Mopungite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Mopungite
Formula:
Na[Sb5+(OH)6]
Colour:
Colourless, white, creamy-white
Lustre:
Waxy, Greasy, Dull, Earthy
Hardness:
3
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
from the type locality at Mopung Hills, Nevada, USA
Stottite Group.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2777
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2777:5
IMA Classification of Mopungite
Classification of Mopungite
4.FC.15
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
6.3.7.4
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
24.1.1
24 : Antimonates and Antimonites
1 : Antimonates and antimonites of Na, Cu or Ag
24 : Antimonates and Antimonites
1 : Antimonates and antimonites of Na, Cu or Ag
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mop | 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 Mopungite
Waxy, Greasy, Dull, Earthy
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Colourless, white, creamy-white
Comment:
May be colored tan to reddish-tan due to inclusions.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Waxy
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
None observed
Optical Data of Mopungite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.614 nε = 1.605
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.009
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
Chemistry of Mopungite
Mindat Formula:
Na[Sb5+(OH)6]
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Mopungite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P42/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.994 Å, c = 7.859 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.983
Unit Cell V:
502.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Type material is pseudocubic and show the forms {001}, {110} and {101}. The crystal faces are invariably frosted or dull and have a wrinkled texture.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015748 | Mopungite | Schrewelius N (1938) Rontgenuntersuchung der verbindungen NaSb(OH)6, NaSbF6, NaSbO3 und gleichartiger stoffe Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 238 241-254 | 1938 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.581 Å | (100) |
| 3.985 Å | (80) |
| 1.205 Å | (70) |
| 1.629 Å | (50) |
| 1.325 Å | (50) |
| 1.265 Å | (50) |
| 1.192 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Mopung Hills, Nevada, USA. The data are from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Type Occurrence of Mopungite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pseudocubic crystals, 0.2-0.3 mm on an edge, thickly encrusting fractures.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 161224 (type).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 1984,477 (cotype).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 1984,477 (cotype).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidized zone of an antimony deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Mopungite
Other Language Names for Mopungite
Relationship of Mopungite to other Species
Other Members of Stottite Subgroup:
| Nancyrossite | FeGeO6H5 | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
| Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
| Tetrawickmanite | Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6] | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
| Zincostottite | ZnGe(OH)6 | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Mopungite associated with Cetineite | (K,Na)6Sb3+12(Sb3+S3)2O18(OH)0.5 · 5,5H2O |
| 5 photos of Mopungite associated with Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 3 photos of Mopungite associated with Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
| 3 photos of Mopungite associated with Ottensite | (Na,K)3Sb3+6(Sb3+S3)O9 · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Mopungite associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 2 photos of Mopungite associated with Brizziite | NaSb5+O3 |
| 2 photos of Mopungite associated with Schafarzikite | Fe2+Sb3+2O4 |
| 2 photos of Mopungite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Mopungite associated with Cervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
| 1 photo of Mopungite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.FC.05 | Dzhalindite | In(OH)3 |
| 4.FC.05 | Bernalite | Fe(OH)3 · nH2O (n = 0.0 to 0.25) |
| 4.FC.05 | Söhngeite | Ga(OH)3 |
| 4.FC.10 | Mushistonite | (Cu,Zn,Fe2+)[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Natanite | Fe2+[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Burtite | Ca[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Vismirnovite | Zn[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Schoenfliesite | Mg[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.15 | Jeanbandyite | Fe3+Sn(OH)5O |
| 4.FC.15 | Tetrawickmanite | Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.15 | Nancyrossite | FeGeO6H5 |
| 4.FC.15 | Zincostottite | ZnGe(OH)6 |
| 4.FC.15 | Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-2N1S | (Al,Fe,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-6N6S | (Mg,Al,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-2N1S | (Mg,Al,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-6N6S | (Al,Fe,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-2N1S | (Zn,Al,Mg)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-6N6S | Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2 |
| 4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S | Mg2BeAl6O12 |
| 4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 |
| 4.FC.25 | Ferrotaaffeite-2N’2S | Be(Fe,Mg,Zn)3Al8O16 |
Fluorescence of Mopungite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in hot water but is not visibly affected by cold water. It dissolves readily in cold dilute tartaric acid and is decomposed by HCl and HNO3.
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 Mopungite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2777.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Mopungite
Reference List:
Dunn, Pete J., Ferraiolo, James A., Fleischer, Michael, Gobel, Volker, Grice, Joel D., Langley, Richard H., Shigley, James E., Vanko, David A., Zilczer, Janet A. (1985) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 70 (11-12) 1329-1335 p.1330
Rintoul, Llew, Bahfenne, Silmarilly, Frost, Ray L. (2011) Single-crystal Raman spectroscopy of brandholzite Mg[Sb(OH)6]2•6H2O and bottinoite Ni[Sb(OH)6]2• 6H2O and the polycrystalline Raman spectrum of mopungite Na[Sb(OH)6]. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 42 (5). 1147-1153 doi:10.1002/jrs.2804
Localities for Mopungite
Showing 12 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.
Austria | |
| Auer (2025) |
China | |
| Hyrsl et al. (2007) |
Italy | |
| E. Contini |
| Brizzi et al. (1990) |
| Brizzi et al. (1990) | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Marzoni Fecia di Cossato Y. et al. (1987) +2 other references |
| Brizzi G. et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2023) |
Slovakia | |
| Majzlan et al. (2016) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2020) |
USA (TL) | |
| Walstrom (n.d.) +3 other references |
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Tafone mine, Manciano, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy