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Lawrencite

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Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)Cl
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:White (unoxidized), ...
Member of:Lawrencite Group
Name:
After J. Lawrence Smith (1818-1883), American chemist, mineralogist, and student of meteorites.
Isostructural with:Chloromagnesite, Scacchite

Classification of Lawrencite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/A.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.AB.20

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:9.2.3.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.11.10

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
11 : Halides of Fe and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Lawrencite

Type Locality:Tazewell meteorite, Claiborne Co., Tennessee, USA
Year of Discovery:1877

Occurrences of Lawrencite

Geological Setting:Fissures in iron meteorites; sublimation product in volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Lawrencite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White (unoxidized), green to brown (oxidized)
Comment:Soft
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001} ?
Density (measured):3.16 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.26 g/cm3
Comment:Measured on synthetic material

Crystallography of Lawrencite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3m {R3 2/m}
Space Group Setting:R3m
Cell Parameters:a = 3.58Å, c = 17.57Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 4.908
Unit Cell Volume:V 195.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Crystals are thin hexagonal plates {0001} (artificial). Massive only in natural material.

Optical Data of Lawrencite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.576 nε = 1.576
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low

Chemical Properties of Lawrencite

Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)Cl
 
2
Essential elements:Cl, Fe
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Fe, Ni
Analytical Data:Deliquescent.

Relationship of Lawrencite to other Species

Member of:Lawrencite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.AB.Fluorocronite
PbF
 
2
3.AB.05Tolbachite
CuCl
 
2
3.AB.10Coccinite
HgI
 
2
3.AB.15Sellaite
MgF
 
2
3.AB.20Chloromagnesite
MgCl
 
2
3.AB.20Scacchite
MnCl
 
2
3.AB.25Fluorite
CaF
 
2
3.AB.25Frankdicksonite
BaF
 
2
3.AB.25IMA2009-014
SrF
 
2
3.AB.30Tveitite-(Y)
(Y, Na)
 
6
Ca
 
6
Ca
 
6
F
 
42
3.AB.35Gagarinite-(Y)
NaCaYF
 
6
3.AB.35Gagarinite-(Ce)
Na(REE
 
x
Ca
 
1-x
)(REE
 
y
Ca
 
1-y
)F
 
6
3.AB.35Polezhaevaite-(Ce)
NaSrCeF
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.11.1Molysite
FeCl
 
3
8.11.2Hydromolysite
FeCl
 
3
· 6H
 
2
O
8.11.3Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
· 2H
 
2
O
8.11.4Douglasite
K
 
2
[Fe
2+
 
Cl
 
4
(OH
 
2
)
 
2
]
8.11.5Erythrosiderite
K
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.11.6Rinneite
K
 
3
Na[FeCl
 
6
]
8.11.7Kremersite
(NH
 
4
,K)
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.11.8Iowaite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
16
Cl
 
2
· 4H
 
2
O
8.11.9Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Lawrencite

Other Languages:
French:Chlorure de fer
German:Eisenchlorür
Lawrencit
Italian:Ferro muriato
Russian:Лавренсит
Spanish:Lawrencita

Other Information

Other Information:Extremely hygroscopic; readily soluble in water.

Gains water and oxidizes to ferric chloride (molysite).
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Extremely hygroscopic
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:None.

References for Lawrencite

Reference List:

- +
Hayes (1845) American Journal of Science: 48: 153.

Jackson (1845) American Journal of Science: 48: 146.

Smith (1855) American Journal of Science: 19: 159.

Smith (1877) American Journal of Science: 13: 214.

Daubrée (1877) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 84: 69.

Biltz and Birk (1924) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 134: 125.

Ferrari, Celeri, and Giorgio (1929) Rend., Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome: 9: 782.

Pauling (1929) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington: 15: 709.

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana. second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 84.

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: 40.

Acta Crystallographica (1963): 846.

Internet Links for Lawrencite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Lawrencite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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  • Localities for Lawrencite

    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.
    China
     
    • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
      • Hechi Prefecture
        • Nandan Co.
          • Lihu - Yaochai area
    No reference listed
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Qeqertarsuaq Island (Disko Island)
    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: 40.
    Hungary
     
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Bakony Mts.
        • Nagyvázsony
    Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec., 1993
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    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: 40.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
    Cesnokov, B., Kotrly, M. and Nisanbajev, T. (1998): Brennende Abraumhalden und Aufschlüsse im Tscheljabinsker Kohlenbecken - eine reiche Mineralienküche. Mineralien-Welt, 9 (3), 54-63 (in German).
    Slovakia
     
    • Žilina Region
      • Námestovo Co.
        • Námestovo
          • Slanica
    Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Blount Co.
        • Summit
    Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull 120
      • Monroe Co.
    Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull 120
    • Arizona
      • Coconino Co.
        • Flagstaff
          • Elden Mountain area
    Galbraith, F.W. (1947), Minerals of AZ, AZ Bur. Mines Bull. 153: 10.
        • Winslow
          • Meteor Crater and vicinity
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 129, 273.
    • Georgia
      • Jenkins Co.
    Minerals of Georgia: Their properties and occurrences. Robert Cook GGWRD Bull 92
      • Whitfield Co.
        • Dalton
    Wirt Tassin (1902) Descriptive catalogue of the meteorite collection in the United States National Museum to January 1, 1902
    Leonard S.Wiener and Sigrid Ballew,1995, Updated by Kenny Gay,2006, A Listing Of North Carolina Minerals,Geologic Note No.4
    Dana,E.S,1892,A System of Mineralogy,6th edition
        • Madison
          • Deep Springs Farm
    Venable,F.P (1890) Two New Meteoric Irons: Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society,University of North Carolina,May 1890
    • Tennessee
      • Claiborne Co.
    C. R. Acad. Sci. 84 (1877), 69
      • DeKalb Co.
        • Smithville
    Travis A. Paris (2011) Tennessee Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals 86:300-328
    • Texas
      • Ector Co.
        • Odessa
    • Virginia
      • Henry Co.
    Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    • Wisconsin
      • Walworth Co.
        • Zenda
    Berquist, Goodwin F., Jr. (ed.) / Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters volume LII (1963) Read, William F. The Zenda meteorite, pp. 153-158
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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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