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Lechatelierite

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Vale da Vilariça, Torre de Moncorvo, Bragança District, Portugal
© Martins da Pedra

Show Lechatelierite Photos (37)



Formula:
SiO
 
2
Hardness:6½


A natural fused, X-ray amorphous silica.
Originates when lightning strikes sand or other very SiO2-rich sediments and rocks.
Lechatelierites/fulgurites form hollow tubes that are often irregular and branched.
Also forms on impact of meteorites as a result of sand melting.

The major component of the impact glass called Libyan Desert Glass.

Classification of Lechatelierite

IMA status:Questionable/Doubtful
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DA.30

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
A : With small cations: Silica family
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.8.6

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
8 : Oxides of Si
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Physical Properties of Lechatelierite

Hardness (Mohs):6½

Chemical Properties of Lechatelierite

Formula:
SiO
 
2
Essential elements:O, Si
All elements listed in formula:O, Si

Relationship of Lechatelierite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DA.05Quartz
SiO
 
2
4.DA.10Opal
SiO
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
4.DA.10Tridymite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.15Cristobalite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.20Mogánite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.25Melanophlogite
46SiO
 
2
 · 6(N
 
2
,CO
 
2
) · 2(CH
 
4
,N
 
2
)
4.DA.35Coesite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.40Stishovite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.45Keatite
4.DA.50Seifertite
SiO
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.8.1Quartz
SiO
 
2
7.8.2Coesite
SiO
 
2
7.8.3Tridymite
SiO
 
2
7.8.4Stishovite
SiO
 
2
7.8.5Cristobalite
SiO
 
2
7.8.7Silhydrite
3SiO
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
7.8.8Opal
SiO
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.8.9Mogánite
SiO
 
2

Other Names for Lechatelierite

Synonyms:
LeszaterjerytLibyanite
Other Languages:
German:Kieselglas
Lechatelierit
Libyanit
Spanish:Lechatelierita
Libyanita
Varieties:
Fulgurite

Other Information

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 Lechatelierite

Reference List:

- +
Rogers, A.F. (1930), A unique occurrence of lechatelierite or silica glass, American Journal of Science: 19: 195-202.

Frondel, Clifford (1962), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume III: 325.

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    • Localities for Lechatelierite

    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
     
    • New South Wales
      • Rous Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Steve Sorrell collection
    • Western Australia
      • Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire
    		[var: Fulgurite]
        • Pinjin Station
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern
        • Glockner group
          • Hochtor area
    		[var: Fulgurite] Miner.Arch.Salzb., vol.14 (297)
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern
        • Fusch valley
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Ötz valley
          • Umhausen
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Belgium
     
    [var: Fulgurite]
    Canada
     
    • Saskatchewan
      • Beaverlodge region
    		Yale Peabody Museum
    Egypt
     
    • Matruh Governorate
    		[var: Fulgurite] Rob Lavinsky
    [var: Fulgurite]
    http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2007/pdf/1346.pdf
      • Great Sand Sea
    		Rock Currier
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Celle
        • Sprakensehl
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Eastern Westphalia
        • Gütersloh
    		[var: Fulgurite] Rocks & Min., Jan/Feb. 1980
    [var: Fulgurite] Th. Thieme collection
    • Saxony
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    India
     
    • Tamil Nadu
      • Periyar District
    		[var: Fulgurite] Current Science 75 (8): 763 (1998)
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido
    		[var: Fulgurite] http://cam.arts.usf.edu/McCollumPDF/16.VoltTrig.pdf.
    Libya
     
    • Al Kufrah District
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    Mauritania
    collection jm.CLAUDE
    Morocco
     
    • Guelmim-Es Semara Region
      • Es Semara Province
    		[var: Fulgurite] Ben Youssef Malek specimen
    Namibia
     
    • Karas Region
      • Lüderitz District
    		Meteoritics & Planetary Science 43, Nr 7, 1201–1218 (2008)
    Netherlands
     
    • Gelderland
      • Hattem
    		[var: Fulgurite] T.G. Nijland, J.C. Zwaan, D. Visser, J. Leloux - De mineralen van Nederland - 2007
      • Veluwe
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    • Overijssel
      • Vasse
    		[var: Fulgurite] T.G. Nijland, J.C. Zwaan, D. Visser, J. Leloux - De mineralen van Nederland - 2007
    Niger
     
    Wolfgang Hempel specimen
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Karelia Republic
    		[var: Fulgurite] http://camb.demonhosting.co.uk/JConfAbs/6/PCM3.pdf.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cheshire
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Coconino Co.
        • San Franciscan volcanic field (San Francisco Peaks; San Francisco Mts)
          • Flagstaff area
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 274; Davis, D.G. & W. Breed (1968), Rock fulgurites on the San Francisco Peaks, AZ, Plateau (quarterly of Museum of northern Arizona): 41: 34.
        • Winslow
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 274; Rogers, A.F. (1930), A unique occurrence of lechatelierite or silica glass, Amer. Jour. Sci.: 19: 195-202; Kerr, 1977. Optical Mineralogy, p.283.
      • La Paz Co.
        • Plomosa Mts
          • Plomosa District
    		[var: Fulgurite]
      • Pima Co.
    		azminerals.com
    • California
    		Jour. Geol., 54, no. 2, 117-122 (1946)
    Jour. Geol., 54, no. 2, 117-122 (1946)
    Rogers, Austin Flint (1946), Sand fulgurites with enclosed lechatelierite from Riverside County, California: Journal of Geology: 54: 117-122; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 163, 241.
    • Connecticut
      • Hartford Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV (2003)
    • Florida
      • Clay Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Marc V. Hurst, P.G. (2010) Central Florida's Sand Mining District. Guidebook for Field Trip of September 13, 2010. AIPG 47th Annual Meeting & Conference
    [var: Fulgurite] Matthew Pasek & Kristin Block (2009) Lightning-induced reduction of phosphorus oxidation state. Nature Geoscience 2:553-556
      • Polk Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Marc V. Hurst, P.G. (2010) Central Florida's Sand Mining District. Guidebook for Field Trip of September 13, 2010. AIPG 47th Annual Meeting & Conference
    [var: Fulgurite] Marc V. Hurst, P.G. (2010) Central Florida's Sand Mining District. Guidebook for Field Trip of September 13, 2010. AIPG 47th Annual Meeting & Conference
    [var: Fulgurite] Marc V. Hurst, P.G. (2010) Central Florida's Sand Mining District. Guidebook for Field Trip of September 13, 2010. AIPG 47th Annual Meeting & Conference
    • Massachusetts
      • Franklin Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Rocks & Min., Jan/Feb. 1980
      • Worcester Co.
        • Oxford
    		[var: Fulgurite] Patricia Berry Barker collection, no. 1610.
    • Michigan
      • Livingston Co.
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    • Nebraska
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    • Nevada
      • Lyon Co.
        • Yerington District
    		Yale Peabody Museum
      • Nye Co.
    		Yale Peabody Museum
    • New Jersey
      • Middlesex Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] AmMin 10:152-155
    • New Mexico
    		Mineral Museum Soccoro, New Mexico
    • New York
      • Oneida Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    • North Carolina
      • Dare Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Rocks & Min: Nov, 1945.
    • Oregon
      • Deschutes Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite]
      • Douglas Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] California Geology, Nov. 1986.
    • Pennsylvania
      • York Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    Yale Peabody Museum
      • Lexington Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    • Texas
    		[var: Fulgurite] Mineralogical Research Co. specimens.
    • West Virginia
      • Hampshire Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII (2006) LIGHTNING STRIKE GLASSES AS AN ANALOG FOR IMPACT GLASSES: 57Fe MÖSSBAUER SPECTROSCOPY OF FULGURITES.
    • Wisconsin
      • Juneau Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Am Jour. of Science, 4th ser. vol. 7 no. 43, (July 1899)
    Western Sahara
     
    • Es Semara Province
      • Jdiriya
    		[var: Fulgurite] A. M. I. Martins collection
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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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