Formula: Mg15(SO4)2(OH)26.8H2O
Hydrated sulphate containing hydroxyl
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.47 measured, 2.54 calculated
Hardness: 3
Streak: White to colourless
Colour: Colourless, light tan; colourless in transmitted light
Solubility: Soluble in acids
Environments
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Mooreite is a rare secondary mineral.
Localities
The type locality is the Sterling Mine, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA. Here
mooreite occurs rarely in cavities and veinlets in franklinite –
willemite
– calcite ore from a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody,
in intimate association with altered
pyrochroite, rhodochrosite and
zincite. Cavities in the pyrochroite
are lined, and
some of the crevices are filled, with crystals of mooreite, which in turn may be covered by
fluoborite (AM 14.165-172, AM 34.589-595). Other associated minerals include
torreyite, franklinite,
willemite and calcite
(HOM, Dana).
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