Laurionite

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Laurionite
Laurionite-154998.jpg
Laurionite crystals in a vug from the Laurium district of Greece
General
Category Halide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
PbCl(OH)
IMA symbol Lri [1]
Strunz classification 3.DC.05
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group Pnma
Unit cell a = 7.111, b = 9.6987
c = 4.0203 [Å]; Z = 4
Identification
ColorColorless, white
Crystal habit Elongated tabular prismatic crystals
Cleavage Distinct on {101}
Tenacity Flexible
Mohs scale hardness3–3.5
Luster Adamantine, pearly
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 6.241
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive index nα = 2.077 nβ = 2.116 nγ = 2.158
Birefringence δ = 0.081
2V angle Measured: 70°
Solubility Sleight in cold water
References [2] [3] [4] [5]

Laurionite (PbCl(OH)) is a lead halide mineral. It forms colorless to white crystals in the orthorhombic crystal system and is dimorphous with paralaurionite, both members of the matlockite group. [2]

It was first described in 1887 for an occurrence in the Laurium District, Attica, Greece, and named after the town Laurium. [2] It occurs as an oxidation product in lead ore deposits, and is also produced on lead-bearing slag by reaction with saline solutions. It occurs associated with paralaurionite, penfieldite, fiedlerite, phosgenite, cerussite and anglesite. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolzite</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matlockite</span>

Matlockite is a rare lead halide mineral, named after the town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England, where it was first discovered in a nearby mine. Matlockite gives its name to the matlockite group which consists of rare minerals of a similar structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsumcorite</span>

Tsumcorite is a rare hydrated lead arsenate mineral that was discovered in 1971, and reported by Geier, Kautz and Muller. It was named after the TSUMeb CORporation mine at Tsumeb, in Namibia, in recognition of the Corporation's support for mineralogical investigations of the orebody at its Mineral Research Laboratory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semseyite</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloroxiphite</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paralaurionite</span>

Paralaurionite is a colorless mineral consisting of a basic lead chloride PbCl(OH) that is dimorphous with laurionite. It is a member of the matlockite group. The name is derived from para-, the Greek for "near", and laurionite, because of its polymorphic relationship to it. Bright, yellow tips of thorikosite can form on paralaurionite crystals and paralaurionite may also be intergrown with mendipite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mammothite</span>

Mammothite is a mineral found in the Mammoth mine in Tiger, Arizona and also in Laurium, Attika, Greece. This mineral was named in 1985 by Donald R. Peacor, Pete J. Dunn, G. Schnorrer-Köhler, and Richard A. Bideaux, for the Mammoth vein (one of the two main veins in the mine) and the town of Mammoth, Arizona, which was named for the mine. The mammothite that is found in Arizona exist as euhedral crystals imbedded in micro granular, white colored anglesite with a saccharoidal texture. The associated minerals include phosgenite, wulfenite, leadhillite and caledonite. In Greece, the mammothite exists as small euhedral crystals and also as microscopic rock cavities lined with projecting crystals within the slags. The associated minerals here are cerussite, phosgenite and matlockite. The ideal chemical formula for mammothite is Pb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penfieldite</span>

Penfieldite is a rare lead hydroxychloride mineral from the class of halides. It was named after Samuel Lewis Penfield. It has been a valid species before the founding of IMA, and was first published in 1892. It had been grandfathered, meaning the name penfieldite is still believed to refer to a valid species. When it was first described by Genth in 1892 from Laurion, Greece, the mineral had the formula of Pb3Cl4O.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 Mindat.org
  3. 1 2 Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Webmineral data for laurionite
  5. Mineralienatlas