Collection: Nontronite

Nontronite is an iron rich clay mineral.
Mineral class- Silicate
Crystal system-Monoclinic
Appearance- it rarely forms visible individual crystals. It usually occurs as soft,earthy,compact,or creamy green masses.
Rock formation- It forms from basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks (such as basalt) biotite and iron-rich metamorphic or sulfide rocks.
It develops through chemical weathering in surface soil or via low temperature hydrothermal alteration where warm iron,and silicon rich fluids interact with surrounding rocks.
It is found in surface alternates deep,sea hydrothermal vents,and even martian surface sediments.
Hardness-1.5-2 on the MOHs scale