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Lawrencite

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Nantan meteorites (Nandan meteorites), Lihu - Yaochai area, Nandan Co., Hechi Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
© 2007, JGW

Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)Cl
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:White (unoxidized), ...
Name:
After J. Lawrence Smith (1818-1883), American chemist, mineralogist, and student of meteorites.
Isostructural with:Chloromagnesite, Scacchite


Lawrencite Group.

Classification of Lawrencite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/A.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.AB.20

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:9.2.3.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.11.10

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
11 : Halides of Fe and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Lawrencite

Type Locality:Tazewell meteorite, Claiborne Co., Tennessee, USA
Year of Discovery:1877

Occurrences of Lawrencite

Geological Setting:Fissures in iron meteorites; sublimation product in volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Lawrencite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White (unoxidized), green to brown (oxidized)
Comment:Soft
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001} ?
Density (measured):3.16 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.26 g/cm3
Comment:Measured on synthetic material

Crystallography of Lawrencite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3m {R3 2/m}
Space Group Setting:R3m
Cell Parameters:a = 3.58Å, c = 17.57Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 4.908
Unit Cell Volume:V 195.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Crystals are thin hexagonal plates {0001} (artificial). Massive only in natural material.

Optical Data of Lawrencite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.576 nε = 1.576
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

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

Chemical Properties of Lawrencite

Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)Cl
 
2
Essential elements:Cl, Fe
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Fe, Ni
Analytical Data:Deliquescent.
Relationship of Lawrencite to other Species
Member of Group:
Lawrencite Group:
AX
 
2
 where A = Fe, Mn, Mg, Cu and X = Cl
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
3.AB.05Tolbachite
CuCl
 
2
3.AB.10Coccinite
HgI
 
2
3.AB.15Sellaite
MgF
 
2
3.AB.20Chloromagnesite
MgCl
 
2
3.AB.20Scacchite
MnCl
 
2
3.AB.25Fluorite
CaF
 
2
3.AB.25Frankdicksonite
BaF
 
2
3.AB.25IMA2009-014
SrF
 
2
3.AB.30Tveitite-(Y)
(Y, Na)
 
6
Ca
 
6
Ca
 
6
F
 
42
3.AB.35Gagarinite-(Y)
NaCaY(F,Cl)
 
6
3.AB.35Zajacite-(Ce)
Na(REE
 
x
Ca
 
1-x
)(REE
 
y
Ca
 
1-y
)F
 
6
3.AB.35IMA2009-015
NaSrCeF
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
8.11.1Molysite
FeCl
 
3
8.11.2
Hydromolysite
FeCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.11.3Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.11.4Douglasite
K
 
2
[Fe
2+
 
Cl
 
4
(OH
 
2
)
 
2
]
8.11.5Erythrosiderite
K
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(OH
 
2
)]
8.11.6Rinneite
K
 
3
Na[FeCl
 
6
]
8.11.7Kremersite
(NH
 
4
,K)
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.11.8Iowaite
Mg
 
4
Fe(OH)
 
8
OCl·4H
 
2
O
8.11.9Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
Other Names for Lawrencite
Other Languages:
French:Chlorure de fer
German:Eisenchlorür
Lawrencit
Italian:Ferro muriato
Russian:Лавренсит
Spanish:Lawrencita
Other Information
Other Information:Extremely hygroscopic; readily soluble in water.



Gains water and oxidizes to ferric chloride (molysite).
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:		Extremely hygroscopic
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:None.
References for Lawrencite
Reference List:Hayes (1845) American Journal of Science: 48: 153.



Jackson (1845) American Journal of Science: 48: 146.



Smith (1855) American Journal of Science: 19: 159.



Smith (1877) American Journal of Science: 13: 214.



Daubrée (1877) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 84: 69.



Biltz and Birk (1924) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 134: 125.



Ferrari, Celeri, and Giorgio (1929) Rend., Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome: 9: 782.



Pauling (1929) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington: 15: 709.



Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana. second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 84.



Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 40.



Acta Crystallographica (1963): 846.


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