Magnesite | |
Chemical Formula |
MgCO3 |
Species |
Carbonates |
Crystal System |
Trigonal |
Mohs Scale |
3-4 |
Specific Gravity |
3.0-3.2 |
Color |
Colorless, white, pale yellow, pale brown, faintly pink, lilac-rose |
Streak |
white |
Luster |
Vitreous |
Refractive Index |
n = 1.700 n = 1.509 |
Diaphaneity |
Transparent, Translucent |
Cleavage |
PerfectOn . |
Fracture |
Conchoidal |
Crystal Habit:Usually massive, rarely as rhombohedrons or hexagonal prisms | |
Geological Setting:Primary mineral in igneous and sedimentary rocks. Rarely as a gangue mineral in hydrothermal ore veins, and in oceanic salt deposits. Metamorphism of serpentinites and peridotites. |