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Larsenite

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Franklin Mine, Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
© Knut Eldjarn

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Formula:
PbZnSiO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colorless, white
Hardness:3
Name:
Named in 1928 by Palache et al. for Esper Signius Larsen, Jr. (1879-1961), petrologist and Professor of Geology at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.


A vary rare lead silicate found on fracture surfaces and in cavities in massive ore, invariably associated with esperite and the typical ore minerals at Franklin, NJ, USA.

Classification of Larsenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.03-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AB.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
B : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [4] and greater coordination
Dana 7th edition ID:51.2.1.2
Dana 8th edition ID:51.2.1.2

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
2 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [4] as well as >[4]
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.7.18

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Larsenite

Type Locality:Parker Mine (Parker shaft), Franklin Mine, Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Colorless, acicular to long-prismatic striated crystals.
Year of Discovery:1928
Geological Setting of type material:A very rare secondary mineral in veins cutting coarse, massive willemite-franklinite ore in a metamorphosed, stratiform, Precambrian Zn-Mn-Fe deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WillemiteFrankliniteEsperiteClinohedriteHardystonite
Hodgkinsonite

Physical Properties of Larsenite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colorless, white
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {120}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):5.90 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.12 g/cm3

Crystallography of Larsenite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Pna21
Cell Parameters:a = 8.24Å, b = 18.96Å, c = 5.06Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.435 : 1 : 0.267
Unit Cell Volume:V 790.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Slender prismatic to acicular [001]?, sometimes tabular {010}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.88 (80)
4.19 (60)
4.11 (50)
4.03 (50)
3.78 (30)
3.19 (100)
3.04 (80)
2.85 (90)
Comments:20-607 (synthetic)

Optical Data of Larsenite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.920 nβ = 1.950 nγ = 1.960
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 58°
Birefringence:0.04
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v easily perceptible
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic
Comments:X=a, Y=c, Z=b, strong absorption

Chemical Properties of Larsenite

Formula:
PbZnSiO
 
4
Essential elements:O, Pb, Si, Zn
All elements listed in formula:O, Pb, Si, Zn
Analytical Data:Based on Franklin, New Jersey material average of 2 analyses
SiO2 (16.87)
FeO (0.10)
MnO (0.14)
ZnO (22.74)
PbO (56.66)
MgO (0.20)
CaO (2.42)
H2O (0.76)
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Mg,Ca,H2O

Relationship of Larsenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AB.05Trimerite
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AB.15Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AB.20Rondorfite
Ca
 
8
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
Cl
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.7.1Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
14.7.2Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.7.3Walstromite
BaCa
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.7.4Macdonaldite
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
14.7.5Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.6Ericssonite-2O
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.7Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.8Andrémeyerite
Fe
2+
2
Ba(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.9Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
14.7.10Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
14.7.11Willemite
Zn
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.7.12Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.13Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.7.14Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Si
 
2
O
 
6
14.7.16Clinohedrite
CaZn(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.7.17Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.19Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
14.7.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.21Gerstmannite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Zn(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.22Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
14.7.23Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(Zn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
51.2.1.1Trimerite
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
51.2.1.3Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3

Other Names for Larsenite

Synonyms:
Lead-zink chrysolite
Other Languages:
German:Larsenit
Russian:Ларсенит
Spanish:Larsenita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None.
Health Warning:Contains lead - wash hands after handling.

References for Larsenite

Reference List:

- +
Palache, Charles, L.H. Bauer & H. Berman (1928), Larsenite, calcium-larsenite and associated minerals at Franklin, NJ: American Mineralogist: 13: 334-340.

Palache, Charles (1935), The Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, Sussex County, New Jersey, USGS PP 180: 81.

Mineralogical Record (1982): 13: 142.

Dunn, Pete J. (1985), The lead silicates from Franklin, New Jersey: occurrence and composition: Mineralogical Magazine: 49: 721-727.

Dunn, P.J. (1995): Part 3: 381-382.

Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh & Nichols (1995), Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. II, Mineral Data Publishing.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition.

Internet Links for Larsenite

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    • Localities for Larsenite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • North Flinders Ranges
          • Puttapa
    		Elliott, P. (1991): Minerals from the Beltana mine, Puttapa, South Australia. Mineral. Rec. 22, 449-456.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Arnsberg
          • Uentrop
    		Lapis, 14 (6), 11-32+50.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Gebhard, G. (1999): Tsumeb II. A Unique Mineral Locality. GG Publishing, Grossenseifen, Germany
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    		Palache, C. (1935), USGS Prof. Paper 180: 81; Dunn, P.J. (1995): Pt3: 381-382.
    Palache, C. (1935), USGS Prof. Paper 180: 81; Dunn, P.J. (1995): Pt3: 381-382.
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