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Huntite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Huntite
Walter Frederick Hunt
Formula:
CaMg3(CO3)4
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Earthy
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
2.696
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by George T. Faust in honor of Walter Frederick Hunt (6 September 1882, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA - 19 December 1975, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA), professor of mineralogy at the University of Michigan. He served as Editor of the American Mineralogist for 35 years and was awarded the 1957 Roebling Medal.
Huntite forms compact fibrous chalky masses. It is found in caverns in magnesian rocks.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1951
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1951:0
Similar Names
| Hauynitite | A synonym of 'Haüynite' |
IMA Classification of Huntite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1953
Type description reference:
Classification of Huntite
5.AB.25
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 7th ed.:
14.4.3.1
14.4.3.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
4 : Miscellaneous
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
4 : Miscellaneous
11.4.7
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hun | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Huntite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Huntite
Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
Fine-grained
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
None
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.696 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.87 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Huntite
Type:
Uniaxial
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Huntite
Mindat Formula:
CaMg3(CO3)4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Huntite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
R32
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.5027(6) Å, c = 7.8212(6) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.823
Unit Cell V:
611.64 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Fine-grained to chalky.
Comment:
Cell parameters are from Dollase and Reeder (1986).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001006 | Huntite | Dollase W A, Reeder R J (1986) Crystal structure refinement of huntite, CaMg3(CO3)4, with X-ray powder data American Mineralogist 71 163-166 |  | 1986 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.89 Å | (20) |
| 2.83 Å | (100) |
| 2.60 Å | (10) |
| 2.43 Å | (10) |
| 1.991 Å | (10) |
| 1.972 Å | (30) |
| 1.765 Å | (20) |
| 1.757 Å | (20) |
Comments:
14-409
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Huntite
General Appearance of Type Material:
The appearance of magnesite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 106372.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 112519.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 112519.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Deposited by cool waters in cavities and vugs in rocks composed of magnesite, dolomite, and deweylite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Huntite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 16 photos of Huntite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 5 photos of Huntite associated with Hydromagnesite | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 4 photos of Huntite associated with Lizardite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 4 photos of Huntite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 4 photos of Huntite associated with Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Huntite associated with Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| 2 photos of Huntite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Huntite associated with Graphite | C |
| 1 photo of Huntite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 1 photo of Huntite associated with Nakauriite | Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.AB.05 | Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Gaspéite | NiCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Otavite | CdCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 va | 'Parakutnohorite' | |
| 5.AB.10 | Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Škáchaite | CaCo(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.15 | Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Witherite | BaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 5.AB.20 | Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.30 | Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.35 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.45 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.50 | Carbocernaite | (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.55 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| 5.AB.60 | Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, infusible. A fragment, held with forceps and heated, glows and colors the flame a rich red color. The heated fragment, placed on tumeric paper, turns the paper brown, indicating an alkaline reaction.
Notes:
Fragments dissolve quickly and with effervescence in cold (1:1) acids such as HCl, HNO3, or H2SO4. Using H2SO4, gypsum is precipitated.
Huntite does not become colored with Meigen's solution.
Huntite does not become colored with Meigen's solution.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Huntite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1951.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Huntite
Localities for Huntite
Showing 87 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Gablina et al. (2017) |
Australia | |
| McQueen et al. (1988) |
| McQueen +3 other references |
| Oskierski et al. (2013) |
| Podgson RE |
| Sielecki (1988) |
| Sielecki (1988) | |
| Salisbury East geological investigation. +1 other reference |
| Skinner (1958) |
| Skinner (1958) | |
| W.F. Cole & C.J. Lancucki (1975) |
| Birch (1989) |
| Judy Rowe collection |
| Clissold (2007) |
| Grguric (2003) |
Austria | |
| Collection of NHM |
| Niedermayr (1998) +1 other reference | |
| Goldmann et al. (2008) | |
| Erwin Löffler & Gerald Knobloch ... |
| Krahuletzmuseum Eggenburg exhibition (no information on method of identification given) |
| Postl (1998) |
Canada | |
| GJ Simandl (1991) +1 other reference |
| Egan (1986) |
Chile | |
| collected by Reynaldo Contreira |
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš et al. (2010) |
| Paděra et al. (Teplitz a. d. Bečva - Mähren) |
| Černý |
| Jirásek |
| Petr Pauliš (2001) +1 other reference |
Egypt | |
| Gatto Rotondo et al. (2012) |
France | |
| |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Möhn et al. (07/2020) |
| Witzke et al. (1998) |
Greece | |
| Wendel et al. (1999) +2 other references |
| Calvo et al. (1995) |
Greenland | |
| Knudsen et al. (2024) |
Hungary | |
| Csaba Papp collection |
| |
| Leél-Őssy et al. (2011) |
| Szakáll & Jánosi. Minerals of Hungary |
Italy | |
| |
| De Waele et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| //doi.org/10.57635/MICRO.2025.23.16 |
Japan | |
| Takeuchi & Urakawa (2000) |
| Takeuchi & Urakawa (2000) | |
Mexico | |
| Kazmierczak et al. (2011) |
Pakistan | |
| Bashir et al. (2009) |
| M. Qasim Jan et al. (1985) |
Poland | |
| Stanienda-Pilecki et al. (2024) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Pekov (1998) |
Slovakia | |
| Ozdín et al. (2013) |
South Africa | |
| Martini et al. (1978) |
| Martini et al. (1978) |
| Martini et al. (1978) |
Spain | |
| Navarro et al. (2009) |
| Onac et al. (2014) |
| Buey et al. (2025) |
| Buey et al. (2025) | |
| Buey et al. (2025) | |
| Mineralogistes de Catalunya (1997) |
| Alonso-Zarza et al. (2011) |
Turkey | |
| Irion et al. (1968) +1 other reference |
| Zeki Camur et al. (1996) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Carpenter (1962) +5 other references |
| Dunning et al. (2005) |
| |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Bernstein (1980) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Rocks & Minerals. Nov. 1999. |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Faust (1953) +1 other reference | |
| Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Clays and Clay Minerals +4 other references |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Combining Science and Education. Maps ... +2 other references |
| Tien (1977) |
| x-ray diffraction data from 1986 East Carolina Univ. field trip (Pei Lin Tien) | |
| Ref.1 +3 other references |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Golovanov (UzSSR) |
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Kokšín, Švihov, Klatovy District, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic