Nesquehonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Nesquehonite
Miners at the Tunnel #1, Nesquehoning Coal Mine
Nesquehoning Coal Mine, Nesquehoning, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA
Nesquehoning Coal Mine, Nesquehoning, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA
Formula:
MgCO3 · 3H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.824 - 1.854
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the type locality at Nesquehoning, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA.
May exist as a dehydration product of lansfordite. Compare UM1997-28-CO:CaHMg (a possible polytype).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2885
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2885:7
IMA Classification of Nesquehonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
MgCO3(H2O)2·H2O
Classification of Nesquehonite
5.CA.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
13.1.5.1
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
11.3.3
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nes | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Nes | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Nesquehonite
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {101}; On {010} good.
On {101}; On {010} good.
Fracture:
Splintery, Fibrous
Density:
1.824 - 1.854 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.856 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nesquehonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.412 nβ = 1.501 nγ = 1.526
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.114
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (53°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (53°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Nesquehonite
Mindat Formula:
MgCO3 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Nesquehonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.705 Å, b = 5.367 Å, c = 12.121 Å
β = 90.451°
β = 90.451°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.436 : 1 : 2.258
Unit Cell V:
501.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic, elongated along [010], {001}, {010}, {011}, {101}. {110} deeply striated parallel to [010]. Forms radial sprays and coatings, also botryoidal.
Twinning:
Twinned on {001} (artificial material).
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014644 | Nesquehonite | Giester G, Lengauer C L, Rieck B (2000) The crystal structure of nesquehonite, MgCO3*3H2O, from Lavrion, Greece Mineralogy and Petrology 70 153-163 | 2000 | Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Greece | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009432 | Nesquehonite | Stephan G W, MacGillavry C H (1972) The crystal structure of nesquehonite, MgCO3*3H2O Acta Crystallographica B28 1031-1033 |  | 1972 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.48 Å | (100) |
| 3.85 Å | (75) |
| 2.617 Å | (55) |
| 3.03 Å | (30) |
| 3.23 Å | (20) |
| 2.337 Å | (20) |
| 1.925 Å | (16) |
Comments:
Synthetic. ICDD 20-669.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) | |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
Near-surface conditions. As coal mine efflorescences, cave deposits, around springs, in serpentinite fractures.
Type Occurrence of Nesquehonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bases of stalactites and incrustations, the remainder of which consisted of lansfordite.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Anthracite coal deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Nesquehonite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 18 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Dypingite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 11 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Inderite | MgB3O3(OH)5 · 5H2O |
| 5 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Lansfordite | MgCO3 · 5H2O |
| 5 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Canavesite | Mg2(HBO3)(CO3) · 5H2O |
| 3 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Lizardite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Nesquehonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Nesquehonite associated with Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 1 photo of Nesquehonite associated with Nickelhexahydrite | Ni2+(H2O)6(SO4) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.CA.10 | Lansfordite | MgCO3 · 5H2O |
| 5.CA.15 | 'Barringtonite' | MgCO3 · 2H2O |
| 5.CA.20 | Hellyerite | NiCO3 · 5.5H2O |
Fluorescence of Nesquehonite
Green (SW UV).
Other Information
Notes:
Very slightly soluble in water; more so in the presence of CO2. Readily soluble in dilute acids with effervescence.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
None.
Internet Links for Nesquehonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2885.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Nesquehonite
Reference List:
Friedel, Charles (1891) Sur la nesquehonite. Bulletin de la Société Française de Minéralogie, 14 (2) 60-63 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1891.2206
Stephan, G. W., MacGillavry, C. H. (1972) The crystal structure of nesquehonite, MgCO3.3H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 28 (4) 1031-1033 doi:10.1107/s0567740872003668
Giester, G., Lengauer, C. L., Rieck, B. (2000) The crystal structure of nesquehonite, MgCO3·3H2O, from Lavrion, Greece. Mineralogy and Petrology, 70 (3) 153-163 doi:10.1007/s007100070001
Garvie, Laurence A.J. (2003) Decay-induced biomineralization of the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) American Mineralogist, 88 (11) 1879-1888 doi:10.2138/am-2003-11-1231
Coleyshaw, Esther E, Crump, Gregory, Griffith, William P (2003) Vibrational spectra of the hydrated carbonate minerals ikaite, monohydrocalcite, lansfordite and nesquehonite. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 59 (10) 2231-2239 doi:10.1016/s1386-1425(03)00067-2
Hales, Matthew C., Frost, Ray L., Martens, Wayde N. (2008) Thermo-Raman spectroscopy of synthetic nesquehonite - implication for the geosequestration of greenhouse gases. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 39 (9). 1141-1149 doi:10.1002/jrs.1950
Dong, Mei, Cheng, Wenting, Li, Zhibao, Demopoulos, George P. (2008) Solubility and Stability of Nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) in NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, and NH4Cl Solutions. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 53 (11) 2586-2593 doi:10.1021/je800438p
Wang, Yong, Li, Zhibao, Demopoulos, George P. (2008) Controlled precipitation of nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) by the reaction of MgCl2 with (NH4)2CO3. Journal of Crystal Growth, 310 (6). 1220-1227 doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2008.01.002
Cheng, Wenting, Li, Zhibao (2010) Nucleation kinetics of nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) in the MgCl2−Na2CO3 system. Journal of Crystal Growth, 312 (9). 1563-1571 doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2010.01.028
Localities for Nesquehonite
Showing 102 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.
Antarctica | |
| Vennum (1986) |
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Gablina et al. (2018) |
Australia | |
| McQueen et al. (1988) |
| McQueen +3 other references |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1965 34 : 370-372 |
| R Bottrill |
| R Bottrill & R Woolley |
Austria | |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Meixner (1950) |
| J.Taucher (2001) | |
| Bendel et al. (2026) |
| Meixner (1950) |
| - (1994, July) +1 other reference |
| |
Canada | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| Wilson (2006) | |
| 150-152. +2 other references | |
China | |
| Sun Da-peng et al. (2002) |
| Xiyu Zheng and Shengsong Yu (1981) +1 other reference |
Czech Republic | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Sejkora et al. (2019) |
France | |
| |
| R. Pierrot |
| R. Pierrot |
| C. Vialaron : La mine d'antimoine de Daü et al. (1999) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Monnin et al. (2014) |
| |
Germany | |
| Fischbeck et al. (1971) |
| Henrich (2008) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| 58. +1 other reference |
| Gerhard Möhn collection |
| Möhn et al. (07/2020) |
| Witzke et al. (1998) |
Greece | |
| Branko Rieck collection |
| Giester et al. (2000) +2 other references |
Hungary | |
| |
| Mecsek-Oko |
Italy | |
| Fenoglio (1935) +2 other references |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
| Collezione Fabio Marina |
| Giuseppe Pipino - L'antica miniera di ... |
| Antofilli et al. (1983) |
| Antofilli et al. (1983) |
| Bedognè et al. (2006) |
| Artini (1921) +1 other reference |
| Piccoli (2002) +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Campostrini (2001) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Meixner (1950) |
| |
Japan | |
| SUZUKI et al. (1974) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Lu et al. (2023) |
| Taagvold (2015) |
| Hamza Sito Collection |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection MM # 4889 (ex Kjell Myre collection, not analyzed specimen) | |
| Witsø (1994) +2 other references |
| Moore et al. (1980) |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Lu et al. (2023) | |
| Qiu et al. (2024) | |
| Raade (1993) |
Poland | |
| Ciesielczukk |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Mazurov et al. (2007) |
| www.handbookofmineralogy.org (2012) |
| Ugapeva et al. (2023) |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Števko et al. (2019) |
Slovenia | |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
South Africa | |
| Martini et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Buey et al. (2025) |
| Buey et al. (2025) | |
| Sanz-Montero et al. (2019) +1 other reference | |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Parker et al. (1939) +3 other references |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Turkey | |
| Vergouwen (1981) |
| Vergouwen (1981) | |
Ukraine | |
| Nesterovskiy et al. (2015) | |
| Deyak M.A. Modern water-chemogenic ... |
USA | |
| Grant et al. (2005) |
| Garvie (2016) | |
| western United States. Geochimica et ... +3 other references |
| Adams et al. (2014) |
| Adams et al. (2014) |
| western United States. Geochimica et ... +2 other references |
| Murdoch (1966) |
| Schlocker (1974) +2 other references |
| western United States. Geochimica et ... +3 other references |
| western United States. Geochimica et ... +3 other references |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| S. Gordon pg. 68 +3 other references |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
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Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece