Falcondoite
General
CategoryPhyllosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6H2O
IMA symbolFcd[1]
Strunz classification9.EE.25
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (2/m 2/m 2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupPncn
Unit cella = 13.5 Å, b = 26.9 Å
c = 5.24 Å; α=90° = β=90° = γ=90°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorWhitish-green
Crystal habitFibrous and microscopic crystals
CleavageDistinct
FractureFriable
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness2 - 3
LusterResinous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity1.9
Density1.9 g/cm3
Optical propertiesBiaxial
Birefringenceδ=0.01 - 0.02
Dispersionr < v strong
Ultraviolet fluorescenceNon-fluorescent
References[2][3]

Falcondoite, a member of the sepiolite group, was first discovered in the Dominican Republic, near the town of Bonao. The mineral was found in a deposit mined by Falconbridge Dominica, and so was named "falcondoite" after the company. Falcondoite is frequently associated with sepiolite, garnierite, talc, and serpentine, and is commonly nickel-bearing. While the chemical formula for falcondoite can vary, the mineral must contain more nickel than magnesium to be considered its own species.[4] The ideal chemical formula for falcondoite is (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2·6H2O.[2]

Occurrence

Falcondoite occurs in an extensive deposit of laterite near the town of Bonao in the Dominican Republic. This deposit is part of a serpentinized harzburgite massif, which is composed of limonitic and serpentinitic ore. It's found in whitish-green veins of garnierite that is rich in sepiolite material. These veins are often only millimeters to centimeters thick, and can be formed by the infill of tension fractures. Some commonly associated minerals include sepiolite, garnierite, talc, and serpentine. While falcondoite is most closely associated to sepiolite, it's characterized by containing more nickel.[4][5]

Physical properties

Falcondoite is a whitish-green to green colored translucent mineral with a resinous luster and a white streak. It exhibits a hardness of 2–3 on the Mohs hardness scale. Falcondoite is a brittle and friable mineral with distinct cleavage.[2][3] It occurs as aggregates of microscopic, fibrous crystals that are typically smaller than 10 μm in size, which have a refractive index of less than 1.55. Under cross-polarized light, these crystals experience extinction parallel or nearly parallel with positive elongation along the c-axis. The mineral has a measured density of 1.9 g/cm3 and a specific gravity of 1.9.[4]

Chemical properties

Falcondoite is considered to be a variety of clay-like, nickel-bearing hydrous silicate, which is a common component of garnierite mineralization. It is categorized as a phyllosilicate whose structure consists of single tetrahedral sheets of six-membered rings that are connected by octahedral sheets or bands.[2] Falcondoite and sepiolite form a solid solution series of garnierite, with sepiolite being characterized as containing more magnesium, while falcondoite generally contains more nickel. Falcondoite's chemical formula can range from [Ni8Si12O30(OH)4(OH2)4·8(H2O)] to [(Ni4Mg4)Si12O30(OH)4(OH2)4·8(H2O)] with the weight percent of NiO being up to 38.03%.[5] Some common impurities of falcondoite include aluminum, chromium, and iron.[2]

Chemical composition

Element wt.% Oxide wt.%
Oxygen (O) 49.00% SiO2 48.00%
Nickel (Ni) 23.45% NiO 29.84%
Silicon (Si) 22.44% H2O 16.79%
Magnesium (Mg) 3.24% MgO 5.37%
Hydrogen (H) 1.88%
Total: 100.01% Total: 100%

[3]

Crystallographic properties

Falcondoite is in the orthorhombic crystal system, with space group Pncn. The unit cell dimensions are a = 13.5 Å, b = 26.9 Å, c = 5.24 Å, and α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°. The standard unit cell volume is equal to 1903 Å3. Falcondoite is biaxial positive with a refractive index value of 1.55, and a birefringence of δ=0.01 - 0.02. X-ray diffraction analysis of falcondoite shows a pattern similar to that of sepiolite. Some of the measured peaks end up broadened possibly due to poor crystallinity, so accurate d-values were difficult to obtain.[4][2][3]

Powder X-Ray Diffraction data:[4]

d-spacing Intensity
12.2 Å 100
9.8 Å < 5 (talc)
7.5 Å 5
4.53 Å 10
4.30 Å 15
3.75 Å 10
3.33 Å 30 (+quartz)
3.19 Å 25
3.03 Å < 5
2.80 Å 5
2.62 Å 30
2.53 Å 35 (broad)
2.44 Å 30
2.39 Å 20
2.26 Å 20
2.12 Å 5
2.07 Å 15
1.95 Å < 5
1.87 Å < 5

See also

References

  1. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Falcondoite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Falcondoite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Springer, G (1976). "Falcondoite, Nickle Analogue of Sepiolite". Canadian Mineralogist. 14: 407–409.
  5. 1 2 Tauler, E., Proenza, J. A., Gali, S., Lewis, J. F., Labrador, M., Garia-Romero, E., Suarez, M., Longo, F., Bloise, G. (2009). "Ni-sepiolite-falcondoite in garnierite mineralization from the Falcondo Ni-laterite deposit, Dominican Republic" (PDF). Clay Minerals. 44 (4): 435–454. Bibcode:2009ClMin..44..435T. doi:10.1180/claymin.2009.044.4.435. S2CID 73659688.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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