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Litidionite

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Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© 2008, JGW

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Formula:
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
System:TriclinicHardness:5 - 6
Name:From the Greek for "pebble."
This page provides mineralogical data about Litidionite.

Classification of Litidionite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.39-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DG.70

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
Dana 8th edition ID:70.1.1.1

70 : INOSILICATES Column or Tube Structures
1 : Column or Tube Structures with columnar silicate units
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.2.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Litidionite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1880

Physical Properties of Litidionite

Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6

Crystallography of Litidionite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.8Å, b = 8.01Å, c = 6.97Å
α = 114.12°, β = 99.52°, γ = 105.59°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.223 : 1 : 0.87
Unit Cell Volume:V 456.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Litidionite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.548 nβ = 1.574
2V:Measured: 56°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 1.548

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Litidionite

Formula:
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
Essential elements:Cu, K, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Cu, K, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Pb,Ca

Relationship of Litidionite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DG.05Bustamite
CaMn
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
9.DG.05Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
9.DG.05Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.05Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.05Wollastonite
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.07Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.08Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Tobermorite
Ca
 
4+x
(H
 
2-2x
Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.DG.25Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.DG.25Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.30Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
9.DG.35Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.40Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
8
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 14H
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 13-14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
8
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.55Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.60Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.65Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.DG.70Fenaksite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
9.DG.70Manaksite
KNaMnSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.75Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.75Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.75Senkevichite
CsKNaCa
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.80Canasite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.80Fluorcanasite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.85Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
9.DG.90Frankamenite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(F,OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.92Charoite
(K,Na)
 
6-7
(Ca,Na)
 
18
[(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(Si
 
18
O
 
45
)](OH,F)
 
2
 · n H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH) · H
 
2
O
9.DG.97Eveslogite
(Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)
 
48
 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
12
Si
 
48
O
 
144
(OH)
 
12
](F,OH,Cl)
 
14
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.2.1Dioptase
CuSiO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
14.2.2Shattuckite
Cu
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.2.3Plancheite
Cu
 
8
(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
14.2.4Gilalite
Cu
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
14.2.5Chrysocolla
Cu
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(H
 
2-x
Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (x < 1)
14.2.7Reinhardbraunsite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
14.2.8Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.2.9Kinoite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
14.2.10Stringhamite
CaCu(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.2.11Apachite
Cu
 
9
Si
 
10
O
 
29
 · 11H
 
2
O

Other Names for Litidionite

Synonyms:
LithidioniteNeocianoNeocyanite
Other Languages:
German:Lithidionit
Litidionit
Neocyanit
Russian:Литидионит
Spanish:Lithidionita
Litidionita
Neocyanita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Litidionite

Reference List:

- +
Scacchi, E. (1880): Lapilli azzurri del Vesuvio. Atti della Regia Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, 19, 175-179.

Scacchi, A. (1882): Nuovi sublimati del cratere vesuviano trovati nel mese di ottobre del 1880 (Memoria 1880). Atti della Reale Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, Serie 1, 9, 1-10.

Pozas, J., Rossi, G., Tazzoli, V. (1975): Re-examination and crystal structure analysis of Litidionite, American Mineralogist, Vol. 60, 471-475

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1981): 104: 387.

Internet Links for Litidionite

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    • Localities for Litidionite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Pozas, J., Rossi, G., Tazzoli, V. (1975): Re-examination and crystal structure analysis of Litidionite, American Mineralogist, Vol. 60, 471-475.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • North Battle Mountain District
          • Snowstorm mine (Mountain View mine)
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
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