Hectorite Mineral Data

Hectorite Mineral Data +

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General Hectorite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 383.25 gm

Sodium 2.40 % Na 3.23 % Na₂O

Lithium 0.54 % Li 1.17 % Li₂O

Magnesium 17.12 % Mg 28.39 % MgO

Silicon 29.31 % Si 62.71 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 0.53 % H 4.70 % H₂O

Oxygen 50.10 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.21 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na_0.4Mg_2.7Li_0.3Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

Environment:

Clay mineral from altered volcanic tuff ash with a high silica content related to hot spring activity. Smectite group mineral.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1936

Locality:

Company No. 1 mine, 3 miles south of Hector, San Bernardino Co., California. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after it's locality.

Hectorite Image

Images:

Hectorite

Comments: Pure white paper-like matted masses of hectorite.
Location: near Hector, San Bernardino County, California, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Hectorite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5718:1:1.7429

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.25, b = 9.18, c = 16, Z = 3; beta = 99° V = 761.63 Den(Calc)= 2.51

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.53(1), 4.58(1), 15.8(0.8),

Physical Properties of Hectorite

Cleavage:

[001] Perfect

Color:

White.

Density:

2 - 3, Average = 2.5

Diaphaniety:

Translucent to Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Aggregates - Made of numerous individual crystals or clusters.

Hardness:

1-2 - Between Talc and Gypsum

Luminescence:

Fluorescent.

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Hectorite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.055 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.058 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2005,KPDmeas= 0.2013,KC= 0.2129

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.49, b=1.5, g=1.52, bire=0.0300

Pleochroism (x):

colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

colorless.

Pleochroism (z):

colorless.

Calculated Properties of Hectorite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.50 gm/cc
note: r_Hectorite=2.50 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.03146
Boson Index = 0.96854

Photoelectric:

PE_Hectorite= 1.56 barns/electron
U=PE_Hectorite x r_electron= 3.89 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Hectorite is Not Radioactive

Hectorite Classification

Dana Class:

71.3.1b.4 (71)Phyllosilicate Sheets of Six-Membered Rings

(71.3)with 2:1 clays

(71.3.1b)Smectite group (Trioctahedral Smectites)

71.3.1b.1 Sobotkite? (K,Ca0.5)0.33(Mg,Al)3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2·1-5(H2O) Unk. Mono

71.3.1b.2 Saponite (Ca/2,Na)0,3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.2a Ferrosaponite! Ca0.3(Fe,Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C? Mono

71.3.1b.3 Sauconite Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.4 Hectorite Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.5 Pimelite Ni3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) Unk. Hex

71.3.1b.6 Stevensite (Ca0.5,Na)0.33(Mg,Fe)3Si4O10(OH)2·n(H2O) Unk (ORTH ?) Mono

71.3.1b.7 Yakhontovite (Ca,K)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·3(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.8 Zincsilite Zn3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)(?) C 2/m ? 2/m

Strunz Class:

VIII/H.20-10 VIII - Silicates

VIII/H - Phyllosilicates (layered) Mica like with [Si4O10]4- and related groups

VIII/H.20 - Hectorite - Zincsilite series

VIII/H.20-10 Hectorite Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-20 Saponite (Ca/2,Na)0,3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-27 Ferrosaponite! Ca0.3(Fe,Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C? Mono

VIII/H.20-30 Spadaite MgSiO2(OH)2·(H2O)(?) None

VIII/H.20-40 Stevensite (Ca0.5,Na)0.33(Mg,Fe)3Si4O10(OH)2·n(H2O) Unk (ORTH ?) Mono

VIII/H.20-50 Sauconite Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-60 Zincsilite Zn3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)(?) C 2/m ? 2/m

Other Hectorite Information

References:

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

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Hectorite

Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2
Dana No: 71.3.1b.4 Strunz No: VIII/H.20-10
Locality:

Notes: