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Laurionite

Formula:
PbClOH
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white
Hardness:3 - 3½
Name:After the locality at Laurion, Greece.
Dimorph of:Paralaurionite


Matlockite Group.

Classification of Laurionite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.0-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DC.05

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:10.2.2.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.7

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Laurionite

Type Locality:Lavrion District slag localities, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece
Year of Discovery:1887
Associated Minerals at type locality:
PhosgenitePenfielditeParalaurioniteFiedleriteCerussite
Anglesite

Occurrences of Laurionite

Geological Setting:Saline water acting on lead slags. Oxidation zone in lead deposits.

Physical Properties of Laurionite

Lustre:Adamantine, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:pearly on {100}
Colour:Colourless, white
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Tenacity:Flexible
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {101}.
Density (measured):6.241 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.212 g/cm3

Crystallography of Laurionite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.111Å, b = 9.6987Å, c = 4.0203Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.733 : 1 : 0.415
Unit Cell Volume:V 277.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals elongated [010] thick to thin tabular {100}. {100} striated [021] at times. Significant form {812} is generally replaced , or accompanied, by vicinal faces.
Crystal Atlas:
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Laurionite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Laurionite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Laurionite no.5 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Laurionite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 2.077 nβ = 2.116 nγ = 2.158
2V:Measured: 70° , Calculated: 90°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.081

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

Chemical Properties of Laurionite

Formula:
PbClOH
Essential elements:Cl, H, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, O, Pb

Relationship of Laurionite to other Species

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

    - +
    3.DC.05Paralaurionite
    PbClOH
    3.DC.10Fiedlerite
    Pb
     
    3
    Cl
     
    4
    F(OH)·H
     
    2
    O
    3.DC.15Penfieldite
    Pb
     
    2
    [OH|Cl
     
    3
    ]
    3.DC.20Laurelite
    Pb(F,Cl,OH)
     
    2
    3.DC.25Bismoclite
    BiOCl
    3.DC.25Daubréeite
    BiO(OH,Cl)
    3.DC.25Matlockite
    PbFCl
    3.DC.25Rorisite
    CaFCl
    3.DC.25Zavaritskite
    BiOF
    3.DC.25Zhangpeishanite
    BaFCl
    3.DC.30Nadorite
    PbSb[O
     
    2
    |Cl]
    3.DC.30Perite
    PbBi[O
     
    2
    |Cl]
    3.DC.35Aravaipaite
    Pb
     
    3
    [F
     
    3
    |AlF
     
    6
    ] · H
     
    2
    O
    3.DC.37Calcioaravaipaite
    PbCa
     
    2
    [(F,OH)
     
    3
    |AlF
     
    6
    ] · H
     
    2
    O
    3.DC.40Thorikosite
    Pb
     
    3
    [OH|(SbO
     
    3
    ,AsO
     
    3
    )|Cl
     
    2
    ]
    3.DC.45Mereheadite
    Pb
     
    2
    [O|OH|Cl]
    3.DC.50Blixite
    Pb
     
    2
    [(O,OH)
     
    2
    |Cl]
    3.DC.55Pinalite
    Pb
     
    3
    WO
     
    3
    Cl
     
    2
    3.DC.60Symesite
    Pb
     
    10
    [O
     
    7
    |SO
     
    4
    |Cl
     
    4
    ] · H
     
    2
    O
    3.DC.65Ecdemite
    Pb
     
    6
    [As
     
    2
    O
     
    7
    |Cl
     
    4
    ]
    3.DC.65Heliophyllite
    Pb
     
    3
    AsO
     
    4-n
    Cl
     
    2n+1
    3.DC.70Mendipite
    Pb
     
    3
    [O
     
    2
    |Cl
     
    2
    ]
    3.DC.75Damaraite
    Pb
     
    3
    [O
     
    2
    |OH|Cl]
    3.DC.80Onoratoite
    Sb
     
    8
    O
     
    11
    Cl
     
    2
    3.DC.85Cotunnite
    PbCl
     
    2
    3.DC.90Pseudocotunnite
    K
     
    2
    PbCl
     
    4
    3.DC.95Barstowite
    Pb
     
    4
    [Cl
     
    6
    |CO
     
    3
    ] · H
     
    2
    O
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    8.8.1Abhurite
    Sn
     
    21
    Cl
     
    16
    (OH)
     
    14
    O
     
    6
    8.8.2Matlockite
    PbFCl
    8.8.3Laurelite
    Pb(F,Cl,OH)
     
    2
    8.8.4Cotunnite
    PbCl
     
    2
    8.8.5Mendipite
    Pb
     
    3
    [O
     
    2
    |Cl
     
    2
    ]
    8.8.6Damaraite
    Pb
     
    3
    [O
     
    2
    |OH|Cl]
    8.8.8Paralaurionite
    PbClOH
    8.8.9Penfieldite
    Pb
     
    2
    [OH|Cl
     
    3
    ]
    8.8.10Fiedlerite
    Pb
     
    3
    Cl
     
    4
    F(OH)·H
     
    2
    O
    8.8.11Blixite
    Pb
     
    2
    [(O,OH)
     
    2
    |Cl]
    8.8.12Pseudocotunnite
    K
     
    2
    PbCl
     
    4
    8.8.13Diaboleite
    Pb
     
    2
    CuCl
     
    2
    (OH)
     
    4
    8.8.14Pseudoboleite
    Pb
     
    31
    Cu
     
    24
    Cl
     
    62
    (OH)
     
    48
    8.8.15Chloroxiphite
    Pb
     
    3
    CuCl
     
    2
    (OH)
     
    2
    O
     
    2
    8.8.17Bideauxite
    Pb
     
    2
    Ag[(F,OH)
     
    2
    |Cl
     
    3
    ]
    8.8.18Boleite
    KPb
     
    26
    Ag
     
    9
    Cu
     
    24
    (OH)
     
    48
    Cl
     
    62
    8.8.19Aravaipaite
    Pb
     
    3
    [F
     
    3
    |AlF
     
    6
    ] · H
     
    2
    O
    8.8.20Yedlinite
    Pb
     
    6
    (Cl,OH)
     
    6
    Cr
    3+
     
    (OH,O)
     
    8
    8.8.21Kolarite
    PbTeCl
     
    2
    8.8.22Hematophanite
    Pb
     
    4
    Fe
     
    3
    O
     
    8
    (OH,Cl)

    Other Names for Laurionite

    Other Languages:
    German:Laurionit
    Russian:Лаурионит
    Spanish:Laurionita

    Other Information

    Other Information:Slightly soluble in cold water, more soluble in warm water. Soluble in nitric acid.
    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 Laurionite

    Reference List:Koechlin (1887) Annalen des kaiserlich-königlichen naturhistorischen Hofmuseums Wien: 2: 188.

    vom Rath (1887) Berichte Niederrheinische Gesellschaft für Natur und Heilkunde, Bonn: 102: 149.

    Koechlin (1889) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 17: 112.

    Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 171.

    Smith (1899) Mineralogical Magazine: 12: 106.

    Ktenas (1910) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 33: 173.

    Hintze, Carl (1889) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [2B]: 2632.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 124.

    Palache, C. (1934) Mineralogical Magazine: 23: 573.

    Goldsztaub (1937) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 208: 1234.

    Brasseur (1940) Bulletin soc. roy. sc. Liége: 9: 166.

    Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (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: 62-64.

    Cannillo E., Giuseppetti G., Tadini C. (1968) - Riesame della struttura della laurionite PbOHCl. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 395-402.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1975): 141: 246.

    Mineralogical Magazine (1993): 57: 323.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume III. Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 628pp.: 307.

    Articles/Blogs about Laurionite

    Internet Links for Laurionite

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  • External Links:
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  • Look for Laurionite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Laurionite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Laurionite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Laurionite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Laurionite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Robinson Co.
        • Cobar
          • Booroondarra
    Chapman, J. & Scott, K. (2005): Supergene minerals from the oxidised zone of the Elura (Endeavor) lead-zinc-silver deposit. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 11, 83-90.
    • Tasmania
    http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
    Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    • Western Australia
      • Pilbara Region
        • Ashburton Shire
    [MinRec 24:203]
    Min. Record 24,203-218(1993)
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Příbram
    [Der Aufschluss 1996:6 p.267-287]
    France
     
    • Brittany
      • Côtes-d'Armor
        • Callac
          • Carnoët
            • Menez-Plom
    P. Le Roch collection
      • Finistère
        • Poullaouen
    Germain C., Leydet J-C., Saget Ph. (1990), Les minéraux de néoformation de Huelgoat (Finistère), Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°3, 3-16
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Loire
        • La Pacaudière
    No reference listed
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • North Hesse
        • Richelsdorf District
          • Süss
            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    No reference listed
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Ruhr Coal Mining area
        • Essen
    Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
        • Recklinghausen
          • Marl-Hüls
    Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags
          • Agios Nikolaos [St Nicholas] area
    No reference listed
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
    No reference listed
          • Oxygon area
    No reference listed
          • Panormos area
    No reference listed
          • Passa Limani area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals of the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Sounion area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Thorikos area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Tourkolimanon area
    No reference listed
          • Vrissaki area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    South Africa
     
    • Gauteng Province
      • Argent
    Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Porthleven
    No reference listed
          • St Hilary
    [UKJMM 20:7-37]
        • St Agnes District
          • Newquay - Perranporth Area
            • Newquay
    No reference listed
      • Somerset
        • Westbury on Trym
    BMS Database
    • Wales
      • Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire)
        • Ceulanymaesmawr
          • Talybont
            • Nant-y-Moch Reservoir area
    UKJMM
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • Eddy Co.
    Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
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