Mellite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Mellite
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.
Type Locality:
Aluminium mellitate (benzene hexacarboxylate) hydrate.
A rare secondary mineral in lignite deposits.
A rare secondary mineral in lignite deposits.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Mellite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2638
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2638:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
71312311-bcc2-4cb9-89e2-b71b452d3044
IMA Classification of Mellite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Al2C6(COO)6 · 16H2O
Classification of Mellite
10.AC.05
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
C : Benzine Salts
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
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
2 : Mellitates, Citrates, Cyanates, Acetates and Formates
31.3.1
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
3 : Mellitates
31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
3 : Mellitates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Mel | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Mellite
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
On {023}, indistinct
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
1.64 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mellite
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.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
O = yellowish brown
E = Yellow
E = Yellow
Comments:
May be anomalously biaxial.
2V (measured)= Small.
2V (measured)= Small.
Chemistry of Mellite
Mindat Formula:
Al2[C6(COO)6] · 16H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Mellite
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 Mellite
Crystal Atlas:
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0013713 | Mellite | Robl 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 92 101-109 | 1991 | Tatabanya, Hungary | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
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 Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 1: Primary nebular phases | 4.567-4.561 |
3 : Solar nebular condensates (CAIs, AOAs, URIs) | >4.565 |
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
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 Mellite
Synonyms of Mellite
Other Language Names for Mellite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Mellite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
2 photos of Mellite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
1 photo of Mellite associated with Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
1 photo of Mellite associated with Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
1 photo of Mellite associated with Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
10.AC.10 | Earlandite | Ca3[CH2(COO)-CHOH(COO)-CH2(COO)]2 · 4H2O |
10.AC.15 | Pigotite | Al4C6H5O10 · 13H2O (?) |
Fluorescence of Mellite
Pale yellow to blue (LW & SW UV).
Other Information
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 Mellite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2638.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Mellite
Reference List:
Richard Kirwan (1794) Elements of Mineralogy - second edition Vol. 1. P. Elmsly, The Strand.p.68 - as Mellilite
Klaproth, M. H. (1802) Untersuchung des Honigsteins. In Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper Vol. 3. Rottmann, Berlin. p.114-134.
Localities for Mellite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Parbhakar-Fox |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
Czech Republic | |
| Duda |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Petr Fuchs specimen |
France | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Germany | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| D.L.G. Karsten (1789) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Annual report of the Hungarian ... +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Garavelli C.L. et al. (1974) |
| Marco Bonifazi find & collection +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 35:542-544 +1 other reference |
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Csordakúti Mine, Bicske-Csordakút, Bicskei District, Fejér County, Hungary