
General Information:

Chemical Formula:
BaCa4[Si16O36(OH)2]·10(H2O)

Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 1,537.15 gm)
Barium 8.93 %
BaCalcium 10.43 %
CaSilicon 29.23 %
SiHydrogen 1.44 %
H Oxygen 49.96 %
O 
Empirical Formula:
BaCa4Si16O36(OH)2·10(H2O)

Environment:
Sanbornite-bearing metamorphic rocks near a granodiorite contact.

IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1965

Locality:
Big Creek - Rush Creek sanbornite deposit, 5 miles NE of Trimmer, Fresno Co., California.

Name Origin:
Named for Grodon Andrew Macdonald (1911-1978), American volcanologist, University of Hawaii.
Physical Properties:

Cleavage:
[010] Perfect, [001] Good, [100] Indistinct

Color:
colorless or white.

Density:
2.27

Diaphaniety:
Transparent

Habits:
Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals., ,

Hardness:
3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Flourite

Luster:
Vitreous - Silky

Streak:
white
More details...