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Lafossaite

Formula:
Tl(Cl,Br)
System:IsometricColour:Grey-brown
Hardness:3 - 4
Name:After the type locality the La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy.


See also Unnamed (Tl Chloride).

Classification of Lafossaite

IMA status:Approved 2003
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.AA.25

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
A : M:X = 1:1, 2:3, 3:5, etc.
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Type Occurrence of Lafossaite

Type Locality:La Fossa Crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
Place of Conservation of Type Material:ETH Zurich
Geological Setting of type material:Fumarole

Physical Properties of Lafossaite

Lustre:Resinous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Grey-brown
Streak:off white to cream
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4
Hardness Data:Estimated
Tenacity:Malleable
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (calculated):7.212 g/cm3

Crystallography of Lafossaite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Pm3m (P4/m 3 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 3.8756Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 58.212 ų
Z:1
Morphology:cubes to octahedra
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.887(80)
2.745(100)
2.237(55)
1.937(50)
1.733(45)
Comments:From type description.

Optical Data of Lafossaite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 2.264
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Isotropic
Colour in reflected light:Grey - white
Internal Reflections:white
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Lafossaite

Formula:
Tl(Cl,Br)
Essential elements:
All elements listed in formula:Br, Cl, Tl

Relationship of Lafossaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
3.AA.05Marshite
CuI
3.AA.05Miersite
(Ag,Cu)I
3.AA.05Nantokite
CuCl
3.AA.10Iodargyrite
AgI
3.AA.10Tocornalite
(Ag,Hg)I
3.AA.15Bromargyrite
AgBr
3.AA.15Chlorargyrite
AgCl
3.AA.20Carobbiite
KF
3.AA.20Griceite
LiF
3.AA.20Halite
NaCl
3.AA.20Sylvite
KCl
3.AA.20Villiaumite
NaF
3.AA.25Salammoniac
NH
 
4
Cl
3.AA.30Calomel
Hg
 
2
Cl
 
2
3.AA.30Kuzminite
Hg
 
2
(Br,Cl)
 
2
3.AA.30Moschelite
Hg
 
2
I
 
2
3.AA.35Neighborite
NaMgF
 
3
3.AA.40Chlorocalcite
KCaCl
 
3
3.AA.45Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
3.AA.50Radhakrishnaite
PbTe
 
3
(Cl,S)
 
2
3.AA.55Challacolloite
KPb
 
2
Cl
 
5
3.AA.55Hephaistosite
TlPb
 
2
Cl
 
5

Other Names for Lafossaite

Synonyms:
IMA 2003-032

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 Lafossaite

Reference List:• Roberts, A.C., Venance, K.E., Seward, T.M., Grice J.D., Paar, W.H. (2006): Lafossaite a new mineral from the La Fossa Crater, Vulcano, Italy. Mineralogical Record, 37, 165-168.

Internet Links for Lafossaite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    Localities for Lafossaite

    (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.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
        • Ilimaussaq complex
    Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Lipari
          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
            • Vulcano Island
    ROBERTS, A.C., VENANCE, K.E., SEWARD, T.M., GRICE J.D., PAAR, W.H. (2006): Lafossaite a new mineral from the La Fossa Crater, Vulcano, Italy. - Mineralogical Record - 37, 165-168.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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