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Lawrencite

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Nantan meteorites (Nandan meteorites), Lihu - Yaochai area, Nandan Co., Hechi Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
© 2007, J. Weissman

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


Lawrencite Group.

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
Colour:White (unoxidized), green to brown (oxidized)
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001} ?
Density (measured):3.16 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.22 g/cm3

Crystallography of Lawrencite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3m (R3 2/m)
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)
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
Analyical Data:Deliquescent.
Relationship of Lawrencite to other Species
Related to:
  • Lawrencite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    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.30Tveitite-(Y)
    (Y, Na)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    6
    		F
     
    42
    3.AB.35Gagarinite-(Y)
    NaCaY(F,Cl)
     
    6
    3.AB.35Zajacite-(Ce)
    Na(REE
     
    x
    		Ca
     
    1-x
    		)(REE
     
    y
    		Ca
     
    1-y
    		)F
     
    6
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    8.11.1Molysite
    FeCl
     
    3
    8.11.2
Hydromolysite
    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
    		(OH
     
    2
    		)]
    8.11.6Rinneite
    K
     
    3
    		Na[FeCl
     
    6
    		]
    8.11.7Kremersite
    (NH
     
    4
    		,K)
     
    2
    		[Fe
    3+
     
    		Cl
     
    5
    		(OH
     
    2
    		)]
    8.11.8Iowaite
    Mg
     
    4
    		Fe(OH)
     
    8
    		OCl·4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.11.9Nickelbischofite
    NiCl
     
    2
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    Other Names for Lawrencite
    French names:
    Chlorure de fer
    German names:
    EisenchlorürLawrencit
    Italian names:
    Ferro muriato
    Russian names:
    Лавренсит
    Spanish names:
    Lawrencita
    Other Information
    Other Information:Extremely hygroscopic; readily soluble in water.
    

    
Gains water and oxidizes to ferric chloride (molysite).
    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.
    

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    Localities for Lawrencite
    
	






    


    

    
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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.

    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'
    

    Slovakia
     
    

    • Žilina Region
    

      • Oravská Magura Mts
    

        • 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.
    



        • 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
    
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
    

    • Tennessee
    

      • Claiborne Co.
    
    		C. R. Acad. Sci. 84 (1877), 69
    

    • Texas
    

      • Ector Co.
    

        • Odessa
    

    

    • Virginia
    

      • Henry Co.
    
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    

    • Wisconsin
    

      • Walworth Co.
    

        • Zenda
    

    

    


    

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