Cleavelandite
A variety of Albite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Cleavelandite
Formula:
Na(AlSi3O8)
Colour:
White, Tan, Blue
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
2.6
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in 1823 by Henry J. Brooke in honor of Parker Cleaveland [January 15, 1780 Rowley (Byfield), Massachusetts, USA - August 15, 1758, in Brunswick, Maine, USA], professor of geology and mineralogy at Bowdoin College in Maine 1805-1858. In 1816 Cleaveland wrote the first mineralogy textbook authored by a citizen of the USA. Despite the title page date, the textbook was actually released in January 1817. The textbook was noted for its unification of European schools of thought and was also popular in its second edition of 1822. Cleavelandite had been described earlier in 1817 by Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann with the name "kieselspath". In 1815, Hans Peter Eggertz named granular and radiated albite, probably identical to cleavelandite of Brooke. In 1936, Harold Lattimore Alling defined cleavelandite as a triclinic mineral, suggesting a difference from true albite as well as "analbite". Fisher (1968) studied cleavelandite from Chesterfield, Massachusetts, USA, the type locality, but did not study type specimens, and proposed that true cleavelandite should be restricted to warped platy masses of mineral with lamellae parallel to (010) and "lack other well-defined crystal faces, and may be twinned on the albite law". This definition would not include most specimens called "cleavelandite", especially those cleavelandites grown into open cavities, although such "cleavelandite" is also known from the type locality. The current use of the varietal name generally includes cavity hosted crystal aggregates.
The original annoncement of Cleavelandite was published in Annals of Philosophy, May 1823, p. 381-382:
Article XII. A Description of the Crystalline Form of some new Minerals. By H. J. Brooke, Esq. FRS. FLS. &c. (To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.)
Dear SIR, April 19, 1822.
Having lately been engaged in an examination of the crystalline forms of minerals, and in a few instances of their chemical characters, preparatory to a list I have proposed to add to an elementary production to crystallography, I have observed a few new results, which form the substance of the following brief notices: ...
Cleavelandite. - The albite, and siliceous spar of Haussman [sic], which accompanies the green and red tourmaline from Chesterfield, in Massachusetts, are varieties of the same mineral. Two different names having been given to this substance, it becomes necessary either to adopt one of these to the exclusion of the other, or to assign a new one to the species.
As albite is generally blue, and sometimes red,* its name is consequently bad, and siliceous spar might be applied with equal propriety to the other substances; I have therefore, preferred adopting the term Cleavelandite to denote the species, out of respect to the Professor of Natural Philosophy in Bowdoin College. United States.
This species has cleavages in three directions, parallel to the planes of a doubly oblique prism.
* The specimen which first enabled me to determine the form is bright blue. It came from Labrador, and was given to me by the Rev. C. I. Latrobe. M. Nordenskiold has favored me with a specimen which is red.
The original annoncement of Cleavelandite was published in Annals of Philosophy, May 1823, p. 381-382:
Article XII. A Description of the Crystalline Form of some new Minerals. By H. J. Brooke, Esq. FRS. FLS. &c. (To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.)
Dear SIR, April 19, 1822.
Having lately been engaged in an examination of the crystalline forms of minerals, and in a few instances of their chemical characters, preparatory to a list I have proposed to add to an elementary production to crystallography, I have observed a few new results, which form the substance of the following brief notices: ...
Cleavelandite. - The albite, and siliceous spar of Haussman [sic], which accompanies the green and red tourmaline from Chesterfield, in Massachusetts, are varieties of the same mineral. Two different names having been given to this substance, it becomes necessary either to adopt one of these to the exclusion of the other, or to assign a new one to the species.
As albite is generally blue, and sometimes red,* its name is consequently bad, and siliceous spar might be applied with equal propriety to the other substances; I have therefore, preferred adopting the term Cleavelandite to denote the species, out of respect to the Professor of Natural Philosophy in Bowdoin College. United States.
This species has cleavages in three directions, parallel to the planes of a doubly oblique prism.
* The specimen which first enabled me to determine the form is bright blue. It came from Labrador, and was given to me by the Rev. C. I. Latrobe. M. Nordenskiold has favored me with a specimen which is red.
First Recorded Locality:
A variety of Albite
Platy milky-white lamellae, generally found in granite pegmatites often in large masses ranging from centimeters to meters. The defining feature of cleavelandite is an abundance of parallel platy and/or aggregates or curved curved masses. The crystals of albite which oftentimes occur on the edges of cleavelandite are generally regarded as true late-stage albite crystal and not true cleavelandite. Nontheless, albite crystals growing as edge growths of platy cleavelandite indicate a transition from rapid cleavelandite growth conditions to conditions of slower crystal growth.
Platy milky-white lamellae, generally found in granite pegmatites often in large masses ranging from centimeters to meters. The defining feature of cleavelandite is an abundance of parallel platy and/or aggregates or curved curved masses. The crystals of albite which oftentimes occur on the edges of cleavelandite are generally regarded as true late-stage albite crystal and not true cleavelandite. Nontheless, albite crystals growing as edge growths of platy cleavelandite indicate a transition from rapid cleavelandite growth conditions to conditions of slower crystal growth.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7688 (as Cleavelandite)
96 (as Albite)
96 (as Albite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7688:9 (as Cleavelandite)
mindat:1:1:96:9 (as Albite)
mindat:1:1:96:9 (as Albite)
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
32e8125d-fb3d-472e-b61c-4e5599f4db2a (as Cleavelandite)
eee48ae9-e84f-4983-ae14-22ad58212555 (as Albite)
eee48ae9-e84f-4983-ae14-22ad58212555 (as Albite)
Physical Properties of Cleavelandite
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
White, Tan, Blue
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Density:
2.6 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemistry of Cleavelandite
Mindat Formula:
Na(AlSi3O8)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cleavelandite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Morphology:
Platy
First Recorded Occurrence of Cleavelandite
Geological Setting of First Recorded Material:
Granite pegmatites, Late-stage vugs in granite
Associated Minerals at First Recorded Locality:
Synonyms of Cleavelandite
Other Language Names for Cleavelandite
German:Cleavelandit
Clevelandit
Clevelandit
Simplified Chinese:εΆι ιΏη³
Spanish:Cleavelandita
Clevelandita
Clevelandita
Traditional Chinese:θιι·η³
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 1,135 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 783 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 535 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Lepidolite | |
| 409 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 341 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 320 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| 304 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
| 255 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 249 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 183 photos of Cleavelandite associated with Morganite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Fluorescence of Cleavelandite
Frequent fluoresces red SWUV
Other Information
Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Cleavelandite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7688.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Cleavelandite
Reference List:
Localities for Cleavelandite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
β - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Himalaya Mine, Gem Hill, Mesa Grande Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA