Magnolite
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Formula:
Hg21+Te4+O3
System:
Orthorhombic
Colour:
Colorless, creamy white; ...
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Greasy
Name:
Named in 1877 by Frederick Genthite for the type location in the Magnolia district. Re-investigated by Roberts et al. (1989).
This page provides mineralogical data about Magnolite.
Classification of Magnolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/K.02-20
4.JK.60
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
K : Tellurites without additional anions, without H2O
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
K : Tellurites without additional anions, without H2O
Dana 7th ed.:
34.1.8.1
34.1.7.1
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
1 : A(XO3)
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
1 : A(XO3)
Physical Properties of Magnolite
Sub-Adamantine, Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent
Comment:
May be in silky in aggregates.
Colour:
Colorless, creamy white; also pale yellow green (Mountain Lion Mine).
Streak:
Colorless, also light brown (Mountain Lion Mine)
Comment:
Soft
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}
Good perpendicular to {001}
Perfect on {001}
Good perpendicular to {001}
Density:
8.12 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Magnolite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
Optical Extinction:
Parallel. Y=a, X=b,Z=c
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
n=>2, 2V => 45
Chemical Properties of Magnolite
IMA Formula:
Hg21+Te4+O3
Elements listed in formula:
Crystallography of Magnolite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.948(1) Å, b = 10.580(2) Å, c = 3.745(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.562 : 1 : 0.354
Unit Cell Volume:
V 235.67 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, tufted aggregates.
Comment:
Roberts et al. (1989)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.25 | (50) |
| 3.95 | (70) |
| 3.74 | (40) |
| 3.17 | (30) |
| 3.043 | (100) |
| 2.587 | (50) |
| 1.986 | (40) |
| 1.944 | (35) |
Comments:
Roberts et al. (1989)
Type Occurrence of Magnolite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless to needles or white laths on goethite on coloradoite ore.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC 165455
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A late alteration product or the weathdring zone of complex polymetallic mineral deposits.
Empirical Formula:
Hg21+TeO3
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Relationship of Magnolite to other Species
| 4.JK.05 | Winstanleyite | TiTe34+O8 |
| 4.JK.05 | Walfordite | (Fe3+,Te6+,Ti4+,Mg)Te34+O8 |
| 4.JK.10 | Spiroffite | Mn22+Te34+O8 |
| 4.JK.10 | Zincospiroffite | Zn2Te3O8 |
| 4.JK.15 | Balyakinite | Cu2+Te4+O3 |
| 4.JK.20 | Rajite | CuTe24+O5 |
| 4.JK.25 | Carlfriesite | CaTe6+Te24+O8 |
| 4.JK.30 | Denningite | CaMn2+Te44+O10 |
| 4.JK.35 | Chekhovichite | Bi23+Te44+O11 |
| 4.JK.40 | Smirnite | Bi23+Te4+O5 |
| 4.JK.45 | Choloalite | (Pb,Ca)3(Cu,Sb)3Te6O18Cl |
| 4.JK.50 | Fairbankite | PbTe4+O3 |
| 4.JK.55 | Plumbotellurite | PbTe4+O3 |
| 4.JK.65 | Moctezumite | Pb(UO2)(Te4+O3)2 |
| 4.JK.70 | Schmitterite | (UO2)Te4+O3 |
| 4.JK.75 | Cliffordite | UTe34+O9 |
Other Names for Magnolite
Other Information
Not fluorescent.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Magnolite
Reference List:
Genth, F. A. (1878): On some tellurium and vanadium minerals. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 17, 113-123.
Roberts, A.C., Bonardi, M., Grice, J.D., Ercit, T.S., and Pinch, W.W. (1989): A restudy of magnolite, Hg1+2Te4+03, from Colorado. Canadian Mineralogist 27, 129-131.
Grice, J.D. (1989): The crystal structure of magnolite, Hg1+2Te4+03. Canadian Mineralogist 27, 133-136.
American Mineralogist (1990): 75: 437.
Roberts, A.C., Bonardi, M., Grice, J.D., Ercit, T.S., and Pinch, W.W. (1989): A restudy of magnolite, Hg1+2Te4+03, from Colorado. Canadian Mineralogist 27, 129-131.
Grice, J.D. (1989): The crystal structure of magnolite, Hg1+2Te4+03. Canadian Mineralogist 27, 133-136.
American Mineralogist (1990): 75: 437.
Internet Links for Magnolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2542.html
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Localities for Magnolite
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality.
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(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.
USA (TL) | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. | |
| M.E. Ciriotti, 2006, probed |
Keystone Mine, Magnolia District, Boulder Co., Colorado, USA