Geographic Minerals

Moganite: Properties and Occurrences

Moganite: Properties and Occurrences

Moganite is an oxide mineral with the chemical formula SiO2 (silicon dioxide) that was discovered in 1984. It is a crystalline form of silica that has a different crystal structure than that of quartz. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system. Moganite is considered a polymorph of quartz: it has the same chemical composition as quartz, but a different crystal structure. It has a hardness of about 6, a dull luster, and appears gray in color but transparent.

It was named for the municipality of Mogán on Gran Canaria. It occurs as a metastable phase that will ultimately transform into quartz, given sufficient time or a change in ambient conditions.

“This mineral has been mainly found in dry locales such as Gran Canaria and Lake Magadi. It has been reported from a variety of locations in Europe, India, and the United States.”

General Information

  • Category: Tectosilicate, quartz group
  • Formula: (repeating unit) SiO2
  • Crystal system: Monoclinic
  • Crystal class: Prismatic (2/m) (same H–M symbol).

Moganite – an oxide mineral

Properties

Physically, it has a Mohs hardness of about 6, a dull luster, and appears as a semitransparent gray in color. It is considered a polymorph of quartz: it has the same chemical composition as quartz, but a different crystal structure. It is a component of microcrystalline, quartz-bearing, sinters of New Zealand derived from the crystallization of non-crystalline and paracrystalline opaline silicas

  • Color: Grey
  • Crystal habit: Massive
  • Mohs scale hardness: 6
  • Luster: Earthy, dull
  • Streak: White
  • Diaphaneity: Transparent
  • Optical properties: Biaxial

Occurrences

This mineral has been mainly found in dry locales such as Gran Canaria and Lake Magadi. It has been reported from a variety of locations in Europe, India, and the United States.

In 1994, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) had disapproved of it as being a separate mineral because it was not clearly distinguishable from quartz. It has only recently (1999) been approved as a valid mineral by the CNMNC, the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification (part of the IMA). Its IMA number is (CNMMN, No. 99-035).