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Laurionite

Big Photo

Thorikos Bay slag locality, Thorikos area, Lavrion District slag localities, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece
© Elmar Lackner

Show Laurionite Photos (19)
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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  • 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

    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.
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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
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.