafilalet Region
    • Ouarzazate Province
      • Amerzgane Cercle
        • Ouisselsate Caïdat
Favreau (2012)
Russia
 
  • Murmansk Oblast
Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 121 (2)
Voloshin et al. (1992)
Spain
 
  • Castile and Leon
    • Salamanca
      • Garcirrey
Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022)
USA
 
  • Nevada
    • Mineral County
      • Candelaria Mining District
Kampf et al. (2016)
  • New Hampshire
    • Grafton County
      • Groton
NIZAMOFF et al. (2004)
Journal of Pegmatology vol. 1 +2 other references
      • Orange
Thompson et al. (2022)
  • South Dakota
    • Custer County
      • Custer Mining District
        • Fourmile
Campbell et al. (1985)
  • Utah
    • Utah County
      • Sunshine Mining District
        • Fairfield
Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference
Rocks & Minerals (1970) +1 other reference
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
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