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Quintinite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page kindly sponsored in honor of Quintin Wight by the New York Mineralogical Club
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About QuintiniteHide

02657970017271928973678.jpg
Quintin Wight
Formula:
Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2O
Colour:
Yellow to colorless, orange-brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.14
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named in 1997 by George Y. Chao and Robert A. Gault in honour of Quintin Wight (23 April 1935, Canada - ), of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, significant contributor to mineral studies at Mont Saint-Hilaire, and author of "The Complete Book of Micromounting" (1993).
Found as both 2H and 3T polytypes. Compare UM1987-05-OH:AlCMg and UM1996-25-OH:AlCMg.

Both polytypes were originally approved as separate species (IMA 1992-028 and IMA 1992-029, respectively), but polytypes are not considered as separate species anymore since 1998.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
7265
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7265:2

IMA Classification of QuintiniteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg4Al2(OH)12CO3·3H2O
Approval year:
1992
First published:
1997

Classification of QuintiniteHide

5.DA.40

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
16b.7.16.3

16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
QtnIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of QuintiniteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow to colorless, orange-brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{0001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.14(1) g/cm3 (Measured)    2.15 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of QuintiniteHide

Type:
Uniaxial
RI values:
nω = 1.533(1) nε = 1.533(1)
Surface Relief:
None to Very Low
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.

Chemistry of QuintiniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O61.362 %
Mg20.715 %
Al11.498 %
H3.866 %
C2.559 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Mg
Al
H
C

Crystallography of QuintiniteHide

Polytype:
Formula:
Crystal System:
Class (H-M)
Space Group:
Space Group Setting:
Cell Parameters:
Ratio:
Unit Cell Volume (calc):
Z:
Comment:
Quintinite-1MQuintinite-2HQuintinite-2TQuintinite-3RQuintinite-3T
Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OMg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OMg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OMg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OMg4Al2(OH)12CO3 · 4H2O
Monoclinic Hexagonal Trigonal Trigonal Trigonal 
2/m - Prismatic622 - Trapezohedral3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral32 - Trapezohedral
B2/mP6322P31cR3m 
C2/m P31c  
a = 5.266 Å, b = 9.114 Å, c = 7.766 Å
α = 90°, β = 103.17°, γ = 90°
a = 10.571 Å, c = 15.171 Å
a = 5.27(2) Å, c = 15.15(5) Å
a = 3.063(1) Å, c = 22.674(9) Å
a = 10.571 Å, c = 22.71 Å
a:b:c = 0.578 : 1 : 0.852a:c = 1 : 1.435a:c = 1 : 2.875a:c = 1 : 7.403a:c = 1 : 2.148
V 362.9 ųV 1,468.17 ų
(Calculated from Unit Cell)
V 364.39 ų
(Calculated from Unit Cell)
V 184.2 ųV 2,197.76 ų
(Calculated from Unit Cell)
141 6
  averages of two crystals Space group P3112 or P3212.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0012351QuintiniteArakcheeva A V, Pushcharovsky D Y, Rastsvetaeva R K, Atencio D, Lubman G U (1996) Crystal structure and comparative crystal chemistry of Al2Mg4(OH)12(CO3)*3H2O, a new mineral from the hydrotalcite-manasseite group Note polytype 2H Crystallography Reports 41 972-9811996synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
- Å()
Comments:
Powder XRD data is shown on the polytype pages.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of QuintiniteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Equant and prismatic crystals. Hexagonal tabular crystals on {0001}, commonly forming rosettes.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, numbers CMNMI 81546, CMNMI 47266 and CMNMI 81548 (quintinite-2H) and CMNMI 81549 (quintinite-3T).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, numbers M46768, M46769, M46770
(quintinite-2H) and M46777 (quintinite-3T).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Late-stage hydrothermal mineral in miarolitic cavities and in pegmatitic bodies within nepheline syenite (quintinite-3T). Vugs in dolomitic carbonatite (quintinite-2H).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Other Language Names for QuintiniteHide

German:Quintinit
Spanish:Quintinita

Relationship of Quintinite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Quintinite Group:
CaresiteFe2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OTrig. 32 : P3112
CharmariteMn2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OHex.
ChlormagaluminiteMg4Al2(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mcm
ComblainiteNi4Co2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OTrig.
LiudongshengiteZn4Cr2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
'Unnamed (Zn-analogue of Chlormagaluminite)'Zn4Al2(OH)12Cl2 · 2H2O
ZaccagnaiteZn4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OHex.

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Quintinite associated with HydrotalciteMg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O
4 photos of Quintinite associated with LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
4 photos of Quintinite associated with PyriteFeS2
1 photo of Quintinite associated with GorceixiteBaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6
1 photo of Quintinite associated with PyroauriteMg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O
1 photo of Quintinite associated with CalciteCaCO3
1 photo of Quintinite associated with MagnesioferriteMgFe3+2O4
1 photo of Quintinite associated with Parisite-(Ce)CaCe2(CO3)3F2
1 photo of Quintinite associated with 'Quintinite-2H'Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2O
1 photo of Quintinite associated with GibbsiteAl(OH)3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

5.DA.AlexkhomyakoviteK6(Ca2Na)(CO3)5Cl · 6H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mcm
5.DA.AmoraiteCa12Al6(OH)36(CO3)2(SO3) · 15H2O Tric. 1 : P1
5.DA.05DypingiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2OMon. 2 : P21
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 ?Mon.
5.DA.05GiorgiositeMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5-6H2O
5.DA.05HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
5.DA.05WidgiemoolthaliteNi5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
5.DA.10ArtiniteMg2(CO3)(OH)2 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
5.DA.10ChlorartiniteMg2(CO3)(OH)Cl · 2H2OTrig. 3m : R3c
5.DA.10IndigiriteMg2Al2(CO3)4(OH)2 · 15H2O
5.DA.15ZaratiteNi3(CO3)(OH)4 · 4H2O ?Iso.
5.DA.15OtwayiteNi2(CO3)(OH)2 · H2OOrth.
5.DA.20KambaldaiteNaNi4(CO3)3(OH)3 · 3H2OHex. 6 : P63
5.DA.25CallaghaniteCu2Mg2(CO3)(OH)6 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
5.DA.30Claraite(Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
5.DA.35HydroscarbroiteAl14(CO3)3(OH)36 · nH2OTric.
5.DA.35ScarbroiteAl5(CO3)(OH)13 · 5H2OTric.
5.DA.40KarchevskyiteMg18Al9(OH)54Sr2(CO3)9(H2O)6(H3O)5Trig.
5.DA.40'UM1987-05-OH:AlCMg'Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3,SO4) · 3H2O
5.DA.40CharmariteMn2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OHex.
5.DA.40CaresiteFe2+4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OTrig. 32 : P3112
5.DA.45'Hydrotalcite-2H'Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
5.DA.45'Stichtite-2H'Mg6(Cr,Al)2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
5.DA.45BrugnatelliteMg6Fe3+(CO3)(OH)13 · 4H2OHex.
5.DA.45ZaccagnaiteZn4Al2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OHex.
5.DA.45'Pyroaurite-2H'Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
5.DA.45LiudongshengiteZn4Cr2(OH)12(CO3) · 3H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.45ChlormagaluminiteMg4Al2(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mcm
5.DA.50PyroauriteMg6Fe3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.50TakoviteNi6Al2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.50ReevesiteNi6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.50KaznakhtiteNi6Co3+2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2OTrig. 3 : R3
5.DA.50ComblainiteNi4Co2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OTrig.
5.DA.50Marioantofilliite[Cu4Al2(OH)12](CO3) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
5.DA.50HydrotalciteMg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.50StichtiteMg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.50DesautelsiteMg6Mn3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m)
5.DA.55CoalingiteMg10Fe3+2(OH)24[CO3] · 2H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.DA.55Akopovaite Al4Li2(OH)12(CO3)(H2O)3Mon. 2/m : B2/m
5.DA.60ŠlikiteZn2Mg(CO3)2(OH)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
5.DA.65MarkliteCu5(CO3)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Fluorescence of QuintiniteHide

Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Quintinite-2H is attacked slightly by 1:1 HCl, more strongly by 1:1 HNO3, and very strongly by 1:1 H2SO4, all with effervescence. Quintinite-3T is attacked slightly by 1:1 HCl, strongly by HNO3, and dissolves in 1:1 H2SO4.
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 QuintiniteHide

References for QuintiniteHide

Reference List:

Localities for QuintiniteHide

Showing 24 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria
 
  • Burgenland
    • Oberpullendorf District
      • Markt Sankt Martin
        • Pauliberg
Kolitsch et al. (2019)
Bolivia
 
  • Cochabamba
    • Ayopaya Province
[Quintinite-1M] A.R. Kampf
Brazil
 
  • São Paulo
    • Cajati
Oliveira et al. (2020)
[Quintinite-2H, Quintinite-2T] Chao et al. (1997)
Canada
 
  • British Columbia
    • Golden Mining Division
Piilonen et al. (2022) +1 other reference
  • Québec
    • Montérégie
      • La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
[Quintinite-3T] Chao et al. (1997)
Italy
 
  • Liguria
    • Genoa
Marchesini et al. (2025)
A. Kampf +1 other reference
Norway
 
  • Buskerud
    • Modum
      • Snarum
Raade (2013)
Russia
 
  • Irkutsk Oblast
    • Nizhneilimsky District
      • Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky
[Quintinite-2H] Lapis 37 (2)
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Kovdorsky District
[Quintinite-1M, Quintinite-2T] Ivanyuk et al. (2017)
[Quintinite-2H, Quintinite-3R, Quintinite-3T] maurice.strahlen.org (2003) +2 other references
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Malyshevo
[Quintinite-1M] Zhitova et al. (2017)
Sweden
 
  • Värmland County
    • Filipstad
      • Långban Ore District
        • Långban Mine
[Quintinite-2H] Strand (2016)
USA
 
  • California
    • San Bernardino County
      • Trojan
MarekC pers. coll. 2015
 
and/or  
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