Lechatelierite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable
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About Lechatelierite
Henry Louis Le Chatelier
Formula:
SiO2
Hardness:
6½
Crystal System:
Amorphous
Member of:
Name:
Named after Henry Louis Le Chatelier (Paris, 8 October 1850 – Miribel-les-Échelles, France, 17 September 1936). He is known for Le Chatelier’s principle, which makes it possible to predict the effect a change of conditions (such as temperature, pressure, or concentration of reaction components) will have on a chemical reaction. His principle proved invaluable in the chemical industry for developing the most-efficient chemical processes.
A natural fused, X-ray amorphous silica.
It can form when lightning strikes sand or other very silica-rich sediments and rocks, creating structures called fulgurites, hollow tubes that are often irregular and branched.
It also forms by the impact of meteorites, melting silica-rich sand. It is the major component of the impact glass called Libyan Desert Glass.
It can form when lightning strikes sand or other very silica-rich sediments and rocks, creating structures called fulgurites, hollow tubes that are often irregular and branched.
It also forms by the impact of meteorites, melting silica-rich sand. It is the major component of the impact glass called Libyan Desert Glass.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2363
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2363:0
IMA Classification of Lechatelierite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959), Questionable
Classification of Lechatelierite
4.DA.30
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
A : With small cations: Silica family
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
A : With small cations: Silica family
7.8.6
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
8 : Oxides of Si
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
8 : Oxides of Si
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lch | 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 Lechatelierite
Hardness:
6½ on Mohs scale
Chemistry of Lechatelierite
Mindat Formula:
SiO2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Lechatelierite
Crystal System:
Amorphous
Comment:
Amorphous
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 29 : Lightning-generated minerals | |
| 30 : Terrestrial impact minerals |
Synonyms of Lechatelierite
Other Language Names for Lechatelierite
Relationship of Lechatelierite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Silica:
| Chibaite | SiO2 · n(CH4, C2H6, C3H8, i-C4H10) (n = 3/17 (max)) | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Fd3 |
| Coesite | SiO2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Cristobalite | SiO2 | Tet. 422 : P41212 |
| 'Keatite' | SiO2 | Tet. 422 : P43212 |
| Melanophlogite | 46SiO2 · 6(N2,CO2) · 2(CH4,N2) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) |
| Mogánite | SiO2 | Mon. 2/m |
| 'Opal-AG' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-AN' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-C' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| 'Opal-CT' | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| Quartz | SiO2 | Trig. 32 : P3121 |
| 'Quartz-beta' | SiO2 | Hex. 622 : P6422 |
| Stishovite | SiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Tridymite | SiO2 | Tric. 1 |
| 'β-Cristobalite' | SiO2 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m |
| 'β-Tridymite' | SiO2 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Lechatelierite associated with 'Fulgurite' | |
| 4 photos of Lechatelierite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Lechatelierite associated with 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | |
| 3 photos of Lechatelierite associated with Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| 3 photos of Lechatelierite associated with 'Glass' | |
| 3 photos of Lechatelierite associated with 'Moldavite' | |
| 1 photo of Lechatelierite associated with Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| 1 photo of Lechatelierite associated with Feldspar Group | |
| 1 photo of Lechatelierite associated with 'Meteorite' |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DA. | Bosoite | SiO2 · nCxH2x+2 |
| 4.DA. | Chibaite | SiO2 · n(CH4, C2H6, C3H8, i-C4H10) (n = 3/17 (max)) |
| 4.DA. | 'Carbon Dioxide Ice' | CO2 |
| 4.DA.05 | Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.10 | Tridymite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.10 | Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| 4.DA.15 | Cristobalite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.20 | Mogánite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.25 | Melanophlogite | 46SiO2 · 6(N2,CO2) · 2(CH4,N2) |
| 4.DA.35 | Coesite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.35 | Xiexiandeite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.40 | Stishovite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.45 | 'Keatite' | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.50 | Seifertite | SiO2 |
| 4.DA.55 | 'Quartz-beta' | SiO2 |
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.
Lechatelierite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Lechatelierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2363.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Lechatelierite
Reference List:
Localities for Lechatelierite
Showing 73 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.
Australia | |
| Sorrell (n.d.) |
| Judy Rowe collection |
| Gifford (1999) |
| Gifford (1999) | |
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) | |
| Kirchner et al. (2011) |
| Exel (1993) |
Belgium | |
| |
Bulgaria | |
| Rappenglück (2022) |
Canada | |
| Yale Peabody Museum |
Chile | |
| Gattacceca et al. (2021) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hršelová et al. (2013) |
Egypt | |
| Lavinsky (n.d.) |
| Osinski et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Seebaugh +1 other reference | |
Germany | |
| |
| Erik Vercammen collection |
| Rocks & Min. |
| Th. Thieme collection | |
| |
India | |
| - (1998) |
Japan | |
| cam.arts.usf.edu (n.d.) |
Libya | |
| |
Mauritania | |
Morocco | |
| A. M. I. Martins collection |
| Ben Youssef Malek specimen | |
Namibia | |
| Meteoritics & Planetary Science 43 et al. (2008) |
Netherlands | |
| T.G. Nijland |
| Tinbergen (1984) |
| T.G. Nijland |
New Zealand | |
| Rod Martin Collection |
Nicaragua | |
| Rochette et al. (2019) |
Niger | |
| Wolfgang Hempel specimen | |
Portugal | |
| Martins da Pedra collection |
Russia | |
| GUROV et al. (2004) |
| Vishnevsky (2003) |
| camb.demonhosting.co.uk (n.d.) |
Syria | |
| Moore et al. (2020) |
UK | |
| |
USA | |
| Kerr +2 other references |
| Davis (1968) +1 other reference |
| |
| azminerals.com |
| Mineralogical Rearch Company. |
| Ed Richardson collection | |
| Jour. Geol. et al. (1946) | |
| Rogers (1946) +1 other reference |
| |
| John Burnham | |
| Marc V. Hurst (2010) |
| Pasek et al. (2009) | |
| Marc V. Hurst (2010) |
| Marc V. Hurst (2010) | |
| Marc V. Hurst (2010) | |
| Rocks & Min. |
| Patricia Berry Barker collection |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| |
| Yale Peabody Museum |
| Yale Peabody Museum |
| AmMin 10:152-155 |
| Mineral Museum Soccoro |
| |
| Rocks & Min: Nov |
| |
| California Geology |
| Pasek et al. (2012) |
| Yale Peabody Museum | |
| |
| Mineralogical Research Co. specimens. |
| Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII (2006) |
| Am Jour. of Science et al. (July 1899) |
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