Liebenbergite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Liebenbergite
William Ronald Liebenberg
Formula:
Ni2(SiO4)
Colour:
Yellow-green to bright green
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
4.92
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
After Mr. William Ronald Liebenberg, Deputy Director-General of the National Institute for Metallurgy of South Africa.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2397
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2397:5
IMA Classification of Liebenbergite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ni2+2SiO4
Approval year:
1972
First published:
1973
Classification of Liebenbergite
9.AC.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
51.3.1.3
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
14.26.1
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
26 : Silicates of Ni
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
26 : Silicates of Ni
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lbb | 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 Liebenbergite
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow-green to bright green
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Comment:
Hardness derived from microhardness
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
{010} weak to moderate
{100} weak
{010} weak to moderate
{100} weak
Density:
4.92 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.60 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Liebenbergite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.820(3) nβ = 1.854 nγ = 1.888(3)
2V:
Measured: 80° , Calculated: 88°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.068
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
weak r > v
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = colorless to pale green
Y = colorless to pale green
Z = greenish yellow
Y = colorless to pale green
Z = greenish yellow
Comments:
α = b, β = c, γ = a
Chemistry of Liebenbergite
Mindat Formula:
Ni2(SiO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mg,Fe,Co
Crystallography of Liebenbergite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.727(1) Å, b = 10.191(3) Å, c = 5.955(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.464 : 1 : 0.584
Unit Cell V:
286.8 ų
Z:
4
Twinning:
None observed in type material
Comment:
Space Group: Pbnm:
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000642 | Liebenbergite | Lager G A, Meagher E P (1978) High-temperature structural study of six olivines American Mineralogist 63 365-377 |  | 1978 | 0 | 298 | |
| 0002679 | Liebenbergite | Henderson C M B, Redfern S A T, Smith R I, Knight K S, Charnock J M (2001) Composition and temperature dependence of cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions: A time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction and EXAFS study American Mineralogist 86 1170-1187 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002678 | Liebenbergite | Henderson C M B, Redfern S A T, Smith R I, Knight K S, Charnock J M (2001) Composition and temperature dependence of cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions: A time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction and EXAFS study American Mineralogist 86 1170-1187 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001846 | Liebenbergite | Chen J, Li R, Parise J B, Weidner D J (1996) Pressure-induced ordering in (Ni,Mg)2SiO4 olivine American Mineralogist 81 1519-1522 | | 1996 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001228 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.75, heated to 1150 C, then quenched Mg.505Ni1.492SiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001227 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.75, synthesized at 910 C, then quenched Mg.505Ni1.492SiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001226 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.63, heated to 1150 C, then quenched Mg.634Ni1.363SiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001225 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.63, heated to 800 C, then quenched Mg.634Ni1.363SiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001224 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.63, synthesized at 900 C, then quenched Mg.634Ni1.363SiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001223 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.51, heated to 1300 C, then quenched MgNiSiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001222 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.51, heated to 1150 C, then quenched MgNiSiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001221 | Liebenbergite | Ottonello G, Della Giusta A, Molin G M (1989) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivines sample Ni.51, synthesized at 890 C, then quenched MgNiSiO4 American Mineralogist 74 411-421 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001124 | Liebenbergite | Bostrom D (1987) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of synthetic Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions American Mineralogist 72 965-972 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001123 | Liebenbergite | Bostrom D (1987) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of synthetic Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions American Mineralogist 72 965-972 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001122 | Liebenbergite | Bostrom D (1987) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of synthetic Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions American Mineralogist 72 965-972 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001121 | Liebenbergite | Bostrom D (1987) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of synthetic Ni-Mg olivine solid solutions American Mineralogist 72 965-972 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000841 | Liebenbergite | Bish D L (1981) Cation ordering in synthetic and natural Ni-Mg olivine synthetic American Mineralogist 66 770-776 | | 1981 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000840 | Liebenbergite | Bish D L (1981) Cation ordering in synthetic and natural Ni-Mg olivine natural American Mineralogist 66 770-776 | | 1981 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000455 | Liebenbergite | Rajamani V, Brown G E, Prewitt C T (1975) Cation ordering in Ni-Mg olivine American Mineralogist 60 292-299 | | 1975 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000643 | Liebenbergite | Lager G A, Meagher E P (1978) High-temperature structural study of six olivines American Mineralogist 63 365-377 | | 1978 | 0 | 573 | |
| 0000644 | Liebenbergite | Lager G A, Meagher E P (1978) High-temperature structural study of six olivines American Mineralogist 63 365-377 | | 1978 | 0 | 873 | |
| 0000645 | Liebenbergite | Lager G A, Meagher E P (1978) High-temperature structural study of six olivines American Mineralogist 63 365-377 | | 1978 | 0 | 1173 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.442 Å | (100) |
| 2.759 Å | (90) |
| 1.738 Å | (90) |
| 2.503 Å | (80) |
| 3.47 Å | (60) |
| 5.09 Å | (30) |
| 2.252 Å | (30 broad) |
| 1.473 Å | (30) |
| 4.29 Å | (25) |
| 3.87 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 7 : Ultramafic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47i : [Terrestrial weathering of meteorites] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Liebenbergite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Original liebenbergite filled the interstices between trevorite grains and measured up to 1 mm. They are almost completely replaced by secondary nickel serpentine, leaving only small irregular grains, few exceeding 150 microns in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M33443.
2) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 133404.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 132463.
2) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 133404.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 132463.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Trevorite-ore nickel deposit between quartzite and serpentinized ultramafite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Liebenbergite
Other Language Names for Liebenbergite
Relationship of Liebenbergite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Olivine Group:
| Calcio-olivine | Ca2SiO4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Fayalite | Fe2+2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Glaucochroite | CaMn2+(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Hinokageite | MnMg(SiO4) | Orth. mm2 |
| Kirschsteinite | CaFe2+(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Laihunite | (Fe3+,Fe2+,◻)2(SiO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Monticellite | CaMg(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Tephroite | Mn2+2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Liebenbergite associated with Schäferite | (NaCa2)Mg2(VO4)3 |
| 3 photos of Liebenbergite associated with Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 2 photos of Liebenbergite associated with Nosean | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · H2O |
| 1 photo of Liebenbergite associated with Whitlockite Subgroup | |
| 1 photo of Liebenbergite associated with Bannermanite | (Na,K)0.7V4+0.7V5+5.3O15 |
| 1 photo of Liebenbergite associated with Trevorite | Ni2+Fe3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AC. | Poirierite | Mg2SiO4 |
| 9.AC. | Ahrensite | SiFe2O4 |
| 9.AC.05 | Laihunite | (Fe3+,Fe2+,◻)2(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Tephroite | Mn2+2(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Hinokageite | MnMg(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Kirschsteinite | CaFe2+(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Glaucochroite | CaMn2+(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.05 | Fayalite | Fe2+2(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.10 | Monticellite | CaMg(SiO4) |
| 9.AC.15 | Brunogeierite | Ge4+Fe2+2O4 |
| 9.AC.15 | Ringwoodite | (Mg,Fe2+)2SiO4 |
| 9.AC.20 | Chesnokovite | Na2[SiO2(OH)2] · 8H2O |
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 Liebenbergite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2397.html
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References for Liebenbergite
Reference List:
de Waal, Sybrand A., Calk, and Lewis C. (1973) Nickel minerals from Barberton, South Africa: VI. Liebenbergite, a nickel olivine. American Mineralogist, 58 (7-8) 733-735
Bish, David L. (1981) Cation ordering in synthetic and natural Ni-Mg olivine. American Mineralogist, 66 (7-8) 770-776
Ikeda, Ko; Onikura, Kyoichi; Nakamura, Yoshinori; Vedanand, Swaroop (2001) Optical Spectra of Nickel‐Bearing Silicate Gels Prepared by the Geopolymer Technique, with Special Reference to the Low‐Temperature Formation of Liebenbergite (Ni2SiO4). Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 84 (8). 1717-1720 doi:10.1111/j.1151-2916.2001.tb00904.x
VALLEPU, Ramesh, MIKUNI, Akira, KOMATSU, Ryuichi, IKEDA, Ko (2005) Synthesis of liebenbergite nano-crystallites from silicate precursor gels prepared by geopolymerization. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 100 (4) 159-167 doi:10.2465/jmps.100.159
Gartvich, Yuliya, Galkin, Valeriy (2019) Ni olivine: thermal behavior of liebenbergite. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 136 (6) 2333-2339 doi:10.1007/s10973-018-7859-6
Zhang, Dongzhou, Hu, Yi, Xu, Jingui, Downs, Robert T., Hammer, Julia E., Dera, Przemyslaw K. (2019) High-pressure behavior of liebenbergite: The most incompressible olivine-structured silicate. American Mineralogist, 104 (4) 580-587 doi:10.2138/am-2019-6680
Gao, Shuchang; Liu, Jinpu; Cheng, Hang; Zhang, Li; Lin, Yanhao; Li, Xiaoguang; Qin, Xueqing (2024) Raman spectroscopic study of liebenbergite and Ni2SiO4 spinel at high pressure and high temperature: nickel effects on the vibration properties of olivine and spinel structures. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 51 (3). 35 doi:10.1007/s00269-024-01295-4
Localities for Liebenbergite
Showing 8 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 | |
| Schnorrer et al. (1997) |
| H. Knoll +1 other reference |
| Knoll (2004) |
| Gerhard Möhn collection | |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2014) |
Norway | |
| Gautneb et al. (2001) |
South Africa (TL) | |
| de Waal et al. (1973) |
| Andreoli et al. (1997) +2 other references |
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Liebenbergite slag dump, Agios Konstantinos, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece