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Lansfordite

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 effloresces at room temperature, 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.
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
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.3.6Artinite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 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
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.3.9Dypingite
Mg
 
5
[OH|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.3.10Eitelite
Na
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.3.11Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]

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.
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.

Internet Links for Lansfordite

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    Localities for Lansfordite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    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
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • 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
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