Brucite is the mineral form of magnesium hydroxide, with the chemical formula Mg(OH)2. It is a common alteration product of periclaseinmarble; a low-temperature hydrothermal vein mineral in metamorphosed limestones and chlorite schists; and formed during serpentinizationofdunites. Brucite is often found in association with serpentine, calcite, aragonite, dolomite, magnesite, hydromagnesite, artinite, talc and chrysotile.
| Brucite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Mg(OH)2 |
| IMA symbol | Brc[1] |
| Strunz classification | 4.FE.05 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | Hexagonal crystal family (3m) H-M symbol: (3 2/m) |
| Space group | P3m1 |
| Unit cell | a = 3.142(1) Å, c = 4.766(2) Å; Z = 1 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White, pale green, blue, gray; honey-yellow to brownish red |
| Crystal habit | Tabular crystals; platy or foliated masses and rosettes – fibrous to massive |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {0001} |
| Fracture | Irregular |
| Tenacity | Sectile |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 to 3 |
| Luster | Vitreous to pearly |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 2.39 to 2.40 |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (+) |
| Refractive index | nω = 1.56–1.59 nε = 1.58–1.60 |
| Birefringence | 0.02 |
| Other characteristics | Pyroelectric |
| References | [2][3][4] |
It adopts a layered CdI2-like structure with hydrogen-bonds between the layers.[5]
Brucite was first described in 1824 by François Sulpice Beudant[6] and named for the discoverer, American mineralogist, Archibald Bruce (1777–1818). A fibrous variety of brucite is called nemalite. It occurs in fibers or laths, usually elongated along [1010], but sometimes [1120] crystalline directions.
A notable location in the US is Wood's Chrome Mine, Cedar Hill Quarry, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Yellow, white and blue brucite with a botryoidal habit was discovered in Qila Saifullah District of Province Baluchistan, Pakistan. In a later discovery, brucite also occurred in the Bela Ophiolite of Wadh, Khuzdar District, Province Baluchistan, Pakistan. Brucite has also occurred from South Africa, Italy, Russia, Canada, and other localities as well, but the most notable discoveries are the US, Russian and Pakistani examples.[citation needed]
Synthetic brucite is mainly consumed as a precursor to magnesia (MgO), a useful refractory and thermal insulator. It finds some use as a flame retardant because it thermally decomposes to release water in a similar way to aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and mixtures of huntite (Mg3Ca(CO3)4) and hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O).[7][8] It also constitutes a significant source of magnesium for industry. Although generally deemed safe, brucite can be contaminated with naturally occurring asbestos fibers.[9]
When cementorconcrete are exposed to Mg2+, the neoformation of brucite, an expansive material, may induce mechanical stress in the hardened cement paste or may clog the porous network creating a buffering effect[clarification needed] and delaying the alteration/transformation of the C-S-H phase (the "glue" phase in the hardened cement paste) into M-S-H phase (a non-cohesive mineral phase). The exact magnitude of impact that brucite has on cement paste is still debatable. Prolonged contact between sea waterorbrines and concrete may induce durability issues for regularly immersed concrete components or structures.
The use of dolomiteasaggregate in concrete can also cause magnesium attack and should be avoided.[10]
