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Leightonite

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Chuquicamata Mine, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© 2002 Meyer

Show Leightonite Photos (10)
Formula:
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Pale blue, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:3
Name:After Tomas Leighton, Professor of Mineralogy, University of Santiago, Chile.
This page provides mineralogical data about Leightonite.

Classification of Leightonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.20-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CC.70

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.4.5.2

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.18

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
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Type Occurrence of Leightonite

Type Locality:Chuquicamata Mine, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
General Appearance of Type Material:cross-fiber veinlet fillings and crystals in open cavities.
Year of Discovery:1938
Associated Minerals at type locality:
KröhnkiteAtacamite

Physical Properties of Leightonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Pale blue, greenish-blue; pale blue in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:None Observed
Density (measured):2.95 g/cm3

Crystallography of Leightonite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Morphology:Pseudo-orthorhombic. Blades or laths elongated [001] and flattened {100}; rarely equant. Curved surfaces cutting away more or less of the front edges of the prism produce an hour-glass appearance. Also occurs as cross-fiber veinlets.
Twinning:Repeated lamellar twinning on (100) and (010) of a sub-rectangular triclinic structure results in mimetic orthorhombic symmetry.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Leightonite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.578 nβ = 1.587 nγ = 1.595
2V:Measured: 86° , Calculated: 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.017

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

Chemical Properties of Leightonite

Formula:
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, Cu, H, K, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Cu, H, K, O, S

Relationship of Leightonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
7.CC.05Krausite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Amarillite
NaFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.10Tamarugite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.15Kalinite
KAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O Not confirmed
7.CC.15Mendozite
NaAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lonecreekite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
3+
 
[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Alum-(K)
KAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Alum-(Na)
NaAl[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Tschermigite
(NH
 
4
)Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.20Lanmuchangite
Tl
+
 
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Voltaite
K
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.25Zincovoltaite
K
 
2
Zn
 
5
Fe
3+
3
Al[SO
 
4
]
 
12
 · 18H
 
2
O
7.CC.30Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
7.CC.35Ferrinatrite
Na
 
3
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
7.CC.40Goldichite
KFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.45Löweite
Na
 
12
Mg
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
13
7.CC.50Blödite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Nickelblödite
Na
 
2
(Ni,Mg)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Changoite
Na
 
2
Zn(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.50Zincblödite
7.CC.55Leonite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.55Mereiterite
K
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Boussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Konyaite
Na
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Mohrite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Nickelboussingaultite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ni(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.60Picromerite
K
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
7.CC.65Polyhalite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
7.CC.65Wattevilleite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O (?)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
25.2.1Chalcocyanite
CuSO
 
4
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.2.4Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.2.5Dolerophanite
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.12Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.23Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Leightonite

German names:
Leightonit
Russian names:
Лейтонит
Spanish names:
Leightonita

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 Leightonite

Reference List:Palache, C. (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 34-37.

Peacock (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 38.

Canadian Mineralogist (1962): 7: 272.

Internet Links for Leightonite

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

    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.
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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.
    Austria
     
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
    		No reference listed
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
    		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, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 21, 315; American Mineralogist (1938): 23: 34-37.
    Lapis 1/2008, p. 12 ["Mina Salvadora, Sierra Gorda"]
      • Tocopilla province
        • Sierra Gorda district
          • Caracoles
    		Maurizio Dini, Dr. Jochen Schluter.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		No reference listed
    Norway
     
    • Oppland
      • Lom
    		Garmo (1980, p. 3); Neumann (1985, p. 110).
        • Visdalen
    		Garmo,T.(1978): "Mineralnotater". NAGS-nytt 5(1),6 (in norwegian); Neumann (1985, p. 110).
    J. Brommeland (1974, pers. com.); Neumann (1985, p. 110).
    Mineral and/or Locality
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