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Lechatelierite

Big Photo

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

Show Lechatelierite Photos (3)
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.

Classification of Lechatelierite

IMA status:Not Approved
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.

Internet Links for Lechatelierite

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    Localities for Lechatelierite

    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.
    (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
    		[var: Fulgurite]
      • Pinjin Station
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • 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
     
    [var: Fulgurite] Rob Lavinsky
    [var: Fulgurite]
    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 Island
    		[var: Fulgurite] http://cam.arts.usf.edu/McCollumPDF/16.VoltTrig.pdf.
    Libya
     
    [var: Fulgurite]
    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)
    • Connecticut
      • Hartford Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV (2003)
    • Florida
      • Clay Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite]
    [var: Fulgurite]
    [var: Fulgurite]
    • Massachusetts
      • Franklin Co.
    		[var: Fulgurite] Rocks & Min., Jan/Feb. 1980
    • 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 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]
    • 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
    Mineral and/or Locality
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