Laurionite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Laurionite
Formula:
PbCl(OH)
Colour:
Colourless, white
Lustre:
Adamantine, Pearly
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
6.241
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1887 by Rudolf Ignatz Koechlin after the type locality at Laurion, Greece. (Note that the type material consists of a piece of oxidised galena ore, not a slag.)
Dimorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2343
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2343:2
Similar Names
| Larnite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ca2SiO4 |
| Lauraniite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2O |
| Laurionite-2M | A synonym of Paralaurionite |
IMA Classification of Laurionite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Cl(OH)
First published:
1887
Classification of Laurionite
3.DC.05
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
10.2.2.1
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
8.8.7
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Lri | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Laurionite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Laurionite
Adamantine, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
pearly on {100}
Colour:
Colourless, white
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
distinct on {101}.
distinct on {101}.
Density:
6.241 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.212 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Laurionite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 2.077 nβ = 2.116 nγ = 2.158
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 90°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.081
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r < v strong
Chemistry of Laurionite
Mindat Formula:
PbCl(OH)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Laurionite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.1110 Å, b = 9.6987 Å, c = 4.0203 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.733 : 1 : 0.415
Unit Cell V:
277.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals elongated [010] thick to thin tabular {100}. Often sword-shaped morphology. {100} striated [021] at times. Significant form {812} is generally replaced, or accompanied, by vicinal faces. Also lenticular.
Comment:
Non-standard space-group setting Pcmn.
Crystallographic forms of Laurionite
Crystal Atlas:
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Laurionite no.1 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Laurionite no.2 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Laurionite no.5 - {100, {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010776 | Laurionite | Venetopoulos C C, Rentzeperis P J (1975) The crystal structure of laurionite, Pb(OH)Cl Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 141 246-259 |  | 1975 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0011877 | Laurionite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 298-306 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017980 | Laurionite | Brasseur H (1940) Etude roentgenographique de la laurionite Pb Cl (O H) _cod_database_code 1011083 Bulletin de la Societe Royal des Sciences de Liege 9 166-169 | 1940 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017924 | Laurionite | Goldsztaub S (1937) Structure cristalline de la laurionite _cod_database_code 1011017 Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences 204 702-703 | 1937 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.01 Å | (100) |
| 3.30 Å | (55) |
| 2.30 Å | (50) |
| 3.56 Å | (40) |
| 3.33 Å | (30) |
| 5.7 Å | (25) |
| 2.87 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Saline water acting on lead slags. Oxidation zone in lead deposits.
Type Occurrence of Laurionite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Lath shaped crystals to 5 mm in length
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Laurionite
Other Language Names for Laurionite
Relationship of Laurionite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Matlockite Group:
| Bismoclite | BiOCl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm |
| Daubréeite | BiO(OH) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm |
| Matlockite | PbFCl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm |
| Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Rorisite | CaFCl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm |
| Zavaritskite | (BiO)F | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 22 photos of Laurionite associated with Phosgenite | Pb2CO3Cl2 |
| 14 photos of Laurionite associated with Nealite | Pb4Fe2+(As3+O3)2Cl4 · 2H2O |
| 10 photos of Laurionite associated with Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
| 8 photos of Laurionite associated with Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
| 7 photos of Laurionite associated with Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 |
| 7 photos of Laurionite associated with Hydrocerussite | Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Laurionite associated with Ecdemite | Pb6As3+2O7Cl4 |
| 6 photos of Laurionite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 5 photos of Laurionite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 5 photos of Laurionite associated with Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DC. | Gajardoite | KCa0.5As3+4O6Cl2 · 5H2O |
| 3.DC. | Lucabindiite | (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br) |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(NH4) | (NH4)3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(K) | K3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Napoliite | Pb2OFCl |
| 3.DC. | Torrecillasite | Na(As,Sb)3+4O6Cl |
| 3.DC.05 | Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3.DC.05 | Mauriziodiniite | (NH4)(As2O3)2I |
| 3.DC.05 | Russoite | (NH4)ClAs2O3(H2O)0.5 |
| 3.DC.10 | Fiedlerite | Pb3FCl4(OH) · H2O |
| 3.DC.15 | Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
| 3.DC.15 | Telluroperite | Pb3TeO4Cl2 |
| 3.DC.20 | Laurelite | Pb7F12Cl2 |
| 3.DC.25 | Zhangpeishanite | BaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Matlockite | PbFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Zavaritskite | (BiO)F |
| 3.DC.25 | Rorisite | CaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Bismoclite | BiOCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Vegrandisite | BaCl2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Nadorite | PbSbClO2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Perite | PbBiClO2 |
| 3.DC.40 | Thorikosite | Pb3Cl2(OH)(SbO3,AsO3) |
| 3.DC.45 | Mereheadite | Pb47Cl25(OH)13O24(CO3)(BO3)2 |
| 3.DC.50 | Blixite | Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4 |
| 3.DC.52 | Rumseyite | Pb2OClF |
| 3.DC.55 | Vladkrivovichevite | [Pb32O18][Pb4Mn2O]Cl14(BO3)8 · 2H2O |
| 3.DC.55 | Pinalite | Pb3WO5Cl2 |
| 3.DC.57 | Yeomanite | Pb2O(OH)Cl |
| 3.DC.60 | Symesite | Pb10(SO4)O7Cl4 · H2O |
| 3.DC.60 | 'Lorettoite' | Pb7O6Cl2 |
| 3.DC.62 | 'Sarawakite (of Frenzel)' | Sb, O, Cl (?) |
| 3.DC.65 | Ecdemite | Pb6As3+2O7Cl4 |
| 3.DC.70 | Mendipite | Pb3Cl2O2 |
| 3.DC.75 | Damaraite | Pb3Cl(OH)O2 |
| 3.DC.80 | Onoratoite | Sb8Cl2O11 |
| 3.DC.95 | Barstowite | Pb4Cl6(CO3) · H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Slightly soluble in cold water, more soluble in warm water. Soluble in nitric acid.
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 Laurionite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2343.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Laurionite
Reference List:
Herbert Smith, G. F., Prior, G. T. (1899) On some lead minerals from Laurium, namely, Laurionite, Phosgenite, Fiedlerite, and (new species) Paralaurionite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 12 (55) 102-110 doi:10.1180/minmag.1899.012.55.06
Ktenas, Const.-A. (1910) Sur les relations cristallographiques entre la laurionite et la paralaurionite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 33 (3). 173-188 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1910.3422
Russell, Arthur, Hutchinson, A. (1927) On laurionite and associated minerals from Cornwall. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 21 (116). 221-228 doi:10.1180/minmag.1927.021.116.04
Palache, Charles (1934) The form relations of the lead oxychlorides, laurionite, paralaurionite, and fiedlerite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 23 (146) 573-586 doi:10.1180/minmag.1934.023.146.01
Strunz, H. and Tennyson, C. (1956) Isotypie laurionit-contunnit. Rend. Soc. Min. Ital.: 12: 214-215.
Venetopoulos, C. Ch., Rentzeperis, P. J. (1975) The crystal structure of laurionite, Pb(OH)Cl. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 141 (3). 246-259 doi:10.1524/zkri.1975.141.3-4.246
Merlino, S., Pasero, M., Perchiazzi, N. (1993) Crystal structure of paralaurionite and its OD relationships with laurionite. Mineralogical Magazine, 57 (387) 323-328 doi:10.1180/minmag.1993.057.387.15
Lutz, Heinz Dieter, Beckenkamp, Konrad, Kellersohn, Thomas, Möller, Hendrik, Peter, Stefan (1996) Neutron and X-Ray Structure Determination of Laurionite-Type Pb{O(H,D)}X, withX= Cl, Br, and I, Hydrogen Bonds to Lead(II) Ions as a Hydrogen-Bond Acceptor. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 124. 155-161 doi:10.1006/jssc.1996.0219
Localities for Laurionite
Showing 71 localities.
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.
Argentina | |
| Sillitoe et al. (2023) |
Australia | |
| Chapman et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Paul et al. (2015) |
| Toma (2017) |
| www.crocoite.com (2003) |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) | |
| Nickel et al. (1993) |
| Nickel et al. (1993) | |
| MacLeod (1991) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2009) +2 other references |
Canada | |
| Horváth et al. (2013) |
Chile | |
| Favreau (n.d.) |
Czech Republic | |
| RÜSENBERG et al. (1996) |
| Jirásek et al. (2016) |
France | |
| Vernay (1997) |
| P. Le Roch collection |
| Germain C. et al. (1990) |
| Favreau et al. (2024) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... +1 other reference | |
Germany | |
| Regenspurg et al. (2016) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| van den Berg et al. (1990) |
| Luetcke (n.d.) |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Schnorrer (1993) |
Greece | |
| Fritz Schreiber collection +1 other reference |
| van Kalmthout (2012) | |
| Uwe Kolitsch and Branko Rieck (unpubl. SEM-EDS results) |
| |
| |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Köchlin (1887) |
| Herbert Smith et al. (1899) +4 other references | |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) |
| Fritz Schreiber collection (SXRD-analysed by Uwe Kolitsch) |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Lacroix et al. (1908) +1 other reference | |
Indonesia | |
| MacLeod et al. (2001) |
Israel | |
| Itamer (1993) |
Italy | |
| Marco Bonifazi collection |
| Rivista Mineralogica Italiana (Avril/Juin) |
| Luigi Possenti Collection |
| www.comune.pisa.it (2000) |
| Jansen et al. (1998) |
| Franzini et al. (1992) +2 other references |
Mozambique | |
| Hurai (2015) |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2019) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection + EDS |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Dill et al. (2023) | |
| Van den Berg et al. (2020) |
Tunisia | |
| Kutzke et al. (1997) |
Turkmenistan | |
| Lebedev et al. (1983) |
UK | |
| Day (1999) |
| BMS Newsletter 79 (http://britishmicromountsociety.homestead.com/Gannell-Smelter.html) |
| Chollet Pascal Collection |
| Russell et al. (1927) +1 other reference |
| Betterton (2000) |
| Norman Wilson collection |
| Norman Wilson collection |
| Turner et al. (2010) |
| Rust (1995) |
USA | |
| Collected by Chuck Adan. EDS confirmed ... |
| McSwiggen (1999) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
Vietnam | |
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Legrena Cove slag locality, Charakas, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece