Nesquehonite
Mineral MgCO3·3H2O
About it
Colourless to white needles and radiating prisms formed in coal mines and on serpentinite. Named for Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, where it was first found in an anthracite mine.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate
- Formula
- MgCO3·3H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2.5
- Specific gravity
- 1.83–1.85
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- colourless, white
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect prismatic
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.