Moorhouseite

(repeating unit)CoSO4•6H2OIMA symbolMh[1]Strunz classification7.CB.25Crystal systemMonoclinicCrystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)Space groupC2/cUnit cella = 10.03, b = 7.23,
c = 24.26 [Å], β=98.37o (approximated); Z = 8IdentificationColorPinkCrystal habitgranular; in crusts and efflorescencesFractureConchoidalMohs scale hardness2.5LusterVitreousStreakWhiteDensity1.97-2.02 (measured)Common impuritiesNi, Mn, Cu, FeReferences[2][3][4][5]

Moorhouseite is a rare mineral with the formula CoSO4•6H2O, a naturally occurring cobalt(II) sulfate hexahydrate. It is the lower-hydrate-equivalent of bieberite (heptahydrate) and aplowite (hexahydrate). It is also hydrated equivalent of cobaltkieserite. It occurs together with moorhouseite within efflorescences found in the Magnet Cove Barium Corporation mine in Walton, Nova Scotia, Canada.[6][7]

Notes on chemistry

Relatively high amounts of nickel and manganese were reported, with trace amounts of copper and iron.[8]

Crystal structure

Analysis of synthetic analogue of moorhouseite revealed, that its structure may be described as containing:[9]

  • Co(H2O)6 octahedra, forming alternate layers
  • SO4 tetrahedra
  • hydrogen bonds (two per a single water molecule)

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Mineralienatlas
  3. ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
  4. ^ "Moorhouseite" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  5. ^ "Moorhouseite: Moorhouseite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  6. ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
  7. ^ "Moorhouseite: Moorhouseite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  8. ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
  9. ^ Elerman, Y., 1988. Refinement of the crystal structure of CoSO4.6H2O. Acta Crystallographica C44, 599-601


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