Liebauite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Liebauite
Prof. Liebau
Formula:
Ca3Cu5Si9O26
Colour:
Greenish blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.62 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honour of Prof. Friedrich Karl Franz Liebau (31 May 1926 - 11 March 2011), a German chemist and professor for mineralogy and crystallography at the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany. Prof. Liebau is highly esteemed for this extensive work on the crystallography, topology and classification of silicates, on which he published a book in 1985 ('Structural Chemistry of Silicates: Structure, Bonding and Classification').
This page provides mineralogical data about Liebauite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2396
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2396:8
Similar Names
| Leboite | A synonym of 'Ferdisilicite' |
IMA Classification of Liebauite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca3Cu2+5Si9O26
Approval year:
1990
First published:
1992
Classification of Liebauite
9.DO.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
69.2.4.1
69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lie | 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 Liebauite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Greenish blue
Hardness:
5 - 6 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.62 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Liebauite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.722(1) nβ = 1.723(1) nγ = 1.734(1)
2V:
Measured: 72° , Calculated: 34°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
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
Pleochroism:
Not Visible
Chemistry of Liebauite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3Cu5Si9O26
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Liebauite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.160(1) Å, b = 10.001(1) Å, c = 19.973(2) Å
β = 91.56(1)°
β = 91.56(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.016 : 1 : 1.997
Unit Cell V:
2,028.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011017 | Liebauite | Zoller M H, Tillmanns E, Hentschel G (1992) Liebauite, Ca3Cu5Si9O26: A new silicate mineral with 14er single chain Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 200 115-126 |  | 1992 | Sattelberg scoria cone, Kruft, Eifel district, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.00 Å | (100) |
| 3.12 Å | (90) |
| 6.70 Å | (70) |
| 2.41 Å | (70) |
| 7.13 Å | (60) |
| 2.45 Å | (60) |
| 1.78 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest 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 Liebauite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of WuÄrzburg, WÄurzburg; and University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Geological Setting of Type Material:
argillaceous sedimentary xenoliths subjected to very high-grade thermal metamorphism.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Liebauite
Other Language Names for Liebauite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Liebauite associated with Cuprorivaite | CaCuSi4O10 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DO. | Braccoite | NaMn2+5[Si5As5+O17(OH)](OH) |
| 9.DO. | Illoqite-(Ce) | Na2NaBaCeZnSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.05 | Pyroxferroite | (Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO3 |
| 9.DO.05 | Pyroxmangite | Mn2+SiO3 |
| 9.DO.10 | Pellyite | Ba2CaFe2+2Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Manganonordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeMn2+Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeFe2+Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Nordite-(Ce) | (Ce,La)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Nordite-(La) | (La,Ce)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(La) | Na3Sr(La,Ce)FeSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Meieranite | Na2Sr3MgSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.20 | Alamosite | PbSiO3 |
| 9.DO.30 | Vladykinite | Na3Sr4(Fe2+Fe3+)Si8O24 |
| 9.DO.30 | Rundqvistite-(Ce) | Na3(Sr3Ce)[Zn2Si8O24] |
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 Liebauite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2396.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Liebauite
Reference List:
Zöller, M. H.; Tillmanns, E.; Hentschel, G. (1992) Liebauite, Ca3Cu5Si9O26: A new silicate mineral with 14er single chain. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 200 (1-2). p.115-126. doi:10.1524/zkri.1992.200.1-2.115
Localities for Liebauite
Showing 2 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.
Germany | |
| Künzel (1993) |
| Zöller et al. (1992) |
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Nickenicher Weinberg, Nickenich, Pellenz, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany