Möhnite
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About Möhnite
Formula:
(NH4)K2Na(SO4)2
Colour:
Light brown, brown
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.4
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by Nikita V. Chukanov, et al. in 2014 in honor of Gerhard Möhn (b. 1959), German pharmacist and amateur mineralogist. He has identified many minerals from Chilean and German localities that were later studied by professional mineralogists and is a coauthor of descriptions of at least six new species. He collected the first specimens of möhnite.
Classification of Möhnite
Physical Properties of Möhnite
Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light brown, brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
2.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.461 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Möhnite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
nω = 1.505(2) nε = 1.505(2)
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Low
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Möhnite
Formula:
(NH4)K2Na(SO4)2
Crystallography of Möhnite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3m1
Setting:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.7402(3) Å, c = 7.435(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.295
Unit Cell V:
212.16 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Aggregates and clusters of brown imperfect bipyramidal or spindle-shaped crystals.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.955 Å | (27) |
4.122 Å | (37) |
3.708 Å | (29) |
2.969 Å | (74) |
2.861 Å | (100) |
2.474 Å | (20) |
2.060 Å | (33) |
1.433 Å | (11) |
Comments:
From type description.
Type Occurrence of Möhnite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Random aggregates and clusters (to 1 mm), and crusts consisting of imperfect bipyramidal, spindle-shaped crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, registration number 4638/1
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Guano deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Möhnite
Fluorescence of Möhnite
Non-fluorescent under the UV radiation.
Other Information
Notes:
Dissolves in water but is stable in dry air.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Store in a dry place.
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 Möhnite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Chukanov, N.V., Aksenov, S.M., Rastsvetaeva, R.K., Pekov, I.V., Belakovskiy, D.I. Britvin, S.N. (2015) Möhnite, IMA 2014-101. CNMNC Newsletter No. 24, April 2015, page 251; Mineralogical Magazine: 79: 247-251.
Chukanov, N.V., Aksenov, S.M., Rastsvetaeva, R.K., Pekov, I.V., Belakovskiy, D.I., Britvin, S.N. (2015) Möhnite, (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2, a new guano mineral from Pabellón de Pica, Chile. Mineralogy and Petrology: 109: 643-648.
Internet Links for Möhnite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46582.html
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Localities for Möhnite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile (TL) | |
| Chukanov, N.V., Aksenov, S.M., Rastsvetaeva, R.K., Pekov, I.V., Belakovskiy, D.I. and Britvin, S.N. (2015) Möhnite, IMA 2014-101. CNMNC Newsletter No. 24, April 2015, page 251; Mineralogical Magazine, 79, 247-251.; Chukanov, N.V., Aksenov, S.M., Rastsvetaeva, R.K., Pekov, I.V., Belakovskiy, D.I., Britvin, S.N. (2015): Möhnite, (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2, a new guano mineral from Pabellón de Pica, Chile. Mineralogy and Petrology, 109, 643-648. |
Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile