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Petalite

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Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
LiAlSi
 
4
O
 
10
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, grey, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6½
Name:From the Greek "petalon" for leaf, in allusion to the perfect basal cleavage.
This page provides mineralogical data about Petalite.

Classification of Petalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EF.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
F : Single nets with 6-membered rings, connected by M[4], M[8], etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:72.6.1.1

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
6 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with tetrahedral Al cross-linking
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.1.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
1 : Aluminosilicates of Li
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Type Occurrence of Petalite

Type Locality:Utö Island, Haninge, Södermanland, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1800

Occurrences of Petalite

Geological Setting:Lithium-rich pegmatites.

Physical Properties of Petalite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on cleavage {001}
Colour:Colourless, white, grey, pink
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {001}
poor on {201}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.412 - 2.422 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.4 g/cm3

Crystallography of Petalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/b (P1 1 2/b) [P2/c] {P1 2/c 1}{P2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.737Å, b = 5.171Å, c = 7.63Å
β = 112.54°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.27 : 1 : 1.476
Unit Cell Volume:V 427.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Tabular or elongated
Twinning:Common on {001}, lamellar

Optical Data of Petalite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.504 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.516
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

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

Chemical Properties of Petalite

Formula:
LiAlSi
 
4
O
 
10
Essential elements:Al, Li, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Li, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mg,Fe,Na,Ca,K,H2O

Relationship of Petalite to other Species

Common Associates:
Tourmaline GroupTopazSpodumeneQuartzPolylithionite-Trilithionite Series
PolluciteMicroclineAlbite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EF.10Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EF.15Searlesite
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
9.EF.20Silinaite
NaLiSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
9.EF.25Kanemite
NaHSi
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
9.EF.30Yakovenchukite-(Y)
K
 
3
NaCaY
 
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
30
] · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.1.2Spodumene
LiAl[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.1.3Eucryptite
LiAl[SiO
 
4
]
16.1.4Virgilite
(LiAl)
 
0.6
Si
 
2.4
O
 
6
16.1.5Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
16.1.6Bikitaite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
·H
 
2
O
16.1.7Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(Si
 
7
AlO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
16.1.8Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
,(OH,F)
 
4
·xH
 
2
O
16.1.9Holmquistite
☐[Li
 
2
][Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
16.1.13Clinoferroholmquistite
[ ][Li
 
2
][Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
16.1.14Magnesioholmquistite
16.1.15Bityite
CaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.1.16Sogdianite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Li,Fe)
 
3
(Zr,Ti,Fe)Si
 
12
O
 
30
16.1.17Sugilite
KNa
 
2
(Fe,Mn,Al)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30

Other Names for Petalite

Synonyms:
Arfvedsonite (of Beudant)Berzeliite (of Clarke)Berzelite (of Clark)Berzelite (of Clarke)Castorite
Lithite
German names:
CastoritLithitPetalit
Latin names:
Castor
Russian names:
Петалит
Spanish names:
CastoritaLithitaPetalita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Thermoluminescent
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Lithium ore

References for Petalite

Reference List:Dana, E.S. (1892) Dana's system of mineralogy, (6th edition), 311-312.

Deer, W.A., R.A. Howie, and J. Zussman (1963) Rock-forming minerals, vol. 4, framework silicates: 271-275.

Tagai, T., H. Ried, W. Joswig, and M. Korekawa (1982) Kristallgraphische Untersuchungen eines Petalits mittels Neutronenbeugung und Transmissionelektronenmikroskopie. Zeits. Krist., 160, 159-170 (in German with English abstract).

Černý, P. and D. London (1983) Crystal chemistry and stablity of petalite. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 31: 81-96.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1991): 197: 27-40.

Internet Links for Petalite

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

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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.
    Afghanistan
     
    • Konar (Kunar; Konarh; Konarha; Nuristan) Province
    		[www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
    • Laghman (Lagman; Nuristan) Province
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Nepean
    Brazil
     
    • Northeast Region
      • Rio Grande do Norte
        • Seridó Oriental
          • Equador
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/parabariomicrolite.pdf.
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Araçuaí
          • Piauí Valley
        • Itinga
          • Taquaral
            • Piauí Valley
    [MinRec 12:74]
        • São José da Safira
    		CanMin 38: 1399-1408 (2000)
    Burma (Myanmar)
     
    • Shan State
      • Momeik Township
        • Molo quarter
          • Khetchel village
    		Andreas Ertl, John M. Hughes, Stefan Prowatke, Thomas Ludwig, Franz Brandstätter, Wilfried Körner, and M. Darby Dyar (2007): Tetrahedrally coordinated boron in Li-bearing olenite from “mushroom” tourmaline from Momeik, Myanmar. Can. Mineral. 45, 891-899.
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
    		Canadian Mineralogist: 40: 1339-1345.
      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
        • Bernic Lake
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1984, 107, pp. 369-384.
    MinRec 32:416; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.51
    • Ontario
      • Kenora District
        • Red Lake
    [AmMin 84:992]
    Kenora District Monthly Activity Summary, March 2001; http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/MNDM/MINES/resgeol/kenora/reports/2001/march.htm
    China
     
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Yili Hasake (Ili Kazakh) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Aletai (Altay) Prefecture
          • Fuyun Co.
            • Koktokay (Keketuohai) Pegmatite field
    		Huanzhang Lu, Zhonggang Wang, and Yuansheng Li (1997): Chinese Journal of Geochemistry 16(1), 43-52.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • South Bohemia Region
        • Český Krumlov
    		Welser, P. et al.: Lithný pegmatit Nová Ves. Minerál, Special volume, 2007, roč. 15.
    France
     
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Ambazac
    		Guide geologique de la Haute Vienne, musee municipal de Limoges, Limoges, 1967
        • Saint-Sylvestre
    		http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jeldemine/liste%20mineraux%20sud.html
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Campo nell'Elba
    		Mineralogical Record, 16 (5), 353-363.
    Alessandro Genazzani collection
    Barsotti, G., & Nannoni, R. (2006). Rocce, minerali e miniere delle isole dell'Arcipelago Toscano. Pacini editore, 152 pp.
    A. Beithaupt (1846) - Neue Mineralien: Kastor und Pollux - Poggend. An., 69: 436-439.
    F. Pezzotta, F.C. Hawthorne, M.A. Cooper, D.K. Teerstra (1996) - Fibrous foitite from S. Piero in Campo, Elba, Italy. - Canad. Min., 34: 741-744.
            • Sant'Ilario in Campo
    		Barsotti, G., & Nannoni, R. (2006). Rocce, minerali e miniere delle isole dell'Arcipelago Toscano. Pacini editore, 152 pp.
                • Fosso Marcianella Pegmatite
    		Field Trip Excursion Programm IMA, May 29, 2005 (M.E. Ciriotti).
    Japan
     
    • Kyushu Island
      • Fukuoka Prefecture
    		www.petrovrareminerals.com/articles02.html
    Mozambique
     
    • Zambezia Province
      • Alto Ligonha District
    		No reference listed
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 826.
    Mining Ann. Review(1985):423.
        • Okatjimukuju farm (Friedrichsfelde farm)
    		P. Keller and O. von Knorring, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1989, 1, pp. 567-593.
        • Okongava-Ost farm
    		Keller, P. (1991): The occurrence of Li-Fe-Mn phosphate minerals in granitic pegmatites of Namibia. Communs. Geol. Surv. Namibia, 7, 21-34.
      • Swakopmund District
        • Cape Cross area
    		http://www.mineral.tu-freiberg.de/econgeology/lehre/namibia/snlipegm/snlipegm_2_4.html
    • Kunene Region
      • Damaraland District
        • Uis (Groot Uis)
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
          • Krasny Chikoy
            • Malkhan pegmatite field (Malchan)
    		[MinRec 32:44]
    Sweden
     
    • Lappland
      • Jokkmokk
    		No reference listed
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    		No reference listed
    No reference listed
    • Skåne
      • Bromölla
        • Näsum
    		No reference listed
    • Södermanland
      • Haninge
    		Zeits. Krist. (1982) 160, 159; Tschermaks MPM (1983), 31, 81-96
    • Västerbotten
      • Skellefteå
    		Grensman, F & Langhof, J.(1991):Åkerberget. Guldgruva med litiumpegmatite. STEIN 18(2),20-22
    No reference listed
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • Okehampton area (Northern Dartmoor)
    		http://www.mineralman.f9.co.uk/quarries/meldon.htm
    USA
     
    • California
    		San Diego Natural History Museum
        • Pala District
          • Hiriart Mountain (Heriart; Heriot; Hiriat Hill)
    		Ref.: Weber, F. H. 1963. Geology and mineral resources of San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology, County Report 3: p. 98.
    • Connecticut
      • Middlesex Co.
        • Portland
    		Januzzi, 1976. Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State (Taylor Assoc./Mineralogical Press)
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Buckfield
    		No reference listed
    Rocks & Min.: 62:403-404.
        • Greenwood
    		Kink, V. and Foord, E.E., 1992 Maine Mineralogy, Vol. 1, Maine Geologic Surevey, Augusta.
    No reference listed
    King, V. T., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, Descriptive Mineralogy, v. 1
        • Newry
    		King, V. T., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, Descriptive Mineralogy, v. 1
        • Norway
    		King & Foord, 1994. Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1.
        • Paris
        • Peru
    		No reference listed
    • Massachusetts
      • Hampden Co.
        • Blandford
    		No reference listed
      • Worcester Co.
        • Bolton
    		Emerson, B.K. Geology of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1917. (USGS Bulletin 597)
    • New Hampshire
      • Cheshire Co.
    		Morrill, 1960. NH Mines and Mineral Localities
      • Strafford Co.
        • Strafford
    		Rocks & Min.:64:504.
    • New Mexico
      • Taos Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    • North Carolina
      • Cleveland Co.
        • Kings Mountain District
    		To many to list here. If interested, we can e-mail them to you.
      • Mitchell Co.
        • Spruce Pine District
    • South Dakota
      • Pennington Co.
        • Keystone District
          • Keystone
    		Rocks & Minerals: 67(6): 380-388.
    • Wyoming
    		Rocks&Min 76:23-241
    Rocks & Minerals 76:386
    Meeves, H., et al (1966), Reconnaissance of beryllium-bearing pegmatite deposits in six western states, US Bur. Mines Info. Circ. 8298: 34 (Table A-1).
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Masvingo
      • Masvingo (Fort Victoria)
    		http://geology.csupomona.edu/drjessey/class/GSC433/Pegmatites.htm
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. Mineral Specimens available here.