Hectorite

Hectorite is a rare soft, greasy, white clay mineral with a chemical formula of Na
0.3
(Mg,Li)
3
Si
4
O
10
(OH)
2
.[1]

Hectorite
Hectorite from California
General
CategoryPhyllosilicates
Smectite
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na0.3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2
(empirical: Na3(Mg,Li)30Si40O100(OH)20)
Strunz classification9.EC.45
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/m
Unit cella = 5.25 Å, b = 9.18 Å
c = 16 Å; β = 99°; Z = 2
Identification
ColorWhite, cream, pale brown, mottled
Crystal habitThin laths and aggregates
Cleavage[001] Perfect
FractureUneven
Mohs scale hardness1 - 2
LusterEarthy to waxy
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTranslucent to opaque
Specific gravity2-3
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-) - 2V small
Refractive indexnα = 1.490 nβ = 1.500 nγ = 1.520
Birefringenceδ = 0.030
References[1][2][3]

Hectorite was first described in 1941 and named for an occurrence in the United States near Hector (in San Bernardino County, California,[3] 30 miles east of Barstow.) Hectorite occurs with bentonite as an alteration product of clinoptilolite from volcanic ash and tuff with a high glass content.[1] Hectorite is also found in the beige/brown clay ghassoul, mined in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.[4] A large deposit of hectorite is also found at the Thacker Pass lithium deposit, located within the McDermitt Caldera in Nevada. The Thacker Pass lithium deposit could be a significant source of lithium.[5]

Despite its rarity, it is economically viable as the Hector mine sits over a large deposit of the mineral. Hectorite is mostly used in making cosmetics, but has uses in chemical and other industrial applications, and is a mineral source for refined lithium metal.[6]

See also

  • Classification of minerals
  • List of minerals
  • Saponite  Trioctahedral (Mg2+, Fe2+) calcium smectite, phyllosilicate mineral

References

  1. Anthony JW, Bideaux RA, Bladh KW, et al. (1995). "Hectorite" (PDF). Handbook of mineralogy. Tucson, Ariz.: Mineral Data Publishing. ISBN 9780962209734. OCLC 20759166.
  2. "Hectorite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 3 Apr 2019.
  3. Jololyn R (2007). "Hectorite: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 3 Apr 2019.
  4. Benhammou A, Tanouti B, Nibou L, et al. (2009). "Mineralogical and Physicochemical Investigation of Mg-Smectite from Jbel Ghassoul, Morocco". Clays and Clay Minerals. 57 (2): 264–270. Bibcode:2009CCM....57..264B. doi:10.1346/CCMN.2009.0570212.
  5. Bradley, Dwight C.; Stillings, Lisa L.; Jaskula, Brian W.; Munk, LeeAnn; McCauley, Andrew D. (2017). Lithium, Chapter K of Critical Mineral Resources of the United States—Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply (PDF) (Report). United States Geological Survey.
  6. Moores S (2007). "Between a rock and a salt lake". Industrial Minerals. 477: 58–69.
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