General Information:
Chemical Formula:
Mg(OH)2
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 58.32 gm)
Magnesium 41.68 % Mg
Hydrogen 3.46 % H
Oxygen 54.87 % O
Empirical Formula:
Mg(OH)2
Environment:
It occurs in serpentine, in chlorite or dolomitic schists, or in crystalline limestones as an alteration product of periclase.
Locality:
New Jersey, USA serpentine. Asbestos mines of Asbestos and Black Lake in Quebec, Canada. crystalline limestones at Crestmore, California, USA.
Name Origin:
Named after the American mineralogist, A. Bruce (1777-1818).
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[0001] Perfect
Color:
blue, gray, gray blue, yellow, or white.
Density:
2.39 - 2.4, Average = 2.39
Diaphaniety:
Transparent
Habits:
Massive - Lamellar - Distinctly foliated fine-grained forms., Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers., Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.
Hardness:
2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Vitreous - Pearly
Streak:
white
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