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Muskoxite

A valid IMA mineral species - questionable
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Muskoxite

Muskox Intrusion, Coppermine River area, Nunavut, Canada
01121550017635439506868.jpg
Muskoxite

Muskox Intrusion, Coppermine River area, Nunavut, Canada
07490300017635803811786.jpg
Muskoxite

Muskox Intrusion, Coppermine River area, Nunavut, Canada
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About MuskoxiteHide

Formula:
Mg7Fe4O13 · 10H2O
Colour:
Dark reddish brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.10 - 3.20
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
For the type locality, the Muskox intrusion, Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut, Canada.
As part of the recent re-evaluation of the nomenclature of the hydrotalcite supergroup (Mills et al., 2012), muskoxite was identified as a questionable species which needs further investigation. The range of composition currently ascribed to muskoxite may represent more than one species.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2818
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2818:5

IMA Classification of MuskoxiteHide

IMA status:
Approved, Questionable
IMA Formula:
Mg7Fe3+4(OH)26·H2O
Approval year:
1967
First published:
1969
Type description reference:
Jambor, J. L. (1969) Muskoxite, a new hydrous magnesium-ferric iron oxide from the Muskox Intrusion, Northwest Territories, Canada. American Mineralogist, 54 (5-6) 684-696

Classification of MuskoxiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
4.FL.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th ed.:
7.11.1.1

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
11 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:
7.20.12

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe

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

Physical Properties of MuskoxiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Dark reddish brown
Streak:
Light orange-brown
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Basal
Density:
3.10 - 3.20 g/cm3 (Measured)    

Optical Data of MuskoxiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of MuskoxiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Mg7Fe4O13 · 10H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O47.078 %
Fe28.578 %
Mg21.766 %
H2.579 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Fe
Mg
H
Elements listed:
Fe, H, Mg, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of MuskoxiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.07 Å, c = 4.6 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.498
Unit Cell V:
37.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Paper thin hexagons, trigonal equant grains.
Comment:
Pseudo cell - actual cell believed to be larger

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
13 : Hadean serpentinization
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of MuskoxiteHide

Synonyms of MuskoxiteHide

Other Language Names for MuskoxiteHide

Dutch:Muskoxiet
German:Muskoxit
Spanish:Muskoxita

Relationship of Muskoxite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Hydrotalcite Supergroup
Other Members of Hydrotalcite Supergroup:
Akopovaite Al4Li2(OH)12(CO3)(H2O)3Mon. 2/m : B2/m
AmoraiteCa12Al6(OH)36(CO3)2(SO3) · 15H2O Tric. 1 : P1
BrugnatelliteMg6Fe3+(CO3)(OH)13 · 4H2OHex.
CarbocalumiteCa4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
CoalingiteMg10Fe3+2(OH)24[CO3] · 2H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
Cualstibite GroupM2R(OH)6[Sb5+(OH)6], where M = Zn, Ni, Cu and R = Al or Fe3+
DritsiteLi2Al4(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mcm
Fougèrite Group
Glaucocerinite Group
Hydrocalumite Group
Hydrotalcite GroupM6R3+2(OH)16Z · 4H2O, where M=Mg, Fe, Ni, R3+ = Al, Cr, Co or Fe, and Z=CO3, Cl
Marioantofilliite[Cu4Al2(OH)12](CO3) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
PoellmanniteCa6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
Quintinite Group
RotemiteCa4Cr2(OH)12Cl2 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
'UM1987-05-OH:AlCMg'Mg4Al2(OH)12(CO3,SO4) · 3H2O
Wermlandite GroupM7R3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O, where = Mg, Fe, Zn and R= Al or Fe
Woodwardite GroupMay be considered a subgroup of the Hydrotalcite Group.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

4.FL.TrébeurdeniteFe2+2Fe3+4O2(OH)10CO3 · 3H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.Mariakrite[Ca4Al2(OH)12(H2O)4][Fe2S4]Tric. 1 : P1
4.FL.05JamboriteNi2+1-xCo3+x(OH)2-x(SO4)x · nH2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.05MössbaueriteFe3+6O4(OH)8[CO3] · 3H2OTrig. 3
4.FL.05MeixneriteMg6Al2(OH)16(OH)2 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.05WoodalliteMg6Cr2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.05FougèriteFe2+4Fe3+2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.05DritsiteLi2Al4(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mcm
4.FL.05RotemiteCa4Cr2(OH)12Cl2 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.FL.05IowaiteMg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.FL.10HydrocalumiteCa4Al2(OH)12(Cl,CO3,OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
4.FL.15KuzeliteCa4Al2(OH)12[SO4] · 6H2OTrig.
4.FL.20Jianshuiite(Mg,Mn,Ca)Mn3O7 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : R3
4.FL.20ErnienickeliteNiMn3O7 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : R3
4.FL.20AuroriteMn2+Mn4+3O7 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : R3
4.FL.20ChalcophaniteZnMn4+3O7 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : R3
4.FL.25WoodruffiteZn2+x/2(Mn4+1-xMn3+x)O2 · yH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
4.FL.30Asbolane(Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2OHex.
4.FL.30 va'Lampadite'Cu, Mn, O, H
4.FL.35BuseriteNa4Mn14O27 · 21H2O
4.FL.40Takanelite(Mn,Ca)Mn4O9 · H2OHex.
4.FL.40Ranciéite(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2OTrig. 3 : P3
4.FL.45Birnessite(Na,Ca)0.5(Mn4+,Mn3+)2O4 · 1.5H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
4.FL.55CianciulliiteMn(Mg,Mn)2Zn2(OH)10 · 2-4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
4.FL.60JenseniteCu3[TeO6] · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
4.FL.65LeisingiteCu2MgTe6+O6 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : P3
4.FL.70AkdalaiteAl10O14(OH)2Hex.
4.FL.75CafetiteCaTi2O5 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
4.FL.80MouriteUMo5O12(OH)10Mon. 2/m : P2/b
4.FL.85DeloryiteCu4(UO2)(MoO4)2(OH)6Mon. 2/m : B2/m
4.FL.90LagalyiteCa2xMn1-xO2 · 1.5-2H2OMon.
4.FL.95'Tunnerite'
4.FL.100CarbocalumiteCa4Al2(OH)12(CO3) · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.FL.100MampsisiteCa4Al2(CO3)(OH)12 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

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 MuskoxiteHide

References for MuskoxiteHide

Localities for MuskoxiteHide

Showing 2 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.
Canada (TL)
 
  • Nunavut
    • Coppermine River area
Jambor (1969)
China
 
  • Xinjiang
    • Hami Prefecture (Kumul Prefecture; Qumul Prefecture)
      • Yizhou District
        • Huangshan-Jing'erquan ore belt
Liu et al. (2025)
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