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Mellite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About MelliteHide

Formula:
Al2[C6(COO)6] · 16H2O
Colour:
Honey to wax yellow, brown to reddish, gray, seldom white; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
1.64
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
From the Greek μέλι ("meli") = honey, in allusion to the colour.
Aluminium mellitate (benzene hexacarboxylate) hydrate.

A rare secondary mineral in lignite deposits.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2638
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2638:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
71312311-bcc2-4cb9-89e2-b71b452d3044

IMA Classification of MelliteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Al2C6(COO)6 · 16H2O

Classification of MelliteHide

10.AC.05

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
C : Benzine Salts
Dana 7th ed.:
50.2.1.1
50.2.1.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
2 : Mellitates, Citrates, Cyanates, Acetates and Formates
31.3.1

31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
3 : Mellitates

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of MelliteHide

Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Honey to wax yellow, brown to reddish, gray, seldom white; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
On {023}, indistinct
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
1.64 g/cm3 (Measured)    1.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of MelliteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.539 nε = 1.511
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.028
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
O = yellowish brown
E = Yellow
Comments:
May be anomalously biaxial.
2V (measured)= Small.

Chemistry of MelliteHide

Mindat Formula:
Al2[C6(COO)6] · 16H2O

Crystallography of MelliteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/acd
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.53 Å, c = 23.19 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.493
Unit Cell V:
5,592.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals dipyramidal {023}, also prismatic, elongated [001], modified by {001},{010}, and {113}; also occurs as nodules and coatings; fine-grained massive.

Crystallographic forms of MelliteHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
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Mellite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0013713MelliteRobl C, Kuhs W F (1991) A neutron diffraction study on hydrogen bonding in the mineral mellite (Al2[C6(COO)6]*16H2O) at 15 K Journal of Solid State Chemistry 92 101-1091991Tatabanya, Hungary0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
7.99 Å(100)
5.80 Å(55)
5.16 Å(40)
4.23 Å(70)
3.46 Å(30)
3.39 Å(30)
2.985 Å(25)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 1: Primary nebular phases4.567-4.561
3 : Solar nebular condensates (CAIs, AOAs, URIs)>4.565
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration4.566-4.550
6 : Secondary asteroid phases4.566-4.560
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
8 : Mafic igneous rocks
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics<3.5-2.5
40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies)
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56)<0.36

Type Occurrence of MelliteHide

Synonyms of MelliteHide

Other Language Names for MelliteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Mellite associated with CalciteCaCO3
2 photos of Mellite associated with GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
1 photo of Mellite associated with PerovskiteCaTiO3
1 photo of Mellite associated with Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
1 photo of Mellite associated with HumboldtineFe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

10.AC.10EarlanditeCa3[CH2(COO)-CHOH(COO)-CH2(COO)]2 · 4H2OMon.
10.AC.15PigotiteAl4C6H5O10 · 13H2O (?)

Fluorescence of MelliteHide

Pale yellow to blue (LW & SW UV).

Other InformationHide

Electrical:
Pyroelectric
Notes:
Insoluble in water and alcohol but soluble in HNO3.
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 MelliteHide

References for MelliteHide

Reference List:

Localities for MelliteHide

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
 
  • Tasmania
    • West Coast municipality
      • Zeehan mining district
        • Zeehan mineral field
          • Tasmanian Smelting Company site
Parbhakar-Fox
Austria
 
  • Carinthia
    • Hermagor District
      • Kötschach-Mauthen
        • Laas
Niedermayr et al. (1995)
Czech Republic
 
  • Central Bohemian Region
    • Rakovník District
      • Pavlíkov
        • Skřivaň
Duda
  • South Moravian Region
    • Blansko District
Palache et al. (1951)
  • Ústí nad Labem Region
    • Most District
Palache et al. (1951)
    • Teplice District
      • Bílina
Petr Fuchs specimen
France
 
  • Ile-de-France
Palache et al. (1951)
Germany
 
  • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Anhalt-Bitterfeld
      • Bitterfeld-Wolfen
        • Bitterfeld
Palache et al. (1951)
  • Thuringia
    • Kyffhäuser District
D.L.G. Karsten (1789) +1 other reference
Hungary
 
  • Fejér County
    • Bicskei District
      • Bicske-Csordakút
Annual report of the Hungarian ... +1 other reference
Italy
 
  • Apulia
    • Lecce Province
      • Castro
Garavelli C.L. et al. (1974)
  • Tuscany
    • Livorno Province
      • Rosignano Marittimo
Marco Bonifazi find & collection +1 other reference
Russia
 
  • Tula Oblast
    • Bogorodetsk District
Mineralogical Magazine 35:542-544 +1 other reference
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
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