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Alstonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Alstonite
Alston, England
Formula:
BaCa(CO3)2
Colour:
Colourless to snow white, yellow-gray; pale gray, pale cream, pink to pale rose-red
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
3.67 - 3.711
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
After the original locality near Alston, England.
Co-Type Localities:
Polymorph of:
A low-temperature hydrothermal mineral.
Sartori (1975) states that alstonite "is probably an ordered member of a family of possible order-disorder structures."
Compare the chemically very similar benstonite.
Sartori (1975) states that alstonite "is probably an ordered member of a family of possible order-disorder structures."
Compare the chemically very similar benstonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
146
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:146:7
Similar Names
| Ralstonite | A synonym of Hydrokenoralstonite |
IMA Classification of Alstonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Alstonite
5.AB.35
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
14.2.5.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
11.5.4
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Asn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Als | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Alstonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
Minerva No. 1 Mine, Ozark-Mahoning group, Cave-In-Rock Mining Sub-District, Hardin County, Illinois, USA