Falcondoite Mineral Data

Falcondoite Mineral Data +

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General Falcondoite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 750.99 gm

Magnesium 3.24 % Mg 5.37 % MgO

Silicon 22.44 % Si 48.00 % SiO₂

Nickel 23.45 % Ni 29.84 % NiO

Hydrogen 1.88 % H 16.79 % H₂O

Oxygen 49.00 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ni₃MgSi₆O₁₅(OH)₂·6(H₂O)

Environment:

Laterite deposits. Nickel analog of sepiolite.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1976

Locality:

Loma Peruera laterite deposit at Bonao, Dominican Republic. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the contraction of FALCONbridge DOminica C. Por A., the mining company at the type locality.

Synonym:

Garnierite

Genthite

Falcondoite Image

Images:

Falcondoite

Comments: Solid mass of lime green falcondoite.
Location: Riddle, Douglas County, Oregon. USA. Scale: 4 cm.
© John Veevaert

Falcondoite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5018:1:0.1947

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.5, b = 26.9, c = 5.24, Z = 4; V = 1,902.91 Den(Calc)= 2.62

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pncn

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 12.2(1), 2.44(0.3), 3.33(0.3),2.62(0.3), 2.53(0.3), 3.19(0.2), 2.26(0.2), 2.39(0.2),

Physical Properties of Falcondoite

Cleavage:

[???] Distinct

Color:

Green, Yellowish green.

Density:

2.54

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Fracture:

Friable - The crumbly disintegration of earthy materials or highly fractured minerals.

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Hardness:

2-3 - Gypsum-Calcite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Resinous

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Falcondoite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.017 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.047 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2099,KPDmeas= 0.2165,KC= 0.2202

Optical Data:

Biaxial (?), b=1.55

Calculated Properties of Falcondoite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.56 gm/cc
note: r_Falcondoite=2.54 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0166
Boson Index = 0.9834

Photoelectric:

PE_Falcondoite= 10.03 barns/electron
U=PE_Falcondoite x r_electron= 25.64 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Falcondoite is Not Radioactive

Falcondoite Classification

Dana Class:

74.3.1b.2 (74)Phyllosilicate Modulated Layers

(74.3)with joined strips

(74.3.1b)Palygorskite-sepiolite group (Sepiolite subgroup)

74.3.1b.1 Sepiolite Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O) Pnan 2/m 2/m 2/m

74.3.1b.2 Falcondoite (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O) Pncn 2/m 2/m 2/m

74.3.1b.3 Loughlinite Na2Mg3Si6O16·8(H2O) Unk Ortho

Strunz Class:

VIII/H.33-50 VIII - Silicates

VIII/H - Phyllosilicates (layered) Mica minerals with other simple layers, [Si6O15]6- and others

VIII/H.33 - Tuperssuatsiaite - Loughlinite series

VIII/H.33-10 Tuperssuatsiaite Na(Fe,Mn)3[Si8O20](OH)2·n(H2O) C 2/m Mono

VIII/H.33-20 Palygorskite (Mg,Al)2Si4O10(OH)·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.33-30 Yofortierite (Mn,Mg)5Si8O20(OH)2·8-9(H2O) Pn(?) m

VIII/H.33-40 Sepiolite Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O) Pnan 2/m 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.33-50 Falcondoite (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O) Pncn 2/m 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.33-60 Loughlinite Na2Mg3Si6O16·8(H2O) Unk Ortho

VIII/H.33-80 Intersilite! Na6MnTi[Si10O24(OH)](OH)3·4(H2O) I2/m 2/m

VIII/H.33-90 Kalifersite! (K,Na)5Fe7Si20O50(OH)6·12(H2O) P1 1

Other Falcondoite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

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Falcondoite

(Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O)
Dana No: 74.3.1b.2 Strunz No: VIII/H.33-50
Locality:

Notes: