Mellite

Aluminium mellitate (benzene hexacarboxylate) hydrate. A rare secondary mineral in lignite deposits.

History

Activities related to discovery and approval of the group members

Structural context

Mellite
Crystal System tetragonalCrystal Class ditetragonal dipyramidalSpace Group I41/acd
a15.5495—15.553 (15.5513)
b15.5495—15.553 (15.5513)
c23.11—23.2011 (23.1556)
alpha90
beta90
gamma90
volume5590.21—5609.723 (5599.9665)

Based on 2 measurements

Chemical context

Stoichiometric formulas

Mellite
mindat.org
  • March 13, 2023Al2[C6(COO)6]·16H2O
IMA
  • March 13, 2023Al2C6(COO)6 · 16H2O
mineralogy.rocks
  • Aug. 30, 2022Al2C6(COO)6·16H2O

Elements recorded on EPMA

2
Al
2
C
2
H
2
O
1
Fe

Physical properties

ColorColor entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
  • honey
  • colourless
  • wax yellow
  • pale yellow
    • reddish
    • gray
      Color noteOriginal color note from the source
      Honey to wax yellow, brown to reddish, gray, seldom white; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light.
      StreakStreak entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
        Streak noteOriginal streak note from the source
        White
        Lustre
        Vitreous
        Resinous
        Greasy
        Fracture
        Conchoidal
        Transparency
        Transparent
        Translucent
        Tenacity
        sectile
        Hardness
        2—2.5
        Calculated density
        1.65