Magnesite

Magnesite is magnesium carbonate, MgCO₃. Iron (as Fe2+) substitutes for magnesium (Mg) with a complete solution series with siderite, FeCO₃. Calcium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel may also occur in small amounts. Dolomite, (Mg,Ca)CO₃, is almost indistinguishable from magnesite.

Occurrence

Magnesite occurs as veins in and an alteration product of ultramafic rocks, serpentinite and other magnesium rich rock types in both contact and regional metamorphic terranes. These magnesites often are cryptocrystalline and contain silica as opal or chert.

Magnesite is also present within the regolith above ultramafic rocks as a secondary carbonate within soil and subsoil, where it is deposited as a consequence of dissolution of magnesium-bearing minerals by carbon dioxide within groundwaters.

Formation

Magnesite can be formed via talc carbonate metasomatism of peridotite and other ultrabasic rocks. Magnesite is formed via carbonation of olivine in the presence of water and carbon dioxide, and is favored at moderate temperatures and pressures typical of greenschist facies;

Magnesite can also be formed via the carbonation of magnesian serpentine (lizardite) via the following reaction:
Serpentine + carbon dioxide → Talc + magnesite + Water

2Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ + 3CO₂ → Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ + 3MgCO₃ + H₂O

Forsterite magnesia-rich olivine compositions favor production of magnesite from peridotite. Fayalitic (iron-rich) olivine favors production of magnetite-magnesite-silica compositions.

Magnesite can also be formed from metasomatism in skarn deposits, in dolomitic limestones, associated with wollastonite, periclase, and talc.

Magnesite is also found in a number of Precambrian carbonate hosted sediments, and is thought to have formed as an evaporite.

Uses
Magnesite can be used as a slag former in steelmaking furnaces, in conjunction with lime, in order to protect the magnesium oxide lining. It can also be used as a catalyst and filler in the production of synthetic rubber and in the preparation of magnesium chemicals and fertilizers.

Similar to the production of lime, magnesite can be burned in the presence of charcoal to produce MgO, otherwise known as periclase. Such periclase is an important product in refractory materials.

Magnesite can also be used as a binder in flooring material.

In fire assay, magnesite cupels can be used for cupellation as the magnesite cupel will resist the high temperatures involved.

References

1. ^ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/magnesite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
2. ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-2482.html Mindat.org
3. ^ http://webmineral.com/data/Magnesite.shtml Webmineral data
4. ^ Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed., p. 332 ISBN 0-471-80580-7

* Smithsonian Rock and Gem ISBN 0-7566-0962-3


List of minerals