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Magnesite (Photo) [abbr. Mgs ]

Year of discovery: 1807 (Magnisía, Greece, and Bettolino, Italy), 1893 (Japan)

Locality list: 151 localities of magnesite

• MgCO₃
• [Mg²⁺][CO₃]^2-

• Class: Calcite group
• Class: Carbonate
• Variety: Breunnerite (+Fe)
• Variety: Mesitite (+Fe)
• Soluble in: Water (Slightly), hot HCl (with bubbles), HNO₃ (Slightly), H₂SO₄ (Slightly)
• Fluorescence: UV excitation (Pale blue-Pale green), Phosphorescence (Some examples), Triboluminescence (Some examples)
• Substitution pseudomorph: Replaced by Talc or Chlorite.

• Mg => Ca: Calcite, Aragonite, Vaterite
• Mg => Ni: Gaspéite (Gaspeite) (Series)
• Mg => Co: Spherocobaltite
• Mg => Fe: Siderite (Series)
• Mg => Cd: Otavite
• Mg => Mn: Rhodochrosite
• Mg => Zn: Smithsonite
• Mg => Ba: Witherite
• Mg => Sr: Strontianite
• Mg => Pb: Cerussite
• Mg => Na2: Gregoryite

• Color: Colorless, White
• Tarnish: Grayish brown
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Rhombohedral, Platy

• Cleavage: Perfect on {1011} (3 planes)
• Hardness: 3.5-4.5
• Density: 3.0

• System: Trigonal
• Group: (-3)m, R(-3)c
• Lattice: a=4.7, c=15.0

Etymology: Magnesia (of magnesium) in Greek