Guanine
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Guanine
Guano workings on the north island
North Chincha Island, Chincha Islands, San Clemente District, Pisco Province, Ica, Peru
North Chincha Island, Chincha Islands, San Clemente District, Pisco Province, Ica, Peru
Formula:
C5H5N5O
structural formula: NCHNHC2C(O)NHC(NH2)N
Colour:
white
Hardness:
1 - 2
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Bodo Unger reported a new material that believed was xanthine in 1844. Einbrodt (1846) showed the identification was incorrect. Unger (1846) agreed, provided a full corrected description and named it guanine after the guano it was found in.
Aromatic heterocycle (an organic cyclic carbon compound with additional, non-carbon atom(s)); a nucleobase and an important constituent of both DNA and RNA.
Spacing change of guanine crystals in the skin of chameleons is responsible for their showcase colour change (Teyssier et al. 2015).
Spacing change of guanine crystals in the skin of chameleons is responsible for their showcase colour change (Teyssier et al. 2015).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1763
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1763:9
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Guanine
Approved
IMA Formula:
C5H3(NH2)N4O
Approval year:
1973
First published:
1844
Approval history:
The compound was already found in guano on North Chinca Island, Chile, by Bodo Unger in 1846, but it was confirmed as a natural occurence in bat guano from Murra-el-clevyn Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia, in 1973.
Type description reference:
Classification of Guanine
10.CA.30
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
50.4.5.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
32.12
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gni | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Guanine
Optical Data of Guanine
Type:
Biaxial
Chemistry of Guanine
Mindat Formula:
C5H5N5O
structural formula: NCHNHC2C(O)NHC(NH2)N
structural formula: NCHNHC2C(O)NHC(NH2)N
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Guanine
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.510 Å, b = 11.277 Å, c = 3.645 Å
β = 98.84°
β = 98.84°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.464 : 1 : 0.323
Unit Cell V:
670.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Synthetic
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009419 | Guanine | Thewalt U, Bugg C E, Marsh R E (1971) The crystal structure of guanine monohydrate Acta Crystallographica B27 2358-2362 |  | 1971 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.9 Å | (40) |
| 6.32 Å | (70b) |
| 3.53 Å | (50) |
| 3.22 Å | (100b) |
| 2.63 Å | (50) |
| 2.00 Å | (50) |
| 1.80 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Synthetic. (ICDD 28-2012)
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Guanine
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Seabird guano.
Synonyms of Guanine
Other Language Names for Guanine
German:Guanin
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.CA. | Allantoin | C4H6N4O3 |
| 10.CA. | Pabellóndepicaite | Cu2+2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2(NO3)Cl · 2H2O |
| 10.CA. | Bojarite | Cu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2 · 6H2O |
| 10.CA. | Natrosulfatourea | Na2(SO4)[CO(NH2)2] |
| 10.CA. | 'Tholins' | (C,H,N) |
| 10.CA. | Fuchunite | Ba(C2H3O3)2(C2H4O3)2 |
| 10.CA.05 | Refikite | C20H32O2 |
| 10.CA.10 | Flagstaffite | C10H22O3 |
| 10.CA.15 | Hoelite | C14H8O2 |
| 10.CA.20 | Abelsonite | Ni(C31H32N4) |
| 10.CA.25 | Kladnoite | C6H4(CO)2NH |
| 10.CA.30 | 'Tinnunculite (of Chesnokov & Shcherbakova)' | C10H12N8O8 |
| 10.CA.35 | Urea | CO(NH2)2 |
| 10.CA.40 | Uricite | C5H4N4O3 |
| 10.CA.45 | Chanabayaite | CuCl(N3C2H2)(NH3) · 0.25H2O |
| 10.CA.50 | Triazolite | NaCu2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2Cl3 · 4H2O |
| 10.CA.55 | Ernstburkeite | Mg(CH3SO3)2 · 12H2O |
| 10.CA.60 | Joanneumite | Cu(C3N3O3H2)2(NH3)2 |
| 10.CA.65 | Tinnunculite | C5H4N4O3 · 2H2O |
| 10.CA.70 | 'Dopplerite' |
Other Information
Notes:
M.P. 360 ◦C
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 Guanine
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1763.html
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References for Guanine
Reference List:
Thewalt, U., Bugg, C. E., Marsh, R. E. (1971) The crystal structure of guanine monohydrate. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 27 (12) 2358-2363 doi:10.1107/s0567740871005880
Localities for Guanine
Showing 8 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.
Australia | |
| Caves: processes +2 other references |
| Bridge (1977) |
Chile | |
| De Waele et al. (2009) |
| De Waele et al. (2017) | |
Mexico | |
| Gazquez et al. (1) |
| Forti (2006) |
Peru (TL) | |
| Min Mag 39 (1974) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
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North Chincha Island, Chincha Islands, San Clemente District, Pisco Province, Ica, Peru