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Londonite

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Big Photo

Antsongombato gem mine, FKT Antsentsindrano, Andrembesoa Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
(Cs,K,Rb)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
System:IsometricColour:Milky white to yellow
Lustre:VitreousHardness:8
Name:After Dr. David London (1953– ), Professor of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, for his contributions to the understanding of granite pegmatites.


The cesium-dominant analogue of Rhodizite. Londonite-Rhodizite Series.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Londonite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Londonite

IMA status:Approved
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.GC.05

6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
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Type Occurrence of Londonite

Type Locality:Antandrokomby pegmatite, Manandona Valley, Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Ibity area), Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
General Appearance of Type Material:Two wellformed crystals 1 cm across (type locality)
Geological Setting of type material:In the pocket zone of complex LCT pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
QuartzMicroclineDanburiteAlbiteAlbite

Physical Properties of Londonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Milky white to yellow
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):8
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.34 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.42 g/cm3

Crystallography of Londonite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:P4 3m
Morphology:Dodecahedron {110}, tristetrahedron {211}, tetrahedron {111}, deltoid dodecahedron {221} and rare cube {100}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.320(20)
3.274(50)
2.9898(100)
2.4410(50)
2.2072(20)
2.1132(35)
1.9565(20)
1.8301(20)
1.7755(25)

Optical Data of Londonite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Londonite

Formula:
(Cs,K,Rb)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Essential elements:Al, B, Be, Cs, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Be, Cs, K, O, Rb

Relationship of Londonite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Rhodizite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.GC.05Rhodizite
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28

Other Names for Londonite

Synonyms:
IMA1999-014
Other Languages:
German:Londonit
Russian:Лондонит
Spanish:Londonita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:weak yellow-green fluorescence under short-wave UV light
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 Londonite

Reference List:

- +
Frondel, C. and J. Ito (1965) Composition of rhodizite. Tschermaks Mineral. Petrog. Mitt., 10, 409–412.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Simmons, W.B., F. Pezzotta, A.U. Falster, and K.L. Webber (2001) Londonite, a new mineral species: the Cs-dominant analogue of rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. Canadian Mineralogist (2001): 39: 747-755.

Internet Links for Londonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Londonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Londonite

    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.
    Madagascar
     
    • Antananarivo Province
      • Vakinankaratra Region
        • Betafo District
          • Andrembesoa Commune
            • Ampanivana area
    		Simmons, W. B; Pezzotta, F; Falster, A.U & Webber, K. L. (2001): Londonite, a new mineral species: The Cs-dominant analogue of Rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. Canadian Mineralogist 39: 747-755/ [MinRec 33:165]
            • FKT Antsentsindrano
    		Simmons, W.B; Pezzotta,F; Falster, A.U & Webber, K.L.(2001): Londonite, a new mineral species: The Cs-dominant analogue of Rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. Can. Min., 39, 747-755; [MinRec 33:165]
          • Manapa pegmatite Field
    		Knut Edvard Larsen collection, obtained & analyzed by Dr. Federico Pezzotta, Italy.
    Arliguie M collection
        • Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Ibity area)
          • Manandona Valley
    		Simmons, W. B; Pezzotta, F; Falster, A.U & Webber, K. L. (2001): Londonite, a new mineral species: The Cs-dominant analogue of Rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. Canadian Mineralogist 39: 747-755/ MinRec 33:165]
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