Moganite
Moganite is a silicate mineral with the chemical formula SiO2 (silicon dioxide) that was discovered in 1984.[2] It is made up of covalent bonds and has a lattice structure, also known as a monoclinic crystal system. Moganite is considered a polymorph of quartz because it has the same chemical composition but a different chemical structure.[3]
As of 1994, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) had disapproved it as being a separate species because it was not clearly distinguishable from quartz.[4] It has only recently been approved as a valid species by the CNMNC, the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (part of the IMA).[5]
This mineral is “virtually indistinguishable” from a rock called chalcedony that is made up of both moganite itself and quartz. It has been mainly found in dry locales such as Gran Canaria and Lake Magadi.[6] It is even named for a municipality of Gran Canaria called Mogán.[7] Physically, it has a hardness of about 6, a dull luster and appears gray in color but transparent.
- ^ Graham, Ian T. Moganite with Chalcedone From Barranco De Los Medios Almudes. 2003. Mogán, Gran Canaria. Moganite. Aug. 2007 <http://www.mindat.org/photo-83097.html>.
- ^ Ralph, Jolyon, and Ida Ralph. "Moganite: Moganite Mineral Information and Data." MinDat. 2007. Aug. 2007 <http://www.mindat.org/min-2739.html>.
- ^ "Glossary of Rock and Mineral Terms - P." Inland Lapidary. 24 July 2007. Aug. 2007 <http://www.inlandlapidary.com/user_area/glossaryP.asp>.
- ^ Origlieri, Marcus. "Moganite: a New Mineral -- Not!" Lithosphere (1994). Aug. 2007 <http://fgms.home.att.net/moganite.htm>.
- ^ Nickel, Ernest H., and Monte C. Nichols. "IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names." Materials Data. June 2007. Aug. 2007 <http://www.geo.vu.nl/users/ima-cnmmn/MINERALlist.pdf>.
- ^ Heaney, Peter J., and Jeffrey E. Post. "The Widespread Distribution of a Novel Silica Polymorph in Microcrystalline Quartz Varieties." Science ns 255 (1992): 441-443. JSTOR. Aug. 2007. Keyword: moganite.
- ^ "Moganite Mineral Data." Web Mineral. Aug. 2007 <http://webmineral.com/data/Moganite.shtml>.