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Loughlinite

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Big Photo

Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, USA
© Enrico Bonacina

Show Loughlinite Photos (5)



Formula:
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White
Hardness:1
Member of:Sepiolite Group
Name:
Named in honor of the late Dr. Gerald Francis Loughlin [December 11, 1880 Hyde Park, MA, USA - October 22, 1946], former Chief Geologist of the United States Geological Survey.


Fibrous white vein filling.

Classification of Loughlinite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.33-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:74.3.1b.3

74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.4.12

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
4 : Silicates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Loughlinite

Type Locality:Westvaco mine, Green River formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, USA
Year of Discovery:1960
Geological Setting of type material:Originally found in dolomitic shale.

Physical Properties of Loughlinite

Lustre:Silky, Pearly, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):1
Tenacity:Flexible
Fracture:Fibrous
Density (measured):2.165 g/cm3

Crystallography of Loughlinite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.66Å, b = 26.71Å, c = 5.26Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.549 : 1 : 0.197
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,059.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Fibrous aggregates, usually parallel.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
12.8 (100)
7.60 (30)
4.80 (50)
4.45 (100)
3.79 (100)
3.65 (100)
2.90 (70)
Comments:JCPDS 13-310

Optical Data of Loughlinite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.500 nβ = 1.505 nγ = 1.525
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 54°
Birefringence:0.025
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.025

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:relatively weak
Optical Extinction:Parallel.

Chemical Properties of Loughlinite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe

Relationship of Loughlinite to other Species

Member of:Sepiolite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Ferrisepiolite
(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
O
 
15
)(O,OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
Mn
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.45Makatite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.50Varennesite
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
Na
 
4
Mn
2+
3
Ti
 
0.25
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EE.75Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.80Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.EE.80Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.85Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.4.1Forsterite
Mg
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.4.2Enstatite
MgSiO
 
3
14.4.3Clinoenstatite
MgSiO
 
3
14.4.4Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.4.5Clinochrysotile
14.4.6Orthochrysotile
14.4.7Parachrysotile
14.4.8Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.4.9Talc
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
14.4.10Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O (?)
14.4.11Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
14.4.13Eifelite
KNa
 
3
Mg
 
4
Si
 
12
O
 
30
14.4.14Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3-x
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
14.4.15Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.4.16 Magnesio-anthophyllite

Other Names for Loughlinite

Other Languages:
German:Loughlinit
Spanish:Loughlinita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent.
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 Loughlinite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1960): 45: 270-281.

Internet Links for Loughlinite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Loughlinite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Loughlinite

    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.
    Turkey
     
    • Central Anatolia Region
      • Eskişehir Province
        • Mihaliççik
    		Echle, W. (1967): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 14, 86-101.
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • Duchesne Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Uintah Co.
    		Min Rec 8:5 p369
    • Wyoming
      • Sweetwater Co.
        • Green River Formation
    		Am Min 45:270-281
    Am Min 45:270-281
    Am Min 46:420-429
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