Molybdite
Molybdite is the naturally occurring mineral form of molybdenum trioxide MoO3. It occurs as yellow to greenish needles and crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
| Molybdite | |
|---|---|
Molybdite on molybdenite from the Questa Molybdenum Mine (size: 11.0 x 6.7 x 4.1 cm) | |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | MoO3 |
| IMA symbol | Myb |
| Strunz classification | 4.EA.10 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | Pbnm |
| Unit cell | a = 3.96 Å, b = 13.85 Å, c = 3.69 Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Light greenish yellow to nearly colorless |
| Crystal habit | Flattened needles or thin plates may occur in aggregates |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {100}, district on {001} |
| Tenacity | Flexible |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3 - 4 |
| Luster | Adamantine |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 4.72 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
| Birefringence | High |
| 2V angle | Large |
| References | |
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