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Magnesite

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Ferroan Magnesite, etc.

Slaughteryard face, Mt Bischoff mine, Waratah, Waratah district, Waratah-Wynyard municipality, Tasmania, Australia
Magnesite, etc.

Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Magnesite

Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Ferroan Magnesite, etc.

Slaughteryard face, Mt Bischoff mine, Waratah, Waratah district, Waratah-Wynyard municipality, Tasmania, Australia
Magnesite, etc.

Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Magnesite

Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Ferroan Magnesite, etc.

Slaughteryard face, Mt Bischoff mine, Waratah, Waratah district, Waratah-Wynyard municipality, Tasmania, Australia
Magnesite, etc.

Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Formula:
MgCO3
Colour:
Colourless, white, greyish-white, yellowish, brown, faintly pink, lilac-rose; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4½
Specific Gravity:
2.98 - 3.02
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Calcite Group
Name:
In allusion to the composition, containing principally magnesium.
Calcite Group. Gaspéite-Magnesite Series and Magnesite-Siderite Series.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Magnesite.


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Classification of MagnesiteHide

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Strunz 8th ed.:
5/B.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:
5.AB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th ed.:
14.1.1.2

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:
11.3.1

11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg

Physical Properties of MagnesiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, greyish-white, yellowish, brown, faintly pink, lilac-rose; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ - 4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {1011}.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.98 - 3.02 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.01 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of MagnesiteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.700 nε = 1.509
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.191
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
Very strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Cobaltian material dichroic:
E = Violet-red
O = Flesh-red

Chemical Properties of MagnesiteHide

Formula:
MgCO3
Elements listed:
C, Mg, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mn,Ca,Co,Ni,ORG

Crystallography of MagnesiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.6632 Å, c = 15.015 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.22
Unit Cell V:
282.76 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Crystals usually rhombohedral {1011}, also {0112}; prismatic rare [0001] with {1120} and {0001}, or tabular {0001}. Scalenohedral rare. Massive, coarse- to fine-granular, very compact and porcelainous; earthy to rather chalky; lamellar; coarsely fibrous.
Twinning:
Unproven.
Comment:
Cell parameters are similar to those of smithsonite.

Crystallographic forms of MagnesiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
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Magnesite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Magnesite no.5 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Transparency
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X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.742 (100)
2.503 (18)
2.102 (45)
1.939 (12)
1.700 (35)
1.338 (8)
0.9134 (8)

Type Occurrence of MagnesiteHide

Synonyms of MagnesiteHide

Other Language Names for MagnesiteHide

Varieties of MagnesiteHide

BreunneriteA ferroan variety of magnesite with the Mg:Fe atomic ratio ranging from 90:10 to 70:30.
Compare mesitine spar.
Ferroan MagnesiteAn iron-bearing variety of Magnesite.
GelmagnesiteColloidal gel form of Magnesite
Kolloid-magnesiteA collodial variety of Magnesite
Lithian MagnesiteA lithium-rich variety of magnesite.
Mesitine SparA ferroan variety of magnesite with the Mg : Fe atomic ratio ranging from 70 : 30 to 50 : 50.
Compare breunnerite.
MesititeIron rich variety
Nickeloan MagnesiteA nickel-rich variety of magnesite.
PrystineDense, fine grained, pure-white magnesite from Utah-Nevada border (also spelled prystyne).

Relationship of Magnesite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Calcite Group
Other Members of this group:
CalciteCaCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
Cobaltoan calcite-spherocobaltiteCobaltoan dolomite and cobaltoan calcite are frequently mislabeled as spherocobaltite.
GaspéiteNi(CO3)Hex.
OtaviteCdCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m)
RhodochrositeMnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
SideriteFeCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
SmithsoniteZnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
SpherocobaltiteCoCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
Forms a series with:
GaspéiteGaspéite-Magnesite Series
SideriteMagnesite-Siderite Series

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Uvite Series241 photos of Magnesite associated with Uvite Series on mindat.org.
Quartz87 photos of Magnesite associated with Quartz on mindat.org.
Dolomite60 photos of Magnesite associated with Dolomite on mindat.org.
Calcite29 photos of Magnesite associated with Calcite on mindat.org.
Talc21 photos of Magnesite associated with Talc on mindat.org.
Florencite-(Ce)20 photos of Magnesite associated with Florencite-(Ce) on mindat.org.
Hematite20 photos of Magnesite associated with Hematite on mindat.org.
Svanbergite18 photos of Magnesite associated with Svanbergite on mindat.org.
Fluorite17 photos of Magnesite associated with Fluorite on mindat.org.
Serpentine Subgroup16 photos of Magnesite associated with Serpentine Subgroup on mindat.org.

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz GroupingHide

5.AB.05CalciteCaCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05GaspéiteNi(CO3)Hex.
5.AB.05OtaviteCdCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m)
5.AB.05RhodochrositeMnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SideriteFeCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SmithsoniteZnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SpherocobaltiteCoCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.10AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10KutnohoriteCa(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10MinrecorditeCaZn(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.15AragoniteCaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.15CerussitePbCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.15StrontianiteSrCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.15WitheriteBaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.20VateriteCaCO3Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc
5.AB.25HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4Trig. 3 2 : R3 2
5.AB.30NorsethiteBaMg(CO3)2Trig. 3 2 : R3 2
5.AB.35AlstoniteBaCa(CO3)2Tric.
5.AB.40OlekminskiteSr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2Trig.
5.AB.40ParalstoniteBaCa(CO3)2Trig.
5.AB.45BarytocalciteBaCa(CO3)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
5.AB.50Carbocernaite(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2Orth. mm2
5.AB.55BenstoniteBa6Ca6Mg(CO3)13Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.60JuangodoyiteNa2Cu(CO3)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b

Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)Hide

14.1.1.1CalciteCaCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
14.1.1.3SideriteFeCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
14.1.1.4RhodochrositeMnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
14.1.1.5SpherocobaltiteCoCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
14.1.1.6SmithsoniteZnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
14.1.1.7OtaviteCdCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m)
14.1.1.8GaspéiteNi(CO3)Hex.

Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals GroupingHide

11.3.2BarringtoniteMgCO3 · 2H2OTric.
11.3.3NesquehoniteMgCO3 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
11.3.4LansforditeMgCO3 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
11.3.5PokrovskiteMg2(CO3)(OH)2Mon.
11.3.6ArtiniteMg2(CO3)(OH)2 · 3H2OMon.
11.3.7HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2OMon.
11.3.8GiorgiositeMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5-6H2O
11.3.9DypingiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2OMon.
11.3.10EiteliteNa2Mg(CO3)2Trig.
11.3.11Mcguinnessite(Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2

Fluorescence of MagnesiteHide

In UV light:
May exhibit pale green to pale blue fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Triboluminescent at times.

Slightly affected by cold acids. Readily soluble in warm HCl with effervescence. Slightly soluble in water with the solubility increasing with the presence of NaCl, Na2SO4, or CO2.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Magnesite in petrologyHide

References for MagnesiteHide

Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Mitchell and Lampadius (1800) 3: 241 (as Kohlensaure Talkerde).
Werner: Ludwig, C.F. (1803-1804) Handbuch der Mineralogie nach A.G. Werner. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 2: 154 (as Reine Talkerde, Talcum carbonatum).
Klaproth, M.H. (1810) Untersuchung des Magnesits aus Steiermark, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Fünfter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 97-104.
von Koksharov, N. (1875) Materialien zur Mineralogie Russlands. 11 volumes with atlas: vol. 7: 181.
Weiss (1885) Jb. Preuss. Geol. Landesanst.: 113.
Hintze, C. (1889) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3113.
Johnsen (1902) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 133, 142.
Johnsen (1903) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, StuttgartP: 13.
Ratz analysis in: Redlich and Cornu (1908) Zeitschrift für praktische Geologie, Berlin, hale a.S.: 16: 145.
Bucking (1911) Kali: 5: 221.
Doelter, C. (1911-1931) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 1: 220.
Ford (1917) Trans. Conn. Ac. Arts Sc.: 22: 211.
Gaubert (1917) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 164: 46.
Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 5: 175.
Honess (1918) American Mineralogist: 45: 210.
Gaubert (1919) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 42: 88.
Niggli (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 230.
Dobbel, L.M. (1923) Magnesite crystals from Orangedale, Nova Scotia. American Mineralogist: 8: 223.
Rogers, A.F. (1923) Euhedral magnesite crystals from San Jose, California. American Mineralogist: 8: 138.
Pardillo (1924) Treballs mus. cienc. nat. Barcelona: 9: 5.
Bradley (1925) California Bureau of Mines Bulletin 79.
Niinomy (1925) Economic Geology: 20: 25.
Barth (1927) Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift, Oslo: 9: 271.
Lonsdale, J.T. (1930) Euhedral magnesite crystals from Winkler County, Texas. American Mineralogist: 15: 238.
Pavlovitch (1931) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 54: 95.
Du Rietz (1935) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 57: 133.
Koch and Zombory (1935) Földtani Közlöny, Budapest (Magyarhone Földtani Torsulat): 64: 160.
Schoklitsch (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 90: 433.
Petrascheck (1936) Fortschritte der Mineralogie, Kristallographie und Petrographie, Jena: 20: 77.
Fenoglio, Sanero (1941) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 12: 83.
Fornaseri (1941) Rend. Soc. min. ital.: 1: 60.
Lacroix (1941) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 213: 261.
Wayland, R.G. (1942) Composition, specific gravity and refractive indices of rhodochrosite; rhodochrosite from Butte, Montana. American Mineralogist: 27: 614.
Faust, Callaghan (1948) Bulletin of the Geological Society of America: 59: 11.
Murdoch, Webb (1948) California Division of Mines Bulletin 136: 196.
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: 162-166.
Goldsmith, J.R., Graf, D.L., Witters, J., Northrop, D.A. (1962) Studies in the system CaCO3•MgCO3•FeCO3: (1) Phase relations; (2) A method for major element spectrochemical analyses; and (3) Composition of some ferroan dolomites. Journal of Geology: 70: 659-688.
Irving, A.J., Wyllie, P.J. (1975) Subsolidus and melting relationships for calcite, magnesite and the join CaCO3 - MgCO3 to 36 kbar. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 39: 35-53.
Effenberger, H., Mereiter, K., Zemann, J. (1981): Crystal structure refinements of magnesite, calcite, rhodochrosite, siderite, smithonite [sic], and dolomite, with discussion of some aspects of the stereochemistry of calcite type carbonates. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 156, 233-243.
Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.
Katsura, T., Tsuchida, Y., Ito, E., Yagi, T., Utsumi, W., Akimoto, S. (1991) Stability of magnesite under lower mantle conditions. Proceedings of the Japan Academy: 67: 57-60.
Gillet, P. (1993) Stability of magnesite (MgCO3) at mantle pressure and temperature condition: A Raman spectroscopic study. American Mineralogist: 78: 1328-1331.
Zhang, J., Martinez, I., Guyot, F., Gillet, P., Saxena, S.K. (1997) X-ray diffraction study of magnesite at high pressure and high temperature. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 24: 122-130.
Schroll, E. (2002) Genesis of magnesites in the view of isotope geochemistry- IGCP 443 Magnesite and Talc. Bole de Ciencias, Special Issue 54, Newsletter No. 2, Curitiba, Brazil (2002): 59-68.
Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 421.
E. Boulard, F. Guyot, G. Fiquet (2012) The influence on Fe content on Raman spectra and unit cell parameters of magnesite–siderite solid solutions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 39: 239-246.
Scott, H.P., Doczy, V.M., Frank, M.R., Hasan, M., Lin, J.F., Yang, J. (2013) Magnesite formation from MgO and CO2 at the pressures and temperatures of Earth’s mantle. American Mineralogist: 98: 1211-1218.

Internet Links for MagnesiteHide

Localities for MagnesiteHide

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 ListShow

Mineral and/or Locality  
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