Geographic Minerals

Hoelite: Properties and Occurrences

Hoelite: Properties and Occurrences

Hoelite is a very rare organic mineral discovered in 1922 at Mt. Pyramide, Spitsbergen, Norway. Its chemical formula is C14H8O2 (9,10-anthraquinone). It is a monoclinic-prismatic mineral containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Hoelite is a mineral, discovered in 1922 at Mt. Pyramide, Spitsbergen, Norway and named after Norwegian geologist Adolf Hoel (1879–1964).

The mineral was named after Adolf Hoel, geologist, leader of a Norwegian expedition to Spitzbergen.

General Information

  • Category: Organic mineral
  • Formula: C14H8O2
  • Crystal system: Monoclinic
  • Crystal class: Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)

Fig: Hoelite 

Properties

Hoelite is a yellow or yellow-green mineral with the light yellow streak and good cleavage. The density of hoelite is 1.42 g/cm3. It is a very rare organic mineral which occurs in coal fire environments in association with sal ammoniac and native sulfur.

  • Color: Yellow, yellowish green
  • Crystal habit: Acicular clusters; pseudo-orthorhombic
  • Cleavage: Good
  • Streak: Light yellow
  • Diaphaneity: Semitransparent
  • Specific gravity: 1.42
  • Optical properties: Biaxial (+)

Occurrence

Hoelite occurs in crusts around the surface vents of a burning coal deposit. It is closely associated with sulfur and sal ammoniac. It is largely distributed in Mt. Pyramide, Spitsbergen, Norway.

Association: Sal ammoniac, sulfur.

 

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