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Liebenbergite

Formula:
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicHardness:6
Name:After Mr. W.R. Liebenberg, Deputy Director-General of the National Institute for Metallurgy of South Africa.


Olivine Group.

Classification of Liebenbergite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.04-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AC.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.3.1.3

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.26.1

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
26 : Silicates of Ni
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Type Occurrence of Liebenbergite

Type Locality:Scotia Talc mine, Bon Accord, Barberton District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Year of Discovery:1973

Physical Properties of Liebenbergite

Hardness (Mohs):6

Crystallography of Liebenbergite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 4.72Å, b = 10.19Å, c = 5.95Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.463 : 1 : 0.584
Unit Cell Volume:V 286.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Liebenbergite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.820 nβ = 1.854 nγ = 1.888
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.068

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

Chemical Properties of Liebenbergite

Formula:
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Ni, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Mg, Ni, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Co

Relationship of Liebenbergite to other Species

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

- +
9.AC.05Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Forsterite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Kirschsteinite
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AC.05Tephroite
Mn
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.15Ringwoodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.20Chesnokovite
Na
 
2
[SiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.26.2Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
14.26.3Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
14.26.4Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
14.26.5Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
14.26.6Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Liebenbergite

Synonyms:
IMA1972-033
Other Languages:
German:Liebenbergit
Russian:Либенбергит
Spanish:Liebenbergita

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 Liebenbergite

Reference List:De Waal, S.A. and L.C. Calk (1973) Nickel minerals from Barberton, South
Africa: VI. Liebenbergite, a nickel olivine. American Mineralogist, 58, 733-735.

Bish, D.L. (1981) Cation ordering in synthetic and natural Ni-Mg olivine. American Mineralogist: 66: 770-776.

Internet Links for Liebenbergite

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

    (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.
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Barberton District
        • Bon Accord
    		Am. Min. 61, 502 (1976)
    • Northwest Province
    		www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/impacts97/pdf/6055.pdf.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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