Hydromagnesite
Hydromagnesite | ||
---|---|---|
Specific gravity 2.16–2.2 | | |
Optical properties | Biaxial (+) | |
Refractive index | nα = 1.523 nβ = 1.527 nγ = 1.545 | |
Birefringence | δ = 0.022 | |
Ultraviolet fluorescence | Fluorescent, short UV=green, long UV=bluish white. | |
References | [2][3][4] |
Hydromagnesite is a hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral with the formula Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O.
It generally occurs associated with the weathering products of magnesium containing minerals such as
Hydromagnesite was first described in 1836 for an occurrence in Hoboken, New Jersey.[3]
Microbial deposition of hydromagnesite is also reported from
One of the largest deposits of hydromagnesite exists in Greece.[10] It consists of a natural mixture with huntite. Local people have used the white mineral as a source of material for whitewashing buildings for centuries. In the mid 20th century the minerals, ground to a fine powder, found use as a filler for rubber shoe soles. The locals used the granite mills designed for grinding wheat. Commercial exploitation of the minerals began in the late 70s and early 80s with the mineral being exported worldwide. The Greek deposit is still operated commercially, although the world's largest commercially operated reserves are in Turkey.
Uses
Its most common industrial use is as a mixture with
Thermal decomposition
Hydromagnesite thermally decomposes in three stages releasing water and carbon dioxide.[5][6]
The first stage starting at about 220 °C, is the release of the four molecules of water of crystallisation. This is followed at about 330 °C by the decomposition of the hydroxide ion to a further molecule of water. Finally, at about 350 °C carbon dioxide begins to be released. The release of the carbon dioxide can be further broken down into two stages depending on the rate of heating.[6]
References
- S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ a b Webmineral data
- ^ Mindat
- ^ .
- ^ .
- .
- ^ S2CID 128900805.
- ^ R. W. Renaut, Recent Mamgnesite-Hydromagnesite sedimesntation in Playa Basins of the Caribou Plateau, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-11-22. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) British Columbia Geologic Survey - ^ Georgiades, GN (1996). "Huntite-hydromagnesite production and applications". Proceedings of the 12th Industrial Minerals Congress: 57–60.
- .
- .
- S2CID 96208830.
- ^ Rothon. R., Particulate-Filled Polymer Composites, 2nd Edition, 2003