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Liberite

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Xianghualing Mine (Hsianghualing Mine), Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
© R.Kristiansen

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Formula:
Li
 
2
Be[SiO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Pale yellow to brown
Hardness:7
Name:Named in 1964 by Chao for the component elements: lithium and beryllium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Liberite.

Classification of Liberite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AA.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
A : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] coordination
Dana 7th edition ID:51.1.2.1
Dana 8th edition ID:51.1.2.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
1 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.3.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
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Type Occurrence of Liberite

Type Locality:Xianghualing Mine (Hsianghualing Mine), Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Year of Discovery:1964
Geological Setting of type material:In veins cutting lepidolite-fluorite-magnetite "ribbon rock" in tactite

Physical Properties of Liberite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy
Colour:Pale yellow to brown
Hardness (Mohs):7
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Perfect on {010}, distinct on {100} and {001}
Density (measured):2.6875 - 2.6885 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.69 g/cm3

Crystallography of Liberite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):m - Domatic
Space Group:Pm {P1 1m} {Pm} {P1m1}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.68Å, b = 4.95Å, c = 6.13Å
β = 90.5°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.945 : 1 : 1.238
Unit Cell Volume:V 142.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Minute aggregates occasionally display pinnacoidal faces.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.82 (100)
3.71 (100)
3.40 (70)
2.59 (100)
2.47 (90)
2.35 (90)
2.27 (90)
Comments:Made on synthetic material

Optical Data of Liberite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.622 nβ = 1.633 nγ = 1.638
2V:Measured: 66° , Calculated: 66° to 66.3°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.016

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v to r < v strong
Comments:Z^c(a in structure cell)=41 degrees

Chemical Properties of Liberite

Formula:
Li
 
2
Be[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Be, Li, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Be, Li, O, Si
Analytical Data:Chemical data based on type locality material
SiO2 (48.39)
Al2O3 (0.26)
Fe2O3 (0.11)
BeO (25.47)
MgO (0.49)
CaO (0.29)
Li2O (23.43)
Na2O (0.25)
K2O (0.10)
H2O (0.65)
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,Na,K,H2O

Relationship of Liberite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AA.05Eucryptite
LiAl[SiO
 
4
]
9.AA.05Phenakite
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AA.05Willemite
Zn
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.3.1Phenakite
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.3.2Bertrandite
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.3Beryllite
Be
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.3.5Chkalovite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
2
O
 
6
14.3.6Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.7Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.8Gugiaite
Ca
 
2
Be[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.9Jeffreyite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)]
14.3.10Semenovite-(Ce)
Na
 
8
Ca
 
2
FeBe
 
6
Ce
 
2
Si
 
14
O
 
40
(OH)
 
4
F
 
4
14.3.11Barylite
BaBe
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.12Hingganite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
2
(□,Fe
2+
 
)Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.13Hingganite-(Yb)
(Yb,Y,REE)
 
2
□Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.14Hingganite-(Y)
(Y,REE,Ca)
 
2
(□,Fe
2+
 
)Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.15Minasgeraisite-(Y)
Y
 
2
CaBe
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.16Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
14.3.17Trimerite
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
14.3.18Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
14.3.19Tvedalite
(Ca,Mn)
 
4
Be
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
14.3.20Harstigite
Ca
 
6
(Mn,Mg)Be
 
4
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
24
14.3.21Sverigeite
NaMnMgSnBe
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
14.3.22Joesmithite
PbCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[Si
 
6
Be
 
2
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
14.3.23Gadolinite-(Y)
Y
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.24Gadolinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Y)
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.25Calciogadolinite-(Y)
(YCa)
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Liberite

Other Languages:
German:Liberit
Russian:Либерит
Spanish:Liberita

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 Liberite

Reference List:Chao Ch'un-lin (1964): Liberite Li2BeSiO4, a new lithium-beryllium silicate mineral from the Nanling Ranges, South China. Acta Geologica Sinica 44(3), 334-342 (in Chinese with English abstract). - American Mineralogist (1965), 50, 519 (abstract).

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1975), 98, 6-10.

Internet Links for Liberite

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    Localities for Liberite

    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.
    China
     
    • Hunan Province
      • Chenzhou Prefecture
        • Linwu Co.
          • Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field
    		Chao Ch'un-lin (1964): Acta Geologica Sinica 44(3), 334-342 [TL see: Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy]
    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: 9th Oct 2009 02:32:25