Oregonite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Oregonite, having a hexagonal crystal system, was first observed in Josephine Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, USA. It was named for the state of Oregon.

Properties of Oregonite

The following are the key properties of Oregonite:

• Cell Data
  • Space Group: n.d
  • a = 6.083
  • c = 7.130
  • Z = 3

• Crystal Data
  • Hexagonal
  • Point Group: n.d
  • As fine-grained pebbles, having a smooth brown crust; polygonal grains, to 0.5mm
  • X-ray Powder Pattern: 2.314 (vs), 2.120 (vs), 1.991 (s), 1.789 (s), 1.757 (s), 1.739 (s), 3.571 (m)

• Chemical Composition

  Elements	Content
  As	46.38
  Ni	36.33
  Fe	17.29
  Total	100

• Optical Properties
  • Anisotropism: Weak

• Estimated Properties

  Electron density	Bulk density (electron density) = 6.45 g/cm3 note: Specific gravity of Oregonite = 7.04 g/cm3
  Photoelectric	PEOregonite = 53.43 barns/electron U = PEOregonite x ρElectron density = 344.66 barns/cm3
  Fermion index	Fermion index = 0.0077 Boson index = 0.9922
  Radioactivity	Oregonite is not radioactive

How to Identify Oregonite

Oregonite is commonly found in white or gray-white color. It has an opaque appearance, metallic luster, and granular texture.

The relative hardness of oregonite is 5, and its density is 6.92 g/cm³.

Global Distribution

Oregonite is distributed in the following places:

• Josephine Creek, west of Kerby, Josephine Co. Oregon, USA
• Alexo mine, near Timmins, Ontario, Canada
• Skouriotissa, Cyprus
• Ijim massif, west Sayan, Russia

Occurrence of Oregonite and Useful Mineral Association

Oregonite occurs as water-rolled pebbles in serpentine and clinochlore.

It is closely associated with magnetite, pyrrhotite, chromite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, bornite, and copper.

References

• Oregonite – Mindat
• Oregonite Mineral Data – Webmineral
• Oregonite.pdf - Rruff Project Website - University of Arizona