Moganite

Moganite
Moganite. Medio Almud ravine, Mogán, Gran Canaria, Spain. Height 5cm.
General
CategoryTectosilicates, quartz group
FormulaSiO2
IMA symbolMog[1]
Strunz classification4.DA.20
Dana classification75.01.04.02
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H–M symbol)
Space groupI2/a
Identification
ColorGrey
Crystal habitMassive
Mohs scale hardness6
LusterEarthy, dull
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.52 – 2.58
Optical propertiesBiaxial
Refractive indexnα = 1.524
nγ = 1.531
References[2][3][4]

Moganite is a tectosilicate mineral with the chemical formula SiO2 (silicon dioxide) that was discovered in 1976. It was initially described as a new form of silica from specimens found in the Barranco de Medio Almud, in the municipality of Mogán on the island of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands (Spain),[5] receiving in a later work the name derived from this locality.[6] In 1994 the International Mineralogical Association decided to disapprove it as a valid mineral, since it was considered indistinguishable from quartz.[7] Subsequent studies allowed the IMA to rectify it in 1999, accepting it as a mineral species.[8] It has the same chemical composition as quartz, but a different crystal structure.[4]

This mineral has been mainly found in dry locales such as Gran Canaria and Lake Magadi.[9] It has been reported from a variety of locations in Europe, India and the United States.[3] Physically, it has a Mohs hardness of about 6, a dull luster and appears as a semitransparent gray in color.

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Mineralienatlas Lexicon – Mogánite". Mineralienatlas. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b Ralph, Jolyon; Ralph, Ida (2007). "Moganite: Moganite Mineral Information and Data". MinDat. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  4. ^ a b Barthelmy, David (2014). "Moganite Mineral Data". Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  5. ^ Flörque, O.W.; Jones, J.B.; Schmincke, H.U. (1976). "A new microcrystalline silica from Gran Canaria". Zeitschrift für Kristallographie. 143: 156–165.
  6. ^ Flörque, O.W.; Flörque, U.; Giese, U. (1984). "Moganite, a new microcristaline silica-mineral". Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie (Abhandlungen). 149: 325–336.
  7. ^ Origlieri, M., 1994. "Moganite: a New Mineral – Not!" Lithosphere. Aug. 2007 http://geopress.rbnet.net/moganite.htm
  8. ^ Grice, Joel D.; Ferraris, Giovanni (2000). "New minerals approved in 1999 by the commission on new minerals and mineral names, International Mineralogical Association". The Canadian Mineralogist. 38 (1): 245–250. Bibcode:2000CaMin..38..245G. doi:10.2113/gscanmin.38.1.245.
  9. ^ Heaney, Peter J.; Post, Jeffrey E. (1992). "The Widespread Distribution of a Novel Silica Polymorph in Microcrystalline Quartz Varieties". Science. 255 (5043): 441–443. Bibcode:1992Sci...255..441H. doi:10.1126/science.255.5043.441. PMID 17842895. S2CID 32497622.

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