Name/Title
ArtiniteEntry/Object ID
2009.62.103Description
Chemical Composition: Mg2CO3(OH)2 - 3H2O
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Artinite
Chemistry: Mg2CO3(OH)2 - 3H2O, Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide
Group: Carbonates
Location: San Benito County, California, U.S.A
Description: White fibrous crystals (look like cotton balls) on a serpentine matrix.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is white or colorless.
Luster is silky to fibrous.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include radiating spherical aggregates of acicular to fibrous crystals.
Hardness is 2.5
Specific Gravity is 2.0 (very light)
Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
Fracture is fibrous.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include serpentine, hydromagnesite, talc and olivine.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habits, color, associations, softness and density
Fracture: Fibrous
Hardness: 2 Gypsum
Luster: Silky
Occurrence: It occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and in serpentinized ultramafic rocks
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.0
Streak: white
Variety: Artinite is a somewhat rare carbonate mineral. It forms as a crust of acicular to fibrous crystal aggregates sometimes collected into tight perfectly spherical balls. It is always associated with ultra-basic igneous and metamorphic rocks such as serpentinite.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
7-1/4 inDepth
1/4 inLength
4 inLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-5-ARoom
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumDate
January 3, 2024Location
Container
centerDrawer
bottom frontShelf
right, rightWall
SouthRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Catherine BoydDate
December 16, 2009Location
Container
CenterDrawer
Bottom / FrontShelf
Right, RightWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Catherine BoydDate
December 16, 2009Location
Container
CenterDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
RightCabinet
Case #32Wall
EastBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent
