Magnesite
Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAG : Magnesite
| Magnesite | |
|---|---|
| |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | magnesium carbonate:MgCO3 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White |
| Crystal habit | usually massive, rarely as rhombohedrons or hexagonal prisms |
| Crystal system | trigonal; bar 3 2/m |
| Cleavage | [1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect |
| Fracture | Brittle - Conchoidal |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 3.5 - 5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Refractive index | Uniaxial (-) nω=1.508 - 1.510 nε=1.700 |
| Pleochroism | N/A |
| Streak | white |
| Specific gravity | 3.0 - 3.2 |
| Fusibility | infusible |
| Solubility | Effervesces in hot HCl |
| Other Characteristics | |
Magnesite occurs as veins in and an alteration product of serpentine and other magnesium rich rock types in both contact and regional metamorphic terranes. These magnesites often are cryptocrystalline and contain silica as opal or chert.
Uses
Magnesite can be used as a slag former in steelmaking furnaces, in conjunction with lime, in order to protect the magnesium oxide lining. It can also be used as a catalyst and filler in the production of synthetic rubber and in the preparation of magnesium chemicals and fertilizers.References and external links
- Dana's Manual of Mineralogy ISBN 0471032883
- Smithsonian Rock and Gem ISBN 0-7566-0962-3
- [Mineral Galleries]
- [Webmineral.com]
- [Mindat.org]
- [Minerals.net]
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