Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Leucite

Big Photo

Emmelberg Mt., Üdersdorf, Daun, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© JDehove

Show Leucite Photos (53)
Formula:
KAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
System:TetragonalColour:White, grey
Hardness:5½ - 6
Name:From the Greek "leucos," for white, in allusion to its common colour.
This page provides mineralogical data about Leucite.

Classification of Leucite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
B : Chains of single connected 4-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:76.2.2.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.3.4

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2465.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Leucite

Type Locality:Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1791

Occurrences of Leucite

Geological Setting:Potasium rich mafic and ultramafic lavas.

Physical Properties of Leucite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White, grey
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Very poor om {110}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.45 - 2.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.46 g/cm3

Crystallography of Leucite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:I41/a
Cell Parameters:a = 13.056Å, c = 13.751Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.053
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,343.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:16
Morphology:Euhedral pseudocubic crystals
Twinning:Common, repeated on {110}{101}
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Leucite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Leucite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Leucite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.508 nε = 1.509
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.001

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

Chemical Properties of Leucite

Formula:
KAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
Essential elements:Al, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, K, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mg,Ca,Ba,Na,Rb,Cs,H2O

Relationship of Leucite to other Species

Common Associates:
NephelineNatroliteNatroliteAnalcime
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.GB.05Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.GB.05Analcime
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.05Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
Be
 
3
[F
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.GB.05Lithosite
K
 
6
Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
25
·2H
 
2
O
9.GB.05Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.05Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GB.10Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
9.GB.15Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
9.GB.20Roggianite
Ca
 
2
Be(OH)
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
·2.5H
 
2
O
9.GB.25Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.GB.30Montesommaite
(K,Na)
 
9
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
·10H
 
2
O
9.GB.35Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.3.1Lithosite
K
 
6
Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
25
·2H
 
2
O
16.3.2Kaliophilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
16.3.3Kalsilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
16.3.5Microcline
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.6Orthoclase
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.7Sanidine
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.3.8Muscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]

Other Names for Leucite

Synonyms:
LeukolithOeil de perdrixWhite Garnet
Other Languages:
Dutch:Leuciet
French:Leucite
Amphigène
German:Leucit
Lezuit
Hebrew:לוסיט
Italian:Leucite
Polish:Leucyt
Russian:Лейцит
Spanish:Leucita
Swedish:Leucit
Varieties:
Germanate-leucite

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 Leucite

Reference List:Klaproth, M.H. (1797): Untersuchung des Leucit, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Zweiter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 39-59

Onorato E. – (1938) Ricerche roentgenografiche sulla leucite. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma 85-97.

American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 108-115.

Mineralogical Record: 30: 5-6.

American Mineralogist (1993): 78: 486.

Phillips, B.L. and Kirkpatrick, R.J. (1994) Short-range Al-Si order in leucite and analcime: determination of the configurational entropy from 27Al and variable-temperature 29Si NMR spectroscopy of leucite, its Cs- and Rb-exchanged derivatives, and analcime. American Mineralogist: 79: 1025-1031.

Internet Links for Leucite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Leucite on Google
  • Look for Leucite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Leucite on Webmineral
  • Look for Leucite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Leucite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Leucite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Leucite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Leucite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Find Leucite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Search for - Leucite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Leucite

    Show Locality List (151 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 29th Oct 2009 08:09:46