Portlandite
| Portlandite | |
|---|---|
Portlandite and ettringite | |
| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
| Formula | Ca(OH)2 |
| IMA symbol | Por |
| Strunz classification | 4.FE.05 |
| Dana classification | 06.02.01.04 Brucite group |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3 2/m) |
| Space group | P3m1 |
| Unit cell | a = 3.589 Å, c = 4.911 Å; Z = 1 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, white to greenish white |
| Crystal habit | Hexagonal plates; commonly fibrous, powdery, massive. |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {0001} |
| Tenacity | Sectile with flexible cleavage plates |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 |
| Luster | Pearly on cleavages |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 2.23 |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (−) |
| Refractive index | nω = 1.574 nε = 1.547 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.027 |
| Solubility | Soluble in water producing an alkaline solution |
| Alters to | Alters to CaCO3 on exposure to CO2 bearing waters |
| References | |
Portlandite is a hydroxide-bearing mineral typically included in the oxide mineral class. It is the naturally occurring form of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and the calcium analogue of brucite (Mg(OH)2).