Hydrated basic magnesium carbonate mineral
Mg2 (CO3 )(OH)2 ·3H2 O IMA symbol Art[1] Strunz classification 5.DA.10 Crystal system Monoclinic Crystal class Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) Space group C2/m Unit cell a = 16.56, b = 3.15 Identification Color White Crystal habit Acicular crystals, fibrous veinlets, botryoidal crusts, and spherical aggregates Cleavage On {100} perfect; on {001} good. Mohs scale hardness 2.5 Luster Vitreous, silky Streak White Diaphaneity Transparent Specific gravity 2.01 – 2.03 Optical properties Biaxial (−) Refractive index nα = 1.488 – 1.489 nβ = 1.533 – 1.534 nγ = 1.556 – 1.557 Birefringence δ = 0.068 References [2] [3] [4] Artinite is a hydrated basic magnesium carbonate mineral with formula: Mg2 (CO3 )(OH)2 ·3H2 O . It forms white silky monoclinic prismatic crystals that are often in radial arrays or encrustations. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 2.
It occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and in serpentinized ultramafic rocks. Associated minerals include brucite , hydromagnesite , pyroaurite, chrysotile , aragonite , calcite , dolomite and magnesite .[2]
It was first reported in 1902 in Lombardy , Italy . It was named for Italian mineralogist, Ettore Artini (1866–1928).[3]
Artinite sometimes forms balls of radiating, fibrous crystals. Specimen from New Idria district, California US. Size: 9.2 x 5.2 x 1.5 cm.
References ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine . 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID 235729616. ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy ^ a b Artinite on Mindat.org ^ Artinite on Webmineral Wikimedia Commons has media related to Artinite .
