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Lithosite

Big Photo

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

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:Vuonnemiok River Valley, 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
Other Languages:
German:Lithosit
Russian:Литосит
Spanish: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
          • Khibiny Massif
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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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: 30th Oct 2009 14:01:16