Hectorite
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| Hectorite | |
|---|---|
 Hectorite from California
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| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | Na0.4Mg2.7Li0.3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White |
| Crystal habit | Thin laths and aggregates |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Cleavage | [001] Perfect |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 1 - 2 |
| Luster | Earthy (dull) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.490 nβ = 1.500 nγ = 1.520 |
| Optical Properties | Biaxial - 2V small |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.030 max. |
| Pleochroism | Colorless |
| Streak | White |
| Specific gravity | 2-3 (Avg 2.5) |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent to Opaque |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Hectorite is a soft, greasy clay mineral that forms near Hector, California (in San Bernardino County). The mineral is rare in that it is found primarily in one mine. The chemical composition of hectorite includes: sodium, lithium, magnesium, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. Hectorite is mostly used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, but has uses in chemical and other industrial applications.
Hectorite occurs with bentonite as an alteration product of clinoptilolite from volcanic ash and tuff with a high glass content.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/hectorite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ "Hectorite Mineral Data" Mineralology Database. <http://webmineral.com/data/Hectorite.shtml
- ^ Ralph, Jololyn and Ida (2007): "Hectorite" Mineral information and data. Mineralology Database. http://www.mindat.org/min-1841.html
