Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
 brucite

Chemical Group:  hydroxide

Chemical Formula:   Mg(OH)2

Color:  white, gray, green, or blue                                                                           

 

Hardness:  2.5                 Specific Gravity:  2.38 to 2.4                 

Tenacity:  sectile          Transparency:  transparent to translucent

Cleavage: good basal cleavage

 

Crystal Forms:  Rhombohedral
     Brucite forms broad, tabular crystals.
     It most commonly occurs as foliated masses.
     When fibrous, fibers can be separated and are elastic.

Mineral Associations:  serpentine, chlorite

Identifying Characteristics:  harder than talc

Uses:  an antacid

Occurrences: New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low             when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: