21 Photos
Artinite
Chemical Formula	Mg2[(OH)2|CO3]?3H2O
Species	Carbonates
Crystal System	Monoclinic
Mohs Scale	2
Specific Gravity	2.01-2.03
Color	white
Streak	white
Luster	Vitreous, Silky
Refractive Index	n = 1.488 - 1.489 n = 1.533 - 1.534 n = 1.556 - 1.557
Diaphaneity	Transparent
Cleavage	PerfectOn perfect; on good.
Crystal Habit：Forms crusts of acicular crystals, elongated . Also botryoidal masses of silky fibers; spherical aggregates of radiating fibers; cross-fiber veinlets.
Geological Setting：Low-temperature hydrothermal environments as veinlets or crusts along fracture surfaces in serpentinized ultrabasic rocks.

Artinite is a hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral with formula: Mg₂(CO₃)(OH)₂·3H₂O. It forms white silky monoclinic prismatic crystals that are often in radial arrays or encrustations. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 2.

It occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and in serpentinized ultramafic rocks.

It was first reported in 1902 in Lombardy, Italy. It was named for Italian mineralogist, Ettore Artini (1866-1928).