VOOZH about

URL: https://www.mindat.org/min-1763.html

⇱ Guanine: Mineral information, data and localities.

👁 Image
Now Featuring: The Bruce Carter Collection at Heritage Auctions, Live May 16th
Log InRegister
AboutSupport UsPhotosDiscussionsSearchLearnMore

Guanine

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

About GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Formula:
C5H5N5O
structural formula: NCHNHC2C(O)NHC(NH2)N
Colour:
white
Hardness:
1 - 2
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Bodo Unger reported a new material that believed was xanthine in 1844. Einbrodt (1846) showed the identification was incorrect. Unger (1846) agreed, provided a full corrected description and named it guanine after the guano it was found in.
Aromatic heterocycle (an organic cyclic carbon compound with additional, non-carbon atom(s)); a nucleobase and an important constituent of both DNA and RNA.

Spacing change of guanine crystals in the skin of chameleons is responsible for their showcase colour change (Teyssier et al. 2015).


Unique IdentifiersHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat ID:
1763
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1763:9

Similar NamesHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
GuaniteA synonym of Struvite(NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2O

IMA Classification of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Approved
IMA Formula:
C5H3(NH2)N4O
Approval year:
1973
First published:
1844
Approval history:
The compound was already found in guano on North Chinca Island, Chile, by Bodo Unger in 1846, but it was confirmed as a natural occurence in bat guano from Murra-el-clevyn Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia, in 1973.

Classification of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
10.CA.30

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
50.4.5.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
32.12

32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds

Mineral SymbolsHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
GniIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale

Optical Data of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type:
Biaxial

Chemistry of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat Formula:
C5H5N5O

structural formula: NCHNHC2C(O)NHC(NH2)N
Element Weights:
Element% weight
N46.341 %
C39.737 %
O10.587 %
H3.335 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.510 Å, b = 11.277 Å, c = 3.645 Å
β = 98.84°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.464 : 1 : 0.323
Unit Cell V:
670.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Synthetic

Crystal StructureHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0009419GuanineThewalt U, Bugg C E, Marsh R E (1971) The crystal structure of guanine monohydrate Acta Crystallographica B27 2358-2362👁 Image
1971synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
7.9 Å(40)
6.32 Å(70b)
3.53 Å(50)
3.22 Å(100b)
2.63 Å(50)
2.00 Å(50)
1.80 Å(50)
Comments:
Synthetic. (ICDD 28-2012)

Geological EnvironmentHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals<0.4

Type Occurrence of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Seabird guano.

Synonyms of GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Other Language Names for GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
German:Guanin

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
10.CA.AllantoinC4H6N4O3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
10.CA.PabellóndepicaiteCu2+2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2(NO3)Cl · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnna
10.CA.BojariteCu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2 · 6H2OIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
10.CA.NatrosulfatoureaNa2(SO4)[CO(NH2)2]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
10.CA.'Tholins'(C,H,N)
10.CA.FuchuniteBa(C2H3O3)2(C2H4O3)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
10.CA.05RefikiteC20H32O2Orth. 222 : P21212
10.CA.10FlagstaffiteC10H22O3Orth. mm2 : Fdd2
10.CA.15HoeliteC14H8O2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
10.CA.20AbelsoniteNi(C31H32N4)Tric. 1 : P1
10.CA.25KladnoiteC6H4(CO)2NHMon. 2/m
10.CA.30'Tinnunculite (of Chesnokov & Shcherbakova)'C10H12N8O8Orth.
10.CA.35UreaCO(NH2)2Tet. 42m : P421m
10.CA.40UriciteC5H4N4O3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
10.CA.45ChanabayaiteCuCl(N3C2H2)(NH3) · 0.25H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
10.CA.50TriazoliteNaCu2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2Cl3 · 4H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
10.CA.55ErnstburkeiteMg(CH3SO3)2 · 12H2O Trig. 3 : R3
10.CA.60JoanneumiteCu(C3N3O3H2)2(NH3)2Tric. 1 : P1
10.CA.65TinnunculiteC5H4N4O3 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
10.CA.70'Dopplerite'Amor.

Other InformationHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Notes:
M.P. 360 ◦C
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1763.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Reference List:

Localities for GuanineHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Showing 8 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia
  • Western Australia
    • Dundas Shire
      • Cocklebiddy Roadhouse
Caves: processes +2 other references
      • Madura Roadhouse
Bridge (1977)
Chile
  • Antofagasta
    • El Loa Province
      • San Pedro de Atacama
        • Cordillera de la Sal
De Waele et al. (2009)
De Waele et al. (2017)
Mexico
  • Chihuahua
    • Saucillo Municipality
      • Naica
Gazquez et al. (1)
  • Coahuila
    • Cuatro Ciénegas Municipality
      • Cuatro Ciénegas (Cuatrociénegas de Carranza; Venustiano Carranza)
        • Limestone caves
Forti (2006)
Peru (TL)
  • Ica
    • Pisco Province
      • San Clemente District
        • Chincha Islands
Min Mag 39 (1974)
South Africa
  • Western Cape
    • West Coast District Municipality
Cairncross et al. (1995)
Quick NavTopAbout GuanineUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 4, 2026 13:05:25 Page updated: March 16, 2026 22:16:00
Go to top of page