Leucosphenite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Leucosphenite
Formula:
BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30
Colour:
Colorless, white, pale to dark green, pale yellow, pale gray to blue, brown to black
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
3.04 - 3.09
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named from the Greek leucos (λευκός) meaning white, and sphenos (σφηνώ) meaning wedge, in allusion to its color and crystal habit.
This page provides mineralogical data about Leucosphenite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2386
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2386:9
IMA Classification of Leucosphenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na4BaTi4+2B2Si10O30
First published:
1901
Type description reference:
Classification of Leucosphenite
9.DP.15
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
72.5.2.1
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
17.5.33
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lsp | 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 Leucosphenite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, white, pale to dark green, pale yellow, pale gray to blue, brown to black
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010}, {001}
{010}, {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
3.04 - 3.09 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.103 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Leucosphenite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.643 - 1.649 nβ = 1.657 - 1.664 nγ = 1.681 - 1.691
2V:
Measured: 77° , Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.038 - 0.042
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:
weak
Chemistry of Leucosphenite
Mindat Formula:
BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Al,Fe,Nb,Mn,Mg,Ca,Sr,K
Crystallography of Leucosphenite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.814(4) Å, b = 16.851(5) Å, c = 7.210(3) Å
β = 93.35(3)°
β = 93.35(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.582 : 1 : 0.428
Unit Cell V:
1,190.32 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Often wedge shaped. As rosettes and laminated masses.
Type material forms include: a{100}, b{010}, c{001}, x{011}, d{101}, m{110}, n{130}, s{112}, p{111}, g{133}, r{263}.
Type material forms include: a{100}, b{010}, c{001}, x{011}, d{101}, m{110}, n{130}, s{112}, p{111}, g{133}, r{263}.
Twinning:
Common, perpendicular to {001}, contact plane {001}.
Crystallographic forms of Leucosphenite
Crystal Atlas:
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Leucosphenite no.1 - {311} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Leucosphenite no.2 - {311} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Leucosphenite no.5 - {001} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012470 | Leucosphenite | Malinovskii Yu A, Yamnova N A, Belov N V (1981) The refined crystal structure of the leucosphenite Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 257 1128-1132 | 1981 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.22 Å | (100) |
| 8.45 Å | (90) |
| 3.37 Å | (70) |
| 2.891 Å | (60) |
| 3.31 Å | (50) |
| 2.813 Å | (40) |
| 2.732 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Leucosphenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fairly well developed crystals to 2x5 mm in size, though most much smaller.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Natural History Museum, London, England.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 135739, R3878.
The Natural History Museum, London, England.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 135739, R3878.
Synonyms of Leucosphenite
Other Language Names for Leucosphenite
Dutch:Leucospheniet
German:Leukosphenit
Leucosphenit
Leucosphenit
Russian:Лейкосфенит
Simplified Chinese:淡钡钛石
Spanish:Leucosphenita
Traditional Chinese:淡鋇鈦石
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 27 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 19 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 12 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 11 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Vinogradovite | Na4Ti4(Si2O6)2[(Si,Al)4O10]O4 · (H2O,Na,K)3 |
| 11 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 11 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Monteregianite-(Y) | (Na,K)6(Y,Ca)2Si16O38 · 10H2O |
| 11 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Lorenzenite | Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3 |
| 9 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 9 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 9 photos of Leucosphenite associated with Narsarsukite | Na2(Ti,Fe3+)Si4(O,F)11 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DP.05 | Meliphanite | (Ca,Na)2(Be,Al)[Si2O6(OH,F)] |
| 9.DP.20 | Ferriprehnite | Ca2Fe3+(Si3AlO10)(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.20 | Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.25 | Amstallite | CaAl[(Al,Si)4O8(OH)2](OH)2 · (H2O,Cl) |
| 9.DP.30 | Kvanefjeldite | Na4(Ca,Mn)(Si3O7)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.35 | Lemoynite | (Na,K)2CaZr2Si10O26 · 5H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Hogarthite | (Na,K)2CaTi2Si10O26 · 8H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Natrolemoynite | Na4Zr2Si10O26 · 9H2O |
| 9.DP.40 | Altisite | Na3K6Ti2Al2Si8O26Cl3 |
| 9.DP.45 | Chiappinoite-(Y) | Y2Mn(Si3O7)4 |
| 9.DP.50 | Esquireite | BaSi6O13 · 7H2O |
| 9.DP.55 | Lavinskyite | K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DP.55 | Plancheite | Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O |
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 Leucosphenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2386.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Leucosphenite
Reference List:
Flink, Gust. (1898) Berättelse om en Mineralogsik Resa i Syd-Grönland sommaren 1897. [Narrative of a Mineralogical Journey in South Greenland in the summer of 1897]. Meddelelser om Grønland, 14. 221-262 doi:10.7146/mog.v14.139846
Chao, George Y., Watkinson, David H. (1972) Leucosphenite from Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec. The Canadian Mineralogist, 11 (4) 851-860
Localities for Leucosphenite
Showing 24 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.
Canada | |
| Chao et al. (1972) +1 other reference |
China | |
| Zhang et al. (2019, December) |
Greenland (TL) | |
| Flink (1901) +1 other reference |
| Cegiełka et al. (2019) | |
| Collection of Swedish Museum of Natural History #20190276 (XRD Analysis) |
Japan | |
| Miyajima (2014) |
| Yamada (2004) |
Russia | |
| Konev et al. (1993) |
| Yakovenchuk et al. (2005) |
| Krivovichev et al. (2023) |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Chukanov et al. (2004) |
Tajikistan | |
| Agakhanov et al. (2005) +6 other references |
USA | |
| Roe (1980) +1 other reference |
| Henry Barwood - unpublished (2010) |
| Tank (1972) +2 other references | |
| Pabst (1973) |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Milton et al. (1960) | |
| Milton (1977) |
| Milton (1977) | |
| Milton (1977) |
| Mrose et al. (1961) |
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada