Gordonite Mineral Data

Gordonite Mineral Data +

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General Gordonite Information

Chemical Formula:

MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 446.35 gm

Magnesium 5.45 % Mg 9.03 % MgO

Aluminum 12.09 % Al 22.84 % Al₂O₃

Phosphorus 13.88 % P 31.80 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 4.06 % H 36.33 % H₂O

Oxygen 64.52 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

MgAl₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂·8(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1930

Locality:

Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Utah County, Utah, USA Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for S. G. Gordon.

Synonym:

ICSD 63247

PDF 14-313

Gordonite Image

Images:

Gordonite Wardite

Comments: Prismatic gordonite crystals on massive wardite.
Location: Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Utah County, Utah, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Gordonite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.4995:1:0.6634

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.24, b = 10.49, c = 6.96, Z = 1; alpha = 107.4°, beta = 111.1°, gamma = 72.37° V = 324.59 Den(Calc)= 2.28

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 9.78(1), 3.17(0.8), 2.83(0.7),

Forms:

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Crystal Structure:

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Leavens P B , Rheingold A L , Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte , 1988 (1988) p.265-270, Crystal structures of gordonite, MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)6*2H2O, and its Mn analog, Locality: Little Green Monster mine, Fairfield, Utah, USA

Physical Properties of Gordonite

Cleavage:

[???] Perfect

Color:

Colorless, Gray white, White, Light green, Light pink.

Density:

2.23

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous - Pearly

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Gordonite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.011 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.032 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.239,KPDmeas= 0.2444,KC= 0.247

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.534, b=1.543, g=1.558, bire=0.0240

Calculated Properties of Gordonite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.30 gm/cc
note: r_Gordonite=2.23 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00576
Boson Index = 0.99424

Photoelectric:

PE_Gordonite= 1.23 barns/electron
U=PE_Gordonite x r_electron= 2.82 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Gordonite is Not Radioactive

Gordonite Classification

Dana Class:

42.11.14.4 (42)Hydrated Phosphates, etc., Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(42.11)where (AB)4 (XO4)3 Zq · x(H2O)

(42.11.14)Dana Group

42.11.14.1 Vauxite FeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·6(H2O) P1 1

42.11.14.2 Paravauxite FeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

42.11.14.3 Sigloite FeAl2(PO4)2(OH)3·5(H2O) P1 1

42.11.14.4 Gordonite MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

42.11.14.5 Mangangordonite (Mn,Fe,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

42.11.14.6 Kastningite! (Mn,Fe,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

Strunz Class:

VII/D.10-10 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/D - Water-bearing phosphates with unfamiliar anions, cations of medium size: Cu, Zn, Mn, Al, Fe

VII/D.10 - Paravauxite group

VII/D.10-10 Gordonite MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.10-20 Ushkovite MgFe2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.10-30 Paravauxite FeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.10-35 Mangangordonite (Mn,Fe,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.10-40 Sigloite FeAl2(PO4)2(OH)3·5(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.10-45 Ferrolaueite! FeFe2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) Tri

VII/D.10-50 Laueite MnFe2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O) P1 1

Other Gordonite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Gordonite

MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O)
Dana No: 42.11.14.4 Strunz No: VII/D.10-10
Locality:

Notes: