MOOREITE



Mooreite is a magnesium manganese zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate mineral. Numerous unpublished analyses by [Dunn] indicate that Fe and Ca are absent or present only as traces, that Zn and S are nearly constant, and that there is some mutual substitution between Mn and Mg. The extremes of Mn/Mg solid solution are indicated by the two partial analyses; the SO3 values in [Dunn’s] three analyses are a bit low. Hill (1979) reported thermal and infrared data.
Mooreite was first described from Sterling Hill by Bauer and Berman (1929b, 1929d) and was restudied by Prewitt-Hopkins (1949).
It was again restudied by Finney (1969) who corrected Prewitt-Hopkins's data and provided a correct unit-cell. Mooreite was subsequently redefined by Hill (1979), who provided X-ray data. Mooreite has not been reported from Franklin.
Hill (1980) provided a description of the crystal structure. The basic units of the structure are brucite-like sheets of edge-sharing Mg. Vacant octahedral sites in these sheets share upper and lower faces with tetrahedral [Zn(OH)4] groups. Octahedra of [Mn(OH2(H20)4] are also sandwiched between the sheets. Sulfate groups are held in the interlayer region.
Mooreite crystals are tabular and generally platy in habit (Bauer and Berman, 1929b; Palache, 1935) and arranged in subparallel growth; some clusters are curved in part. The color is light yellowish brown, but very small crystals appear colorless. Cleavage is perfect and the luster is vitreous to pearly. The density is 2.47 g/cm3. There is no discernible fluorescence in ultraviolet.
Mooreite is known only from Sterling Hill. It occurs intimately associated with pyrochroite, torreyite, fluoborite, rhodochrosite, and zincite in cavities and in vein occurrences in normal ore. Mooreite in this assemblage occurs in glassy white to colorless crystals, in platy masses, and also lining cavities in pyrochroite. Available specimens suggest that there are a number of additional occurrences for mooreite at Sterling Hill.
Broad, flat plates of mooreite, light brown and up to 10 cm, are known, and mooreite has been found with pyrochroite in the north orebody near the 2250 level. The old name delta-mooreite was applied to what is now known as torreyite. (Dunn, 1995)


 Location Found: Ogdensburg (Type Locality)
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1929
     
 Formula: Mg92Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O
 Essential Elements: Hydrogen, Magnesium, Manganese, Oxygen, Sulfur, Zinc
 All Elements in Formula: Hydrogen, Magnesium, Manganese, Oxygen, Sulfur, Zinc
     
 IMA Status: Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
     
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Mooreite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.637

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.69


The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
View IssueV. 36, No. 1 - Spring 1995, pg. 14Closest-Packing and Hydrogen Bonds in Minerals of the Franklin Marble, Paul B. Moore - Mooreite and Lawsonbauerite
View IssueV. 10, No. 2 - August 1969, pg. 10Mineral Notes - Mooreite
View IssueV. 9, No. 1 - February 1968, pg. 15The Exclusive Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg, N.J. (as of January 1968) by Frank Z. Edwards - Mooreite
View IssueV. 7, No. 2 - August 1966, pg. 11The Minerals of Sterling Hill 1962-65 by Frank Z. Edwards - Mooreite
     
Images

     
Mooreite on matrix from Sterling Hill, NJ
Mooreite (lustrous to dull, light tan colored plates) on matrix from Sterling Hill, NJ. 2 3/4" x 2". Photo by WP.


Mooreite on hancockite and franklinite from Sterling Hill, NJ
Mooreite (lustrous to dull, translucent light tan colored plates) on hancockite (red-brown) and franklinite (black) from Sterling Hill, NJ. Field of view 1/2" x 3/8". Photo by WP.







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