Leucostaurite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Leucostaurite
Formula:
Pb2[B5O9]Cl · 0.5H2O
Colour:
White to colorless
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
5.071 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
is derived from the Greek “leukos” (white) and “stauros” (cross), and alludes to the white, cruciform twinned crystals
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
35579
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:35579:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
78bcea2d-3960-4c70-953e-0c650c5a30f0
IMA Classification of Leucostaurite
Approved
Approval year:
2007
Classification of Leucostaurite
6.EA.05
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
A : Neso-pentaborates
6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
A : Neso-pentaborates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lsr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Leucostaurite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White to colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect cleavage parallel to {010}, and a good cleavage parallel to {100}.
perfect cleavage parallel to {010}, and a good cleavage parallel to {100}.
Density:
5.071 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
measured > 4.32
Optical Data of Leucostaurite
Type:
Biaxial
Dispersion:
strong, r > v
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Mineral reacts with RI fluids. n > 1.790, Gladstone-Dale relationship, for the empirical formula is 1.849
Chemistry of Leucostaurite
Mindat Formula:
Pb2[B5O9]Cl · 0.5H2O
Crystallography of Leucostaurite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pnn2
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.3757(20) Å, b = 11.5051(20) Å, c = 6.5568(7) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.989 : 1 : 0.57
Unit Cell V:
858.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Twinning:
Many crystals show interpenetrated twinning [most probably either on (101) or (011)], forming a cruciform assemblage
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019064 | Leucostaurite | Brugger J, Meisser N, Ansermat S, Krivovichev S V, Kahlenberg V, Belton D, Ryan C G (2012) Leucostaurite, Pb2[B5O9]Cl*0.5H2O, from the Atacama Desert: The first Pb-dominant member of the hilgardite group, and micro-determination of boron minerals by PIGE American Mineralogist 97 1206-1212 | 2012 | Mina Asuncion, Atacama Desert, Chile | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.71 Å | (80) |
| 4.04 Å | (100) |
| 3.29 Å | (40) |
| 3.16 Å | (30) |
| 2.84 Å | (100) |
| 2.55 Å | (40) |
| 2.019 Å | (70) |
| 1.877 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Leucostaurite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Leucostaurite forms thin colorless to white crystals tabular on {010} and striated //[100], sometimes grouped into sheaflike aggregates up to 0.8 mm in length
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Musée géologique cantonal, Lausanne, Switzerland, under catalog number MGL 90000.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
interaction of evaporitic brines within the oxidation zone of a base-metal deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Leucostaurite
Other Language Names for Leucostaurite
German:Leukostaurit
Relationship of Leucostaurite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Hilgardite | Ca2B5O9Cl · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Kurgantaite | CaSr[B5O9]Cl · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Tyretskite | Ca2B5O9OH · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.EA.05 | Sborgite | Na[B5O6(OH)4] · 3H2O |
| 6.EA.10 | Santite | K[B5O6(OH)4] · 2H2O |
| 6.EA.10 | Ramanite-(Rb) | Rb[B5O6(OH)4] · 2H2O |
| 6.EA.10 | Ramanite-(Cs) | Cs[B5O6(OH)4] · 2H2O |
| 6.EA.15 | Ammonioborite | (NH4)2[B5O6(OH)4]2 · H2O |
| 6.EA.25 | Ulexite | NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O |
Fluorescence of Leucostaurite
a weak, light-yellow fluorescence under short-wavelength UV light and no fluorescence under long-wavelength UV light.
Other Information
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 Leucostaurite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-35579.html
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References for Leucostaurite
Reference List:
Brugger, J., Meisser, N., Ansermet, S., Krivovichev, S. V., Kahlenberg, V., Belton, D., Ryan, C. G. (2012) Leucostaurite, Pb2[B5O9]Cl·0.5H2O, from the Atacama Desert: The first Pb-dominant member of the hilgardite group, and micro-determination of boron in minerals by PIGE. American Mineralogist, 97 (7) 1206-1212 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4082
Localities for Leucostaurite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - 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.
Chile (TL) | |
| Brugger et al. (2012) |
| Brugger et al. (2012) |
| SEM-EDS and Raman Spectroscopy by Joy ... |
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Asunción Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile