Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Labradorite

Big Photo

Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Labradorite Photos (43)
Formula:
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Colour:Pale green, blue, ...Hardness:6 - 6½
Name:From the occurrence in Labrador, Canada.
A variety of Anorthite

A Plagioclase Feldspar with an Albite : Anorthite molar ratio ranging from 30 : 70 to 50 : 50. An intermediate member of the Albite-Anorthite Series.

Classification of Labradorite

Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.07-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FA.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2308.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Labradorite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous
Colour:Pale green, blue, colourless, grey-white
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½
Cleavage:Perfect
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Labradorite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.554 - 1.563 nβ = 1.559 - 1.568 nγ = 1.562 - 1.573
2V:Measured: 85° , Calculated: 78° to 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008 - 0.010

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 Labradorite

Formula:
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Essential elements:Al, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, Na, O, Si

Relationship of Labradorite to other Species

Related to:
  • Feldspar Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    9.FA.05Kaliophilite
    K[AlSiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Kalsilite
    K[AlSiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Nepheline
    (Na,K)[AlSiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Panunzite
    (Na,K)[AlSiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Trikalsilite
    (Na,K)[AlSiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Yoshiokaite
    (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
     
    4
    		]
    9.FA.05Megakalsilite
    KAlSiO
     
    4
    9.FA.10Malinkoite
    NaBSiO
     
    4
    9.FA.15Virgilite
    LiAlSi
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    9.FA.25Lisitsynite
    KBSi
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    9.FA.30Adularia
    KAlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.30Anorthoclase
    (Na,K)[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Buddingtonite
    (NH
     
    4
    		)[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Celsian
    Ba[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Hyalophane
    (K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Microcline
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Orthoclase
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Sanidine
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Rubicline
    (Rb,K)[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.30Monalbite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Andesine
    (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Anorthite
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Bytownite
    (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Oligoclase
    (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.35Reedmergnerite
    Na[BSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.40Paracelsian
    Ba[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.45Svyatoslavite
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.45Kumdykolite
    NaAlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.50Slawsonite
    (Sr,Ca)[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    9.FA.55Lisetite
    CaNa
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    16
    9.FA.60Banalsite
    BaNa
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
     
    2
    9.FA.60Stronalsite
    SrNa
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		]
     
    2
    9.FA.65Danburite
    CaB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.65Maleevite
    BaB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.65Pekovite
    SrB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.70Lingunite
    (Na,Ca)AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    9.FA.75Kokchetavite
    KAlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8

    Other Names for Labradorite

    Synonyms:
    Black MoonstoneCarnatiteLabrador FeldsparLabrador MoonstoneMauilite
    Opaline FeldsparRadauiteSiliciteSpectrolite
    Other Languages:
    Czech:Labradorit
    Dutch:Labradoriet
    Finnish:Labradoriitti
    French:Labradorite
    German:Labradorit
    Carnatit
    Mauilit
    Radauit
    Silicit
    Spectrolith
    Spektrolith
    Hebrew:לברדוריט
    Italian:Labradorite
    Japanese:ラブラドル長石
    Lithuanian:Labradoritas
    Norwegian (Bokmål):Labrador
    Polish:Labrador
    Portuguese:Labradorite
    Russian:Лабрадорит
    Slovak:Labradorit
    Spanish:Labradorita
    Carnatita
    Mauilita
    Radauita
    Silicita
    Spectrolita
    Ukrainian:Лабрадорит
    Varieties:
    Lynx Eye

    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 Labradorite

    Reference List:Rose. G. (1823): Über den Feldspat, Albit, Labradorit und Anorthit, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 73/NF-43, 175-208.

    Acta Crystallographica (1988): B44: 344.

    Internet Links for Labradorite

    Search Engines:
  • Look for Labradorite on Google
  • Look for Labradorite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Labradorite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for - Labradorite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Labradorite specimens
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Find Labradorite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Labradorite

    Show Locality List (286 Items)
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.