Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Litidionite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© 2008, JGW

Show Litidionite Photos (4)



Formula:
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
System:TriclinicHardness:5 - 6
Name:From the Greek for "pebble."
This page provides mineralogical data about Litidionite.

Classification of Litidionite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.39-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DG.70

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
Dana 8th edition ID:70.1.1.1

70 : INOSILICATES Column or Tube Structures
1 : Column or Tube Structures with columnar silicate units
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.2.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2422.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Litidionite

Type Locality:Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1880

Physical Properties of Litidionite

Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6

Crystallography of Litidionite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.8Å, b = 8.01Å, c = 6.97Å
α = 114.12°, β = 99.52°, γ = 105.59°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.223 : 1 : 0.87
Unit Cell Volume:V 456.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Litidionite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.548 nβ = 1.574
2V:Measured: 56°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 1.548

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Litidionite

Formula:
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
Essential elements:Cu, K, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Cu, K, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Pb,Ca

Relationship of Litidionite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DG.05Bustamite
CaMn
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
9.DG.05Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
9.DG.05Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.05Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.05Wollastonite
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.07Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.08Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Tobermorite
Ca
 
4+x
(H
 
2-2x
Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.DG.25Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.DG.25Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.30Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
9.DG.35Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.40Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
8
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 14H
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 13-14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
8
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.55Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.60Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.65Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.DG.70Fenaksite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
9.DG.70Manaksite
KNaMnSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.75Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.75Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.75Senkevichite
CsKNaCa
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.80Canasite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.80Fluorcanasite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.85Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
9.DG.90Frankamenite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(F,OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DG.92Charoite
(K,Na)
 
6-7
(Ca,Na)
 
18
[(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(Si
 
18
O
 
45
)](OH,F)
 
2
 · n H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH) · H
 
2
O
9.DG.97Eveslogite
(Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)
 
48
 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
12
Si
 
48
O
 
144
(OH)
 
12
](F,OH,Cl)
 
14
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.2.1Dioptase
CuSiO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
14.2.2Shattuckite
Cu
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.2.3Plancheite
Cu
 
8
(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
14.2.4Gilalite
Cu
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
14.2.5Chrysocolla
Cu
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(H
 
2-x
Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (x < 1)
14.2.7Reinhardbraunsite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
14.2.8Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.2.9Kinoite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
14.2.10Stringhamite
CaCu(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.2.11Apachite
Cu
 
9
Si
 
10
O
 
29
 · 11H
 
2
O

Other Names for Litidionite

Synonyms:
LithidioniteNeocianoNeocyanite
Other Languages:
German:Lithidionit
Litidionit
Neocyanit
Russian:Литидионит
Spanish:Lithidionita
Litidionita
Neocyanita

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 Litidionite

Reference List:

- +
Scacchi, E. (1880): Lapilli azzurri del Vesuvio. Atti della Regia Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, 19, 175-179.

Scacchi, A. (1882): Nuovi sublimati del cratere vesuviano trovati nel mese di ottobre del 1880 (Memoria 1880). Atti della Reale Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, Serie 1, 9, 1-10.

Pozas, J., Rossi, G., Tazzoli, V. (1975): Re-examination and crystal structure analysis of Litidionite, American Mineralogist, Vol. 60, 471-475

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1981): 104: 387.

Internet Links for Litidionite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Litidionite on Google
  • Look for Litidionite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Litidionite on Webmineral
  • Look for Litidionite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Litidionite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Litidionite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF) [Link dead]
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Find Litidionite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Litidionite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Litidionite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Pozas, J., Rossi, G., Tazzoli, V. (1975): Re-examination and crystal structure analysis of Litidionite, American Mineralogist, Vol. 60, 471-475.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • North Battle Mountain District
          • Snowstorm mine (Mountain View mine)
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2012. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 25th Jun 2012 21:05:14
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds