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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

Related to:
  • 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.

    Articles/Blogs about Liebenbergite

    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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