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Lansfordite

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Sommergraben, Kraubath, Leoben, Styria, Austria
© AC

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Formula:
MgCO
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colorless (fresh), white ...
Hardness:2½
Name:After the town of Lansford, Pennsylvania, USA, near where it was initially found.


Slowly dehydrates at room temperature, ultimately altering to nesquehonite.

Classification of Lansfordite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/D.01-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.CA.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:15.1.6.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.3.4

11 : Carbonates
3 : Carbonates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Lansfordite

Type Locality:Nesquehoning Coal Mine, Nesquehoning, Lansford, Carbon Co., Pennsylvania, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Small stalactites attached to carbonaceous shale.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University
Year of Discovery:1888
Geological Setting of type material:Anthracite coal mine underground workings.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Nesquehonite

Physical Properties of Lansfordite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Colorless (fresh), white (exposed); colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness Data:Measured
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}, on {100} less perfect.
Density (measured):1.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.7 g/cm3

Crystallography of Lansfordite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:P21 {P1 1 21} {P21} {P1 21 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.47Å, b = 7.62Å, c = 7.34Å
β = 101.76°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.636 : 1 : 0.963
Unit Cell Volume:V 682.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Minute short-prismatic crystals [001]; also stalactitic.

Optical Data of Lansfordite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.465 nβ = 1.468 nγ = 1.507
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.042

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Lansfordite

Formula:
MgCO
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:C, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Lansfordite to other Species

Common Associates:
NesquehoniteHydromagnesite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.CA.05Nesquehonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.CA.15Barringtonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
5.CA.20Hellyerite
NiCO
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.3.1Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
11.3.2Barringtonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
11.3.3Nesquehonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.3.5Pokrovskite
Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
11.3.6Artinite
Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.3.7Hydromagnesite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
11.3.8Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5-6H
 
2
O
11.3.9Dypingite
Mg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.3.10Eitelite
Na
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.3.11Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Lansfordite

Other Languages:
German:Lansfordit
Russian:Лансфордит
Spanish:Lansfordita

Other Information

Other Information:Effloresces readily, altering to nesquehonite. Soluble in dilute acids with effervescence.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:		Slowly effloresces at room temperature, altering to nesquehonite.
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 Lansfordite

Reference List:

- +
Genth (1888) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 14: 255.

Genth and Penfield (1890) American Journal of Science: 39: 121.

Cesàro (1910) Académie royale des sciences de Belgique, Cl. sc., Bull., Brussels: 4: 234.

Leitmeier (1910) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 47: 104.

Poitevin (1924) American Mineralogist: 9: 225.

Fenoglio (1933) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 4: 443.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 228-230.

Mineralogical Magazine (1982): 46: 341, 455.

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Internet Links for Lansfordite

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    • Localities for Lansfordite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Leoben
        • Kraubath
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Meixner, H. (1950): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 2(3), 195-209.
    J.Taucher (2001)
          • St Stefan
    		Offenbacher (1983)
    • Upper Austria
      • Gmunden
        • Hallstatt
          • Obertraun
    		Journal "Die Höhle"
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Atlin Mining Division
    		American Mineralogist (1924): 9: 224; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 230.
    Italy
     
    • Aosta Valley
      • Cogne Valley
        • Cogne
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 230; Gramaccioli, C.M. (1975)-Minerali alpini e Prealpini-Edizioni Atlas Bergamo
    • Piedmont
      • Torino Province
        • Sesia-Lanzo zone
          • Lanzo Valley
            • Viù Valley
              • Viù
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007): Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    Norway
     
    • Sør-Trøndelag
      • Røros
    		Moore & Hultin (1980): 245; Neumann (1985): 101.
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Zermatt - Saas Fee area
        • Matt Valley
          • Zermatt
    		Lapis 32 (11) 12 (ad)
    USA
     
    • Arizona
    Corbett, R.G., Hanner, B.M., and Quick, T.J. (1989) Seeps and efflorescent minerals in the Grand Canyon: Predicted vs. identified phases [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 21, no. 4, p. 8. Grant, Raymond W., Bideaux, R.A., and Williams, S.A. (2006) Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995-2005: 5; Garvie, L.A.J. (2003) Decay-induced biomineralization of the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantean). American Mineralogist: 88: 1879-1888.
    • Colorado
      • Jefferson Co.
        • Clear Creek pegmatite Province
          • Robinson Gulch pegmatite
    		Cobban et al., 1997, Minerals of Colorado.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Carbon Co.
        • Lansford
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 230.
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 226; The Mineralogy of Pennsylvania 1922-1965, A Montgomery. pgs 64-65. ref.2) The Mineralogy of Pennsylvania (1874-1922); S. Gordon pg. 68; Genth F A, Penfield S L (1890) On lansfordite, nesquehonite, a new mineral, and pseudomorphs of nesquehonite after lansfordite, The American Journal of Science, 139, 121-137
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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