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Laurentianite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Laurentianite (12)

Laurentianite Gallery Search Photos of Laurentianite

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Laurentianite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Laurentianite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

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About LaurentianiteHide

Formula:

Na₃Nb₃Si₄O₁₇ · 9H₂O

Colour:

Colorless

Lustre:

Vitreous

Specific Gravity:

2.464 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Name:

Named after Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where the research characterizing the mineral was done.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

This page provides mineralogical data about Laurentianite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

40272

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:40272:7

GUID
(UUID V4):

ff8d2be7-9fe6-441a-a9f1-d25f61a000c9

IMA Classification of LaurentianiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

[NbO(H₂O)]₃(Si₂O₇)₂[Na(H₂O)₂]₃

Approval year:

2010

Classification of LaurentianiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

9.CP.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
P : 12-membered and larger rings

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Lre	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 LaurentianiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Colorless

Comment:

could not be measured owing to the small size of the crystals

Cleavage:

None Observed

Parting:

None observed.

Fracture:

Splintery

Density:

2.464 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of LaurentianiteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (-)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.612(2) n_ε = 1.604(2)

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.008

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of LaurentianiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Na₃Nb₃Si₄O₁₇ · 9H₂O

Elements listed:

H, Na, Nb, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of LaurentianiteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3 - Pyramidal

Space Group:

Setting:

Cell Parameters:

a = 9.937(1) Å, c = 7.004(1) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.705

Unit Cell V:

599 Å³

Morphology:

Acicular, euhedral, and elongate along [001]. Occurs often in loose, randomly oriented groupings (‘nests’) of crystals.

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0019711	Laurentianite	Haring M M M, McDonald A M, Cooper M A, Poirier G A (2012) Laurentianite, [NbO(H2O)]3(Si2O7)2[Na(H2O)2]3, a new mineral from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec: description, crystal-structure determination and paragenesis The Canadian Mineralogist 50 1265-1280		2012	Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Laurentianite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Haring M M M'
'McDonald A M'
'Cooper M A'
'Poirier G A'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 50 
_journal_year 2012
_journal_page_first 1265
_journal_page_last 1280
_publ_section_title
;
 Laurentianite, [NbO(H2O)]3(Si2O7)2[Na(H2O)2]3, a new mineral from Mont
 Saint-Hilaire, Quebec: description, crystal-structure determination and paragenesis
;
_database_code_amcsd 0019711
_chemical_compound_source 'Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Na2.76 Nb3 Si4 O26 H18'
_cell_length_a 9.937
_cell_length_b 9.937
_cell_length_c 7.004
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 598.946
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.464
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 3'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Na   0.33040   0.16440   0.24290   0.92000   0.02360
Nb1   0.33260   0.12930   0.74820   0.55000   0.00970
Nb2   0.33220   0.20150   0.73890   0.45000   0.01370
Si1   0.66667   0.33333   0.01570   1.00000   0.00860
Si2   0.66667   0.33333   0.47830   1.00000   0.00890
Si3   0.00000   0.00000   0.01610   1.00000   0.01000
Si4   0.00000   0.00000   0.47800   1.00000   0.01040
O1   0.66667   0.33333   0.23780   1.00000   0.01800
O2   0.17770   0.10190   0.94360   1.00000   0.01980
O3   0.48520   0.25460   0.95320   1.00000   0.02180
O4   0.00000   0.00000   0.23820   1.00000   0.02100
O5   0.17410   0.07460   0.55260   1.00000   0.01900
O6   0.48930   0.23180   0.54360   1.00000   0.02350
O7   0.33280   0.37960   0.71360   1.00000   0.01920
Wat8   0.33210   0.95140   0.78120   1.00000   0.02700
Wat9   0.33200   0.39980   0.30880   1.00000   0.03600
Wat10   0.07480   0.40650   0.19230   1.00000   0.04600
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Na 0.02620 0.03110 0.01220 0.01330 -0.00020 -0.00550
Nb1 0.01080 0.01560 0.00110 0.00550 -0.00010 0.00190
Nb2 0.01160 0.01620 0.01200 0.00600 -0.00020 -0.00010
Si1 0.01140 0.01140 0.00290 0.00570 0.00000 0.00000
Si2 0.01230 0.01230 0.00210 0.00620 0.00000 0.00000
Si3 0.01260 0.01260 0.00480 0.00630 0.00000 0.00000
Si4 0.01360 0.01360 0.00390 0.00680 0.00000 0.00000
O1 0.02700 0.02700 0.00000 0.01400 0.00000 0.00000
O2 0.00900 0.03200 0.00900 0.00300 0.00500 0.00400
O3 0.01800 0.03800 0.00900 0.01400 -0.00600 -0.00900
O4 0.03100 0.03100 0.00000 0.01500 0.00000 0.00000
O5 0.01000 0.02800 0.01300 0.00500 -0.00300 0.00200
O6 0.02300 0.02400 0.02000 0.00900 0.00600 0.00100
O7 0.02300 0.02100 0.01800 0.01400 0.00000 0.00400
Wat8 0.02800 0.02400 0.02500 0.01000 0.00000 -0.00400
Wat9 0.04600 0.03200 0.03000 0.02000 0.00400 0.01700
Wat10 0.07000 0.05200 0.02300 0.03600 0.00400 0.00100

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
8.608 Å	(100)
7.005 Å	(19)
4.312 Å	(25)
4.062 Å	(13)
3.675 Å	(25)
3.260 Å	(31)
2.870 Å	(20)
1.836 Å	(14)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals]
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals

Type Occurrence of LaurentianiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Royal Ontario Museum, Department of Natural History, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2C6, catalogue number M55369.(Note: In CNMNC Newsletter No. 4 (2010) Mineralogical Magazine, 74, 797-800), deposition data were given in error. The error was corrected in CNMNC Newsletter No 7)

Synonyms of LaurentianiteHide

IMA2010-018

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

3 photos of Laurentianite associated with Pyrite	FeS₂
1 photo of Laurentianite associated with Smoky Quartz	SiO₂
1 photo of Laurentianite associated with Siderite	FeCO₃

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.CP.05	Traskite	Ba₂₁Ca(Fe²⁺,Mn,Ti)₄(Ti,Fe,Mg)₁₂(Si₁₂O₃₆)(Si₂O₇)₆(O,OH)₃₀Cl₆ · 14H₂O	Hex. 6 m2 : P6m2
9.CP.10	Megacyclite	Na₈KSi₉O₁₈(OH)₉ · 19H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b

Fluorescence of LaurentianiteHide

In UV light:

Non-fluorescent.

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 LaurentianiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-40272.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Laurentianite on Webmineral

Look for Laurentianite on Wikipedia

Look for Laurentianite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for LaurentianiteHide

Reference List:

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2010) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) CNMNC Newsletter No 4. Mineralogical Magazine, 74 (4) 797-800 doi:10.1180/s0026461x00038925

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2011) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2010, CNMNC Newsletter No 7. Mineralogical Magazine, 75 (1) 27-31 doi:10.1180/minmag.2011.075.1.27

Haring, M. M. M., McDonald, A. M., Cooper, M. A., Poirier, G. A. (2012) Laurentianite, [NbO(H₂O)]₃(Si₂O₇)₂[Na(H₂O)₂]₃, a new mineral from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec: description, crystal-structure determination and paragenesis. The Canadian Mineralogist, 50 (5) 1265-1280 doi:10.3749/canmin.50.5.1265

(2023) Laurentianite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for LaurentianiteHide

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.

Canada (TL)

Québec

Montérégie

La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM

Mont Saint-Hilaire

ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH) (TL)

Williams et al. (2010) +1 other reference

Laurentianite

About LaurentianiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of LaurentianiteHide

Classification of LaurentianiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of LaurentianiteHide

Optical Data of LaurentianiteHide

Chemistry of LaurentianiteHide

Crystallography of LaurentianiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of LaurentianiteHide

Synonyms of LaurentianiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of LaurentianiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for LaurentianiteHide

References for LaurentianiteHide

Localities for LaurentianiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide