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Leifite

Big Photo

Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Leifite Photos (40)
Formula:
(Na,H
 
2
O)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
2
(Al,Si)Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
System:TrigonalColour:Colorless
Hardness:6
Name:
For Leif Ericson (Old Norse: Leifr Eiríksson) (c. 970 – c. 1020) was a Norse explorer.


Leifite Group.
The sodium analogue of telyushenkoite and eirikite.

Note on the formula: the minor water content is located on a specific site ("B" site), not on the Na site ("A" site).

Classification of Leifite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EH.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
H : Transitional structures between phyllosilicate and other silicate units
Dana 8th edition ID:78.7.10.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
7 :
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.2.3

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
2 : Silicates with fluoride
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Type Occurrence of Leifite

Type Locality:Narssârssuk pegmatite (Narsarsuk pegmatite), Narssârssuk (Narsarsuk), Igaliku (Igaliko), Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1915

Occurrences of Leifite

Geological Setting:Alkalic rocks

Physical Properties of Leifite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colorless
Hardness (Mohs):6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {1010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Density (measured):2.57 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.59 g/cm3

Crystallography of Leifite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:P3m1
Cell Parameters:a = 14.352(2) Å, c = 4.852(3) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.338
Unit Cell Volume:V 865.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Hexagonal prisms, acicular, striated to 3cm.

Optical Data of Leifite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.511 - 1.518 nε = 1.522 - 15.220
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

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

Chemical Properties of Leifite

Formula:
(Na,H
 
2
O)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
2
(Al,Si)Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
Essential elements:Al, Be, F, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Be, F, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mn,Zn,Mg,K,H2O

Relationship of Leifite to other Species

Member of Group:
Leifite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EH.05Manganoneptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05Neptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05Watatsumiite
Na
 
2
KLi(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
V
4+
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05IMA2009-009
KNa
 
2
Li(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
9.EH.10Grumantite
Na[Si
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)]·H
 
2
O
9.EH.15Sarcolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
12
(Ca,K,Fe,Sr,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
8
Si
 
12
(P,Si)O
 
52
F
 
2
9.EH.20Ussingite
Na
 
2
AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
OH
9.EH.25Telyushenkoite
(Cs,Na,K)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
3
Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
9.EH.25Eirikite
KNa
 
6
Be
 
2
(Si
 
15
Al
 
3
)O
 
39
F
 
2
9.EH.30Nafertisite
Na
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
(Ti
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
34
)(O,OH)
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.2.1Topaz
Al
 
2
[(F,OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
17.2.2Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
17.2.5Meliphanite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)]
17.2.6Sarcolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
12
(Ca,K,Fe,Sr,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
8
Si
 
12
(P,Si)O
 
52
F
 
2
17.2.7Götzenite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Ti[F
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
17.2.8Kuliokite-(Y)
Y
 
4
Al(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
 
5
17.2.9Zinnwaldite
KLiFe
2+
 
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.2.10Magbasite
KBa(Al,Sc)(Mg,Fe)
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
20
F
 
2
17.2.11Eckermannite
[Na][Na
 
2
][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
Al][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Leifite

Other Languages:
German:Leifit
Russian:Лейфит
Spanish:Leifita

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 Leifite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 1006.

Acta Crystallographica: B30: 396-401.

Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift (1995): 75: 243-246.

Canadian Mineralogist (2002): 40: 183-192.

Internet Links for Leifite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Leifite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Leifite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Leifite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Labrador
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Horváth, L and Gault, R.A. (1990), The mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec. Mineralogical Record: 21: 284-359., AmMin 57:1006(1971)
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
        • Igaliku (Igaliko)
          • Narssârssuk (Narsarsuk)
    		Meddr Gronland,(1915) 51, p. 429
    Petersen et al. (1994)
    Norway
     
    • Vestfold
      • Larvik
        • Langesundsfjorden
          • Vesle Arøya
    		Engvoldsen, T., Andersen, F., Berge, S. A. & Burvald, I. (1991): Pegmatittmineraler fra Larvik ringkompleks. STEIN 18 (1), 15-71
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Khibiny Massif
    		[World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
    Pekov, I.V. & Podlesnyi, A.S. (2004): Kukisvumchorr Deposit: Mineralogy of Alkaline Pegmatites and Hydrotermalites. Mineralogical Almanac, vol. 7, 140 pages + xxiv photo's pages
          • Lovozero Massif
            • Alluaiv Mt
              • Umbozero Mine
    [World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
    P.M. Kartashov data; New Data on Minerals M., 2004 Vol 39 pp 5-13
    [World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 15th Nov 2009 19:11:02