History and origin
Brucite has several names that reflect its chemical as well as physical nature. This nugget is called talchydrite, aqueous talc or hydrophyllite. Such names are given to the mineral for its resemblance to talc, as well as for the water component, which occupies 30% of the mass of the stone.
The mineral owes the most common name "brucite" to its discoverer and his colleagues. In 1814, the American physicist Archibald Brus, who worked as a physicist at Yale University, discovered and described a new mineral, magnesium hydroxide. After his death in 1818, geologist George Gibbs suggested naming the newly discovered gem after his colleague and friend Brus. So, already in 1819, a new mineral called "brucite" appeared.
Did you know that Colonel George Gibbs was not a professional geologist, but an amateur. However, his mineralogical collection included dozens of nuggets and was known far beyond the borders of the United States. Among the samples of this collection, of course, there was brucite and not one, but several of its varieties.
Brucite is formed in an alkaline environment under the influence of low temperatures. Metamorphoses occur with this mineral - a nugget can become carbonate or hydromagnesite. Dolomite pseudomorphs are known.
Deposits of the mineral brucite
Brucite is one of the common minerals. Stone reserves amount to tens of thousands of tons. However, not all material is pure brucite. For example, on the territory of Russia, only one deposit supplies the market with a pure gem - this is the Kuldursky mine near Khabarovsk (Far East). The remaining mining sites are located in the Urals, the North Caucasus, and Baikal, however, varieties of the mineral containing impurities occur there.
There are several large deposits of talchydrite of one kind or another in the world:
- Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Pennsylvania, USA supply decorative marble with a high content of brucite.
- Canada mines nemalite.
- Italy is also famous for its beautiful marble with brucite inclusions, where such a rock is called “pencatite”.
The nugget is mined in the marbles of Korea, Japan, Zimbabwe, South Africa. Small deposits of nemalite are found in the lands of Quebec and Yugoslavia. The mineral was also found on the territory of Hungary.
physical properties
Brucite has a layered structure and practically does not form crystals. Habitual deposits of brucite are solid masses, outwardly similar to gypsum.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Formula | Mg(OH)2 |
| Hardness | 2,5 - 3 |
| Density | 2,39 - 2,4 g / cm³ |
| Kink | Bold to the touch |
| Syngonia | Trigonal |
| Cleavage | Perfect by {0001} |
| Transparency | Transparent |
| Brilliance | Glass |
| Color | White, gray, pale green, blue |
Pure talhydrite is 2/3 magnesium and 1/3 water. Impurities can be iron or manganese in different quantities. Hydrophyllite is very soft, easily amenable to a knife blade, and dissolves well in acids. When heated, talchydrite does not melt, but glows brightly when ignited.
Varieties and colors
Pure brucite is usually transparent or translucent, blue-eyed, white or greenish in color. When the main component of the mineral (magnesium) is partially replaced by manganese or iron, varieties of the mineral are formed with excellent physical characteristics and colors. There are several types of water talc:
- Nemalit. A nugget with a fibrous structure. It comes in white, emerald, green-blue, cream and even black.
Nemalit
- Ferronemalite. It is a nemalite with an iron content of about 5%.
Ferronemalite
- Manganbrusite. A rock with a high manganese content of brown-yellow or red-brown color. It tends to oxidize in air, which makes it black.
- Ferrobrusite. A stone containing up to 35% iron. Translucent white nugget. When oxidized, it becomes brown, opaque.
Ferrobrusite
Varieties of aqueous talc differ not only in color and composition, but also in structure. Ferrobrucite often occurs as fine-flake masses, which are often patterned. Thus, a certain striped or mesh coloring is created. Manganbrusite is formed by thick-columnar crystals.
Medicinal properties
The natural alkaline characteristics of the mineral endowed the mineral with beneficial properties for the human body. Brucite has been well studied by lithotherapists who advise using the mineral in cases of:
- neurosis, mental disorders, insomnia, depression;
- manifestations of tachycardia;
- the need to eliminate the consequences of a stroke;
- headache.
The stone has a positive effect on the psychological health of a person, normalizing the emotional background. With nervous disorders, loss of strength, depression, wearing pendants or bracelets helps. Sleep patterns will be adjusted by rings or rings, and earrings will help relieve a headache. Due to its sedative abilities, brucite does not directly affect the heart rate, bringing the heartbeat back to normal.
Magical properties
Magically, the mineral is very strong. Esotericists claim that brucite affects the fate of a person, among the unique abilities of the gem:
- strengthening the clarity of thinking, intellectual abilities, facilitating the perception of large information flows;
- attracting success, financial well-being;
- gaining a positive attitude;
- a surge of strength to overcome life's difficulties and spiritual contradictions.
It is also believed that water talc develops intuition, clairvoyance abilities. With the help of a brucite talisman, a person becomes wiser, which makes it possible to soberly respond to mistakes, learning from them.
It is interesting! There are times when the owners of the mineral see prophetic dreams over time. This happens no earlier than a month after continuous contact with the talisman.
To attract finance, move up the career ladder or find additional sources of income, it is advised to wear rings with a mineral.
Applications
Brucite is an important mineral for various industries. Talchydrite finds application in such areas as:
- metallurgy;
- building;
- oil industry;
- water treatment;
- medicine;
- Agriculture;
- cosmetology;
- jewelry industry;
- stonework.
In the last two industries, brucite is the least in demand. This mineral is too soft, easily exposed to air and chemistry. However, this does not stop some masters - brucite is cut with cabochons, complementing them with jewelry.
And stone-cutters love this mineral for its softness and suppleness, so they grind various decorative gizmos out of it, encrust boxes and other decor items with it. Very beautiful brucite marble. Masters use it as an ornamental material, and builders use it as a facing material.
The high adsorption properties of brucite make it useful in the manufacture of cosmetic products. The mineral is also used in the production of decorative cosmetics - talcum powder, foundation creams, shadows, powder. In agriculture, talchydrite has found application in the preparation of dressings, fertilizers for plants, and even fodder.
Main use
The most important role of brucite is to become a magnesium ore for use in non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy. Magnesium is an integral component of alloys used in aircraft and automotive construction. The alkaline properties of brucite reduce the density of alloys, which means they make metals lighter. In addition, cooking cast iron is not complete without magnesium oxide, which displaces sulfur from the melt.
In industry, dehydrated and calcined hydrophyllite is used for the manufacture of refractories. That is, an ordinary brick becomes refractory precisely because of talhydrite. The production of concrete, cement, as well as roofing materials also takes place with the participation of water talc. The production of rubber polymer materials no less needs brucite, since this mineral increases the heat resistance.
In the oil and water treatment industry, brucite plays the role of a sorbent due to its ability to attract various substances. With the help of talchydrite, oil products and water are purified from harmful impurities.
The electronics industry needs brucite as an abrasive. Magnesium oxide fine powder perfectly copes with cleaning and polishing the surfaces of various parts.
The magnesium component of brucite is known to physicians as magnesia. It is obtained by calcining the mineral. The properties of this drug are versatile, however, the main application is the neutralization of stomach acids and the relaxation of smooth muscles.
This makes magnesia an indispensable drug for pregnant women with threatened miscarriage. Magnesium is also used to make vitamin complexes and biological supplements.
Care instructions
Brucite products require a special approach. Such things must be protected from direct sunlight, high humidity, dust, alkalis, acids and any aggressive environment.
Small specimens of stone, as well as jewelry, are ideally stored in individual plastic bags wrapped in a soft cloth. Each product must have its own cardboard or plastic container or box. Large stones or decor items should be kept in glass, hermetically sealed cabinets.
Since water-based talc is afraid of sunlight and loses its shade, all products are stored in a place protected from the sun.
Astrological Compatibility
Astrologers identify several signs for which brucite will be especially useful.
("+++" - the stone fits perfectly, "+" - can be worn, "-" - absolutely contraindicated):
| Zodiac sign | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Aries | + + + |
| Taurus | + |
| Gemini | + |
| Cancer | + |
| a lion | + |
| Virgo | + + + |
| Scales | + |
| Scorpio | + |
| Sagittarius | — |
| Capricorn | — |
| Aquarius | + + + |
| Pisces | + |
They are Aries, Aquarius and Virgo. With such a talisman, representatives of these constellations will be protected from any negative impact.
For those born under the signs of Capricorn and Sagittarius, it is undesirable to wear water talc. These Zodiacs are energetically incompatible with the mineral. The rest of the signs of the zodiac circle can safely choose bursitis as their talisman.
Interesting Facts
Today, the Ural deposits give only one of the varieties of the mineral - ferrobrucite. However, back in the 19th century, crystals of pure brucite up to 3 cm long were found in the Urals. Now these reserves have been depleted.
In 1983, a nemalite suitable for the needs of jewelers was found on the lands of Canada. The length of the fibers of this nugget reached 1 meter.
On the lands of the Canadian province of Ontario, near Bancroft, a pale blue brucite was found, which was cut. The processed crystals weighed about 4 carats.
