Desautelsite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Desautelsite
Paul E. Desautels
Formula:
Mg6Mn3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O
Colour:
Bright orange
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.13
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named by P. J. Dunn, D. R. Peacor, and T. D. Palmer in 1979 in honor of Paul Ernest Desautels (24 September 1920, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – 25 July 1991), chemist and Curator of Mineralogy, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1266
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1266:5
IMA Classification of Desautelsite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg6Mn3+2(OH)16(CO3)·4H2O
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1979
Classification of Desautelsite
5.DA.50
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
16b.6.2.4
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : AmBn(XO3)pZqxH2O & with (m+n):p = 8:1
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : AmBn(XO3)pZq
11.12.3
11 : Carbonates
12 : Carbonates of Mn
11 : Carbonates
12 : Carbonates of Mn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Des | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Des | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Desautelsite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Bright orange
Streak:
Pale orange
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {0001}
Perfect on {0001}
Density:
2.13(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.10 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Desautelsite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.569 nε = 1.547
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.022
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Low (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
O = deep orange; E = pale orange.
Chemistry of Desautelsite
Mindat Formula:
Mg6Mn3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Desautelsite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.114(1) Å, c = 23.39(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 7.511
Unit Cell V:
196.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
As hexagonal scales and plates, flattened on {0001}, with {0001} and {1010}.
Twinning:
By rotation about [0001], common.
Comment:
SG R-3m or R3m; Z = 3/8
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.76 Å | (100) |
| 3.88 Å | (60) |
| 2.622 Å | (50) |
| 2.332 Å | (60) |
| 1.981 Å | (60) |
| 1.768 Å | (20) |
| 1.527 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Powder pattern indistinguishable from that of pyroaurite (Fe2+-analogue).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 7 : Ultramafic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization |
Type Occurrence of Desautelsite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 120219.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 120219.
Synonyms of Desautelsite
Other Language Names for Desautelsite
Relationship of Desautelsite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Hydrotalcite Group:
| Droninoite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Hydrotalcite | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Iowaite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Kaznakhtite | Ni6Co3+2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Meixnerite | Mg6Al2(OH)16(OH)2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Pyroaurite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Reevesite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Stichtite | Mg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Takovite | Ni6Al2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| 'UM2002-02-COH:FeNi' | (Fe2+,Ni)6Fe3+2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O | |
| Woodallite | Mg6Cr2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 45 photos of Desautelsite associated with Artinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 4 photos of Desautelsite associated with 'Serpentinite' | |
| 4 photos of Desautelsite associated with Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 3 photos of Desautelsite associated with Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 3 photos of Desautelsite associated with Pyroaurite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Desautelsite associated with Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Desautelsite associated with 'Pyroaurite-2H' | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Desautelsite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Desautelsite associated with Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.DA. | Alexkhomyakovite | K6(Ca2Na)(CO3)5Cl · 6H2O |
| 5.DA. | Amoraite | Ca12Al6(OH)36(CO3)2(SO3) · 15H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | Dypingite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | 'UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn (also called Mineral F, Dunn, 1995)' | Mg5(Zn,Mn)3(CO3)2(OH,Cl)12 · H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | 'UM1987-01-CO:HMgS' | Mg4(CO3)2(OH)4 · 6H2O ? |
| 5.DA.05 | Giorgiosite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5-6H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.05 | Widgiemoolthalite | Ni5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Artinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Chlorartinite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)Cl · 2H2O |
| 5.DA.10 | Indigirite | Mg2Al2(CO3)4(OH)2 · 15H2O |
| 5.DA.15 | Zaratite | Ni3(CO3)(OH)4 · 4H2O ? |
| 5.DA.15 | Otwayite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 5.DA.20 | Kambaldaite | NaNi4(CO3)3(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.25 | Callaghanite | Cu2Mg2(CO3)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 5.DA.30 | Claraite | (Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14 · 7H2O |
| 5.DA.35 | Hydroscarbroite | Al14(CO3)3(OH)36 · nH2O |
| 5.DA.35 | Scarbroite | Al5(CO3)(OH)13 · 5H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Karchevskyite | Mg18Al9(OH)54Sr2(CO3)9(H2O)6(H3O)5 |
| 5.DA.40 | 'UM1987-05-OH:AlCMg' | Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3,SO4) · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Quintinite | Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Charmarite | Mn2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.40 | Caresite | Fe2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Hydrotalcite-2H' | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Stichtite-2H' | Mg6(Cr,Al)2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Brugnatellite | Mg6Fe3+(CO3)(OH)13 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Zaccagnaite | Zn4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | 'Pyroaurite-2H' | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Liudongshengite | Zn4Cr2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.45 | Chlormagaluminite | Mg4Al2(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Pyroaurite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Takovite | Ni6Al2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Reevesite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Kaznakhtite | Ni6Co3+2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Comblainite | Ni4Co2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Marioantofilliite | [Cu4Al2(OH)12](CO3) · 3H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Hydrotalcite | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.50 | Stichtite | Mg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.55 | Coalingite | Mg10Fe3+2(OH)24[CO3] · 2H2O |
| 5.DA.55 | Akopovaite | Al4Li2(OH)12(CO3)(H2O)3 |
| 5.DA.60 | Šlikite | Zn2Mg(CO3)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.DA.65 | Marklite | Cu5(CO3)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Desautelsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1266.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Desautelsite
Reference List:
Dunn, Pete J., Peacor, Donald R., Palmer, Thomas D. (1979) Desautelsite, a new mineral of the pyroaurite group. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 127-130
Localities for Desautelsite
Showing 10 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Xue et al. (2026) |
Japan | |
| Ohe Rikosya specimens. |
| Matsubara (1984) |
| Yamada (2004) |
USA | |
| Dunn et al. (1979) +2 other references |
| Dunn et al. (1979) | |
| www.benitoitemine.com |
| Pemberton (1983) +1 other reference | |
| Parker (2005) |
| Dunn et al. (1979) |
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Artinite pit, Picacho Peak, San Benito County, California, USA