Barringtonite
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About Barringtonite
Formula:
MgCO3 · 2H2O
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named for Barrington Tops, type locality.
Originally reported from Rainbow Falls, Semphill Creek, Barrington Tops, Gloucester Co., New South Wales, Australia.
Classification of Barringtonite
IMA status notes:
Unnamed (probably valid)
Approval history:
Unnamed, but probably valid.
5/D.01-10
5.CA.15
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
15.1.5.1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
11.3.2
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
Optical Data of Barringtonite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.458 nβ = 1.473 nγ = 1.501
2V:
Measured: 73° , Calculated: 74°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.043

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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Chemical Properties of Barringtonite
Formula:
MgCO3 · 2H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Barringtonite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.15 Å, b = 6.2 Å, c = 6.09 Å
α = 94°, β = 95.5°, γ = 108.7°
α = 94°, β = 95.5°, γ = 108.7°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.476 : 1 : 0.982
Unit Cell V:
323.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Other Language Names for Barringtonite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.CA.05 | Nesquehonite | MgCO3 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
5.CA.10 | Lansfordite | MgCO3 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.CA.20 | Hellyerite | NiCO3 · 5.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.3.1 | Magnesite | MgCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
11.3.3 | Nesquehonite | MgCO3 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
11.3.4 | Lansfordite | MgCO3 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
11.3.5 | Pokrovskite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. |
11.3.6 | Artinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
11.3.7 | Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
11.3.8 | Giorgiosite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5-6H2O | |
11.3.9 | Dypingite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2O | Mon. |
11.3.10 | Eitelite | Na2Mg(CO3)2 | Trig. |
11.3.11 | Mcguinnessite | (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m |
Other Information
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 Barringtonite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
American Mineralogist: 50: 2103.
Mineralogical Magazine: 34: 370-372.
Internet Links for Barringtonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-538.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Barringtonite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1965 34 : 370-372 |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch, U., Rieck, B., Brandstätter, F., Schreiber, F., Fabritz, K. H., Blaß, G. & Gröbner, J. (2014): Neufunde aus dem altem Bergbau und den Schlacken von Lavrion (I). Mineralien-Welt 25 (1), 60-75 (in German). |
Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA