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Magnesite crystals
© Doug Merson
Mg(CO)
Magnesite is much rarer at MSH, than siderite, its Fe-rich member of the magnesite series.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually pale grayish green.
Luster is vitreous to dull.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is hexagonal;
Crystal Habits include modified rhombohedra to 2mm.
Cleavage {1011} is perfect.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 3.5 – 4.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.0 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include calcite, marcasite, muscovite,
pyrite, quartz and siderite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.
Origin: Named in 1807 from the Greek magnesia lithos, magnesian
stone, a kind of ore from Magnesia, the coastal district of ancient
Thessaly, Greece.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 14.1.1.2
Strunz Classification
# V/B.02-30
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:321 (1990), Dana 8:434-435 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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