brucite
/ˈbruːsʌɪt
/noun [mass noun]
A white, grey, or greenish mineral typically occurring in the form of tabular crystals. It consists of hydrated magnesium hydroxide.The spacing between the protruding oxygen atoms is comparable to the spacing between certain of the hydroxyl groups in layers of magnesium hydroxide (brucite) or aluminum hydroxide (gibbsite)....
- In the presence of excess ground waters, brucite in the friable matrix dissolves, leaving behind a residue of amorphous iron oxides.
- The individual magnesium hydroxide layers are identical to the individual layers of brucite and are referred to as the ‘brucite layers’.
Origin
Early 19th century: named after Archibald Bruce (1777–1818), American mineralogist, + -ite1.