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Virgilite

A valid IMA mineral species
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06832790015426676645226.jpg
Virgil E. Barnes
Formula:
LiAlSi2O6
Ideal formula; real formula is that of a solid-solution series.
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
2.46 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named by Bevan M. French, Peter A. Jezek, and Daniel E. Appleman in 1978 in honor of Virgil Everett Barnes (June 11, 1903, Chehalis, Washington - January 28, 1998, Austin, Texas), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA. It recognizes his pioneering work on tektites and natural glasses and his collection/study of the material from Macusani, Peru (the type locality).
Naturally occurring high-temperature solid solution between beta-quartz and spodumene (LiAlSi2O6).


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4188
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4188:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
5e799733-67a5-4c2f-8298-3fc2e9de49c6

IMA Classification of VirgiliteHide

Classification of VirgiliteHide

9.FA.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
75.3.1.1

75 : TECTOSILICATES Si Tetrahedral Frameworks
3 : Si Tetrahedral Frameworks with silica derivative structures
16.1.4

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
1 : Aluminosilicates of Li

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
VirIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of VirgiliteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of VirgiliteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Hardness:
VHN100=681 - 722 - Vickers
Hardness Data:
Could not be measured
Density:
2.46 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of VirgiliteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)

Chemistry of VirgiliteHide

Mindat Formula:
LiAlSi2O6

Ideal formula; real formula is that of a solid-solution series.
Common Impurities:
Fe,P

Crystallography of VirgiliteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P62 2 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.13 Å, c = 5.45 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.062
Unit Cell V:
124.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010668VirgiliteLi C T (1968) The crystal structure of LiAlSi2O6 III (high-quartz solid solution) Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 127 327-34819680293
0014849VirgiliteMuller G, Paulus H, Stiefel J (1990) Synthesis and structure of beta-quartz type Na0.5H0.5AlSi206 as compared to LiAlSi206 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1990 493-5031990synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.442 Å(13)
3.441 Å(100)
1.870 Å(25)
1.605 Å(9)
1.408 Å(9)
2.567 Å(6)
2.224 Å(6)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals

Type Occurrence of VirgiliteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless euhedral crystals up to 50 microns across.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA, Meteorite collection number NMNH 2143-17.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Found in volcanic glass
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
French, B.M., Jezek, P.A., Appleman, D.E. (1978) Virgilite: a new lithium aluminum silicate mineral from the Macusani glass, Peru. American Mineralogist: 63: 461-465.

Synonyms of VirgiliteHide

Other Language Names for VirgiliteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.FA.HexacelsianBaAl2Si2O8Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm
9.FA.Wodegongjieite KCa3(Al7Si9)O32Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc
9.FA.05KaliophiliteKAlSiO4Trig. 3 : P3
9.FA.05KalsiliteKAlSiO4Hex. 6 2 2 : P63 2 2
9.FA.05NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.05Panunzite(K,Na)AlSiO4Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.05TrikalsiliteK2NaAl3(SiO4)3Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.05Yoshiokaite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O4]Trig. 3 : P3
9.FA.05CarnegieiteNaAlSiO4Tric.
9.FA.05 vaGermanate-nepheline(Na,K)AlGeO4
9.FA.05MegakalsiliteKAlSiO4Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.05TrinephelineNaAlSiO4 Hex. 6 : P61
9.FA.05Davidsmithite(Ca,◻)2Na6Al8Si8O32Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.10MalinkoiteNaBSiO4Hex. 6 : P63
9.FA.25LisitsyniteKBSi2O6Orth. 2 2 2 : P2 2 2
9.FA.30Buddingtonite(NH4)(AlSi3O8)Mon. 2 : P21
9.FA.30CelsianBa(Al2Si2O8)Mon. 2/m
9.FA.30MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)Tric. 1
9.FA.30OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30SanidineK(AlSi3O8)Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30RubiclineRb(AlSi3O8)Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30 vaGermanate-celsianBaAl2Ge2O8
9.FA.30MonalbiteNaAlSi3O8Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30FerrisanidineK[Fe3+Si3O8]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.35AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)Tric. 1
9.FA.35AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)Tric. 1 : P1
9.FA.35ReedmergneriteNaBSi3O8Tric. 1 : P1
9.FA.40ParacelsianBa(Al2Si2O8)Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.FA.45SvyatoslaviteCa(Al2Si2O8)Mon. 2 : P21
9.FA.45KumdykoliteNa(AlSi3O8)Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
9.FA.50SlawsoniteSr(Al2Si2O8)Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.FA.55LisetiteCaNa2Al4Si4O16Orth. mm2
9.FA.60BanalsiteNa2BaAl4Si4O16Orth. mm2 : Iba2
9.FA.60StronalsiteNa2SrAl4Si4O16Orth.
9.FA.65DanburiteCaB2Si2O8Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
9.FA.65MaleeviteBaB2Si2O8Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
9.FA.65PekoviteSrB2Si2O8Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
9.FA.70StöffleriteCaAl2Si2O8Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.70Lingunite(Na,Ca)AlSi3O8Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.70LiebermanniteKAlSi3O8Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.75KokchetaviteK(AlSi3O8)Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc
9.FA.75Pfaffenbergite KNa3(Al4Si12)O32Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc

Other InformationHide

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 VirgiliteHide

References for VirgiliteHide

Localities for VirgiliteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Peru (TL)
 
  • Puno
    • Carabaya Province
French et al. (1978) +1 other reference
French et al. (1978) +1 other reference
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
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