Sepiolite

Overview

Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O)
Fluorescence: none	Not Radioactive	Magnetic: no

Description

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	2 g/cc
Hardness - Mohs	Sepiolite - 2  10 Diamond 9 Carborundum 8 Topaz 7 Quartz 6 Orthoclase 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite 2 Gypsum 1 Talc
Color	gray, white, reddish white
Streak	white

Crystal Properties

Property	Value
Crystal structure	orthorhombic - dipyramidal
Cleavage	perfect
Tenacity	brittle
Fracture	conchoidal
Luster	earthy

Similar Minerals

Dana Number : 74.03.01b.01

Class: 74

Group: 74.03

Subgroup: 74.03.01b - palygorskite

Dana Number	Mineral Name	Formula
74.03.01b.01	sepiolite	Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O)
74.03.01b.03	loughlinite	Na2Mg3Si6O16·8(H2O)

Nickel-Strunz Number : 09.EE.25

Group : 09

Subgroup : EE

Nickel-Strunz Number	Mineral Name	Formula
09.EE.25	loughlinite	Na2Mg3Si6O16·8(H2O)
09.EE.25	sepiolite	Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6(H2O)

Specimens

Localities

Uses