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Lithosite

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Vuonnemiok River Valley, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
K
 
6
Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
25
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless
Lustre:VitreousHardness:5½
This page provides mineralogical data about Lithosite.

Classification of Lithosite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/D.16-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
B : Chains of single connected 4-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:77.2.2.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.3.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
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Type Occurrence of Lithosite

Type Locality:Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1983

Physical Properties of Lithosite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):5½

Crystallography of Lithosite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 15.19Å, b = 10.23Å, c = 8.34Å
β = 90.21°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.485 : 1 : 0.815
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,295.97 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Lithosite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.510 nβ = 1.513 nγ = 1.527
2V:Measured: 47° , Calculated: 52°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.017

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Lithosite

Formula:
K
 
6
Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
25
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, K, O, Si

Relationship of Lithosite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.GB.05Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.GB.05Analcime
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.05Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
Be
 
3
[F
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.GB.05Leucite
KAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.GB.05Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.05Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.10Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
9.GB.15Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
9.GB.20Roggianite
Ca
 
2
Be(OH)
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
·2.5H
 
2
O
9.GB.25Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.GB.30Montesommaite
(K,Na)
 
9
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
·10H
 
2
O
9.GB.35Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.3.2Kaliophilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
16.3.3Kalsilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
16.3.4Leucite
KAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
16.3.5Microcline
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.6Orthoclase
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.7Sanidine
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.8Muscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]

Other Names for Lithosite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-049
German names:
Lithosit
Russian names:
Литосит
Spanish names:
Lithosita

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 Lithosite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 210.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR (1986): 291(6): 1370-1373.

Internet Links for Lithosite

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

    (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.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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