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]
| Moorhouseite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | CoSO4•6H2O |
| IMA symbol | Mh[1] |
| Strunz classification | 7.CB.25 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | C2/c |
| Unit cell | a = 10.03, b = 7.23, c = 24.26 [Å], β=98.37o (approximated); Z = 8 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Pink |
| Crystal habit | granular; in crusts and efflorescences |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Density | 1.97-2.02 (measured) |
| Common impurities | Ni, Mn, Cu, Fe |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Notes on chemistry
editRelatively high amounts of nickel and manganese were reported, with trace amounts of copper and iron.[8]
Crystal structure
editAnalysis 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Mineralienatlas
- ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
- ^ "Moorhouseite" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Moorhouseite: Moorhouseite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
- ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
- ^ "Moorhouseite: Moorhouseite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
- ^ Jambor, J.L., and Boyle, R.W., 1984. Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 166-171
- ^ Elerman, Y., 1988. Refinement of the crystal structure of CoSO4.6H2O. Acta Crystallographica C44, 599-601