Moorhouseite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Moorhouseite
Walter W. Moorhouse
Formula:
Co2+(H2O)6(SO4)
Colour:
Pink
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.97 - 2.02
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by John Leslie Jambor and R. W. Boyle in honor of Walter Wilson Moorhouse [November 30, 1913 Shetland, Ontario, Canada - February 26, 1969 Toronto, Ontario, Canada], geologist and professor of geology at University of Toronto. He was an expert in Precambrian geology. He was also an excellent petrologist and wrote 'The Study of Rocks in Thin Section'.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2776
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2776:8
IMA Classification of Moorhouseite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Co2+S6+O4·6H2O
Approval year:
1963
First published:
1965
Classification of Moorhouseite
7.CB.25
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.8.5
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.12.4
25 : Sulphates
12 : Sulphates of Co and Ni
25 : Sulphates
12 : Sulphates of Co and Ni
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mh | 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 Moorhouseite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
1.97 - 2.02 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.006 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Moorhouseite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.470 nβ = 1.497 nγ = 1.497
2V:
Measured: 20° (10)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.027
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:
Moderate (negative)
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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
pale pink
Chemistry of Moorhouseite
Mindat Formula:
Co2+(H2O)6(SO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Moorhouseite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.032(4) Å, b = 7.233(3) Å, c = 24.261(10) Å
β = 98.34(3)°
β = 98.34(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.387 : 1 : 3.354
Unit Cell V:
1,741.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Granular to fine-grained columnar, in crusts and efflorescences
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010070 | Moorhouseite | Elerman Y (1988) Refinement of the crystal structure of CoSO4*6H2O Acta Crystallographica C44 599-601 |  | 1988 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.01 Å | (6) |
| 5.85 Å | (25) |
| 5.57 Å | (4) |
| 5.45 Å | (30) |
| 5.09 Å | (25) |
| 4.97 Å | (20) |
| 4.93 Å | (4) |
| 4.85 Å | (16) |
| 4.54 Å | (6) |
| 4.38 Å | (100) |
| 4.14 Å | (18) |
| 4.02 Å | (55) |
| 3.88 Å | (6) |
| 3.62 Å | (14) |
| 3.58 Å | (16) |
| 3.46 Å | (2) |
| 3.45 Å | (8) |
| 3.37 Å | (8) |
| 3.30 Å | (2) |
| 3.18 Å | (8) |
| 3.10 Å | (1) |
| 3.08 Å | (4) |
| 3.04 Å | (2) |
| 3.02 Å | (8) |
| 3.01 Å | (8) |
| 2.95 Å | (6) |
| 2.933 Å | (6) |
| 2.920 Å | (18) |
| 2.898 Å | (18) |
| 2.874 Å | (2) |
| 2.847 Å | (6) |
| 2.826 Å | (4) |
| 2.788 Å | (8) |
| 2.771 Å | (1) |
| 2.754 Å | (4) |
| 2.720 Å | (4) |
| 2.704 Å | (1) |
| 2.685 Å | (8) |
| 2.674 Å | (6) |
| 2.599 Å | (2) |
| 2.585 Å | (8) |
| 2.560 Å | (1) |
| 2.546 Å | (2) |
| 2.513 Å | (6) |
| 2.506 Å | (6) |
| 2.488 Å | (2) |
| 2.464 Å | (2) |
| 2.422 Å | (4) |
| 2.342 Å | (1) |
| 2.326 Å | (2) |
| 2.312 Å | (6) |
| 2.294 Å | (2) |
| 2.284 Å | (8) |
| 2.270 Å | (10) |
| 2.229 Å | (2) |
| 2.209 Å | (6) |
| 2.192 Å | (4) |
| 2.159 Å | (4) |
| 2.146 Å | (1) |
| 2.136 Å | (2) |
| 2.130 Å | (1) |
| 2.108 Å | (2) |
| 2.079 Å | (2) |
| 2.068 Å | (2) |
| 2.061 Å | (2) |
| 2.046 Å | (2) |
| 2.013 Å | (6) |
| 2.000 Å | (8) |
| 1.993 Å | (6) |
| 1.980 Å | (1) |
| 1.970 Å | (4) |
| 1.958 Å | (2) |
| 1.949 Å | (2) |
| 1.935 Å | (2) |
| 1.930 Å | (4) |
| a.916 Å | (4) |
| 1.904 Å | (4) |
| 1.894 Å | (1) |
| 1.889 Å | (1) |
| 1.879 Å | (4) |
Comments:
ICD 16-304
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Moorhouseite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France; Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, 12145.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Moorhouseite
Other Language Names for Moorhouseite
Relationship of Moorhouseite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Hexahydrite Group:
| Bianchite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
| Chvaleticeite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ferrohexahydrite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
| Nickelhexahydrite | Ni2+(H2O)6(SO4) | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Moorhouseite associated with Cobaltkoritnigite | Co(AsO3OH) · H2O |
| 2 photos of Moorhouseite associated with Aplowite | CoSO4 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Moorhouseite associated with Heterogenite | Co3+O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Moorhouseite associated with Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.CB. | Sarvodaite | Al2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.02 | Voudourisite | CdSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szmikite | MnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Szomolnokite | FeSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Cobaltkieserite | CoSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Dwornikite | Ni(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Kieserite | MgSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Poitevinite | (Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.05 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O |
| 7.CB.07 | Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.10 | Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
| 7.CB.12 | Belogubite | CuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Drobecite | CdSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Aplowite | CoSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Cranswickite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Rozenite | FeSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Ilesite | Mn2+(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.15 | Boyleite | ZnSO4 · 4H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Jôkokuite | MnSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.20 | Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.25 | Chvaleticeite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Nickelhexahydrite | Ni2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Bianchite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.25 | Ferrohexahydrite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 7.CB.30 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Zincmelanterite | Zn(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Alpersite | (Mg,Cu2+)(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Bieberite | Co2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Boothite | Cu2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.35 | Mallardite | Mn2+(H2O)6(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.40 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Meta-alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.CB.45 | Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Aluminocoquimbite | Al2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.50 | Lazaridisite | Cd3(SO4)3 · 8H2O |
| 7.CB.52 | Pararaisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Paracoquimbite | Fe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Rhomboclase | (H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Raisaite | CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.55 | Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.57 | 'Caichengyunite' | Fe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2O |
| 7.CB.60 | Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
| 7.CB.65 | Quenstedtite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 11H2O |
| 7.CB.70 | Lausenite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 5H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.75 | Lishizhenite | ZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
| 7.CB.80 | Ransomite | CuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Dietrichite | ZnAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Halotrichite | Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Apjohnite | Mn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Redingtonite | Fe2+Cr3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Bílinite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.85 | Wupatkiite | Co2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 7.CB.90 | Meridianiite | MgSO4 · 11H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
soluble in H2O
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 Moorhouseite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2776.html
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References for Moorhouseite
Reference List:
Zalkin, A., Ruben, H., Templeton, D. H. (1962) The crystal structure of cobalt sulfate hexahydrate. Acta Crystallographica, 15 (12) 1219-1224 doi:10.1107/s0365110x62003242
Jambor, John L., Boyle, Robert W. (1965) Moorhouseite and aplowite, new cobalt minerals from Walton, Nova Scotia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 8 (2) 166-171
Localities for Moorhouseite
Showing 19 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 | |
| Ben Grguric collection |
Canada (TL) | |
| Transactions of the Canadian Institute ... +1 other reference |
Czech Republic | |
| |
France | |
| Queneau (n.d.) |
| www.mine-capgaronne.fr (2003) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| |
| |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| |
| Witzke (1996) |
Greece | |
| Skarpelis et al. (2009) |
Morocco | |
| ONA |
Russia | |
| Bortnikova et al. (2008) |
| Bortnikova et al. (2017) |
| Shcherbakova (2004) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2014) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
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Svornost Mine, Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic