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Formula: Mg2(CO3)(OH)2.3H2O
Hydrated carbonate containing hydroxyl
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.01 to 2.03 measured, 2.047 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: White; colourless in transmitted light
Solubility: Readily soluble with effervescence in cold acids
Environments
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Artinite is a low-temperature mineral in weathered or altered
ultramafic rocks, typically
serpentinites, likely occurring worldwide. Associated minerals
include brucite,
hydromagnesite,
pyroaurite, chrysotile,
aragonite, calcite,
dolomite and magnesite
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, Dossi di Franscia, Campo Franscia, Lanzada, Sondrio Province, Lombardy, Italy, artinite
occurs as acicular crystals forming cross-fibre veinlets, botyroidal crusts, and spherical or bow-tie aggregates of
divergent crystals. It is a low-temperature mineral in weathered or altered
ultramafic rocks, typically
serpentinites. Associated Minerals include
brucite,
hydromagnesite,
pyroaurite, chrysotile,
aragonite, calcite,
dolomite and magnesite
(Mindat).
At Luning, Fitting Mining District, Mineral county, Nevada, USA, veins cutting massive
brucite are made up of
hydromagnesite, granular
brucite and acicular artinite.
(AM 31.365-369).
At the Spring Street Artinite occurrence, Staten Island (Richmond county), New York City, New York, USA
the serpentinites exposure produced fine specimens of
artinite and hydromagnesite; the largest specimens exceeded
45 cm across. The artinite formed fine white coatings and hemispherical sprays of crystals, to 25 mm long, in
narrow seams running through a greenish serpentinite matrix.
Smaller hemispherical crystal aggregates to 2 mm across of white
hydromagnesite and hexagonal bronze-coloured
pyroaurite crystals to 1 mm are frequently associated with the
artinite. Octahedral microcrystals of magnetite are found throughout
the deposit. Both the artinite and the hydromagnesite fluoresce
white under UV. Remnants of the serpentinite knoll still exist,
but the area is fenced and closed to collecting
(R&M 84.3.220).
At the Victory Diner locality, Staten Island (Richmond county), New York City, New York, USA, artinite and
hydromagnesite were found in a
serpentinites outcrop, together with
brucite, aragonite,
calcite and other minerals
(R&M 43.9.643-647).
At the Belvidere Mountain Quarries, Lowell & Eden, Orleans & Lamoille counties, Vermont, USA, artinite occured
as white, radially fibrous, botryoidal crusts associated with pyroaurite
along slip planes in serpentinites. A further report mentions
artinite occurring in white mats of bladed crystals to 1 mm, intergrown with massive
diopside, pyrite and
grossular
(R&M 90-6.527).
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