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Louisfuchsite

A valid IMA mineral species
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04445180017761915104629.jpg
Louisfuchsite, etc.

Northwest Africa 4964 meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
04445180017761915104629.jpg
Louisfuchsite, etc.

Northwest Africa 4964 meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
04445180017761915104629.jpg
Louisfuchsite, etc.

Northwest Africa 4964 meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
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About LouisfuchsiteHide

Formula:
Ca2(Mg4Ti2)(Al4Si2)O20
Colour:
light brown
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.44 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
in honor of Louis Fuchs (1915−1991), a mineralogist at Argonne National Laboratory, for his many contributions to research on mineralogy of meteorites.
Seems to be the Ti4Al8Si4-analogue of rhönite.

Chemically resembles rhönite; also somewhat comparable with ferri-kaersutite, kaersutite, UM1971-21-SiO:AlCaMgTi, and some other species.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
56026
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:56026:1

IMA Classification of LouisfuchsiteHide

Classification of LouisfuchsiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
9.DH.

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
LfuIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of LouisfuchsiteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light brown
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Comment:
comparable to rhonite
Density:
3.44 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Chemistry of LouisfuchsiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ca2(Mg4Ti2)(Al4Si2)O20
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O42.260 %
Al14.253 %
Mg12.840 %
Ti12.643 %
Ca10.586 %
Si7.418 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Al
Mg
Ti
Ca
Si
Elements listed:
Al, Ca, Mg, O, Si, Ti - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of LouisfuchsiteHide

Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.37(1) Å, b = 10.76(1) Å, c = 8.90(1) Å
α = 106.0(1)°, β = 96.0(1)°, γ = 124.7(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.964 : 1 : 0.827
Unit Cell V:
740.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of LouisfuchsiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Northwest Africa 4964 meteorite (NWA 4964), Northwest Africa Meteorites
General Appearance of Type Material:
irregular grains at 1 to 8 μm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
meteorite collections at Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA, registration number NWA 4964A
Geological Setting of Type Material:
refractory mineral identified in a Ca-Al-rich 13 inclusion (CAI) from the NWA 4964 CK3.8 carbonaceous chondrite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
SpinelPerovskiteGrossmaniteRutileTitanite
Ilmenite
Reference:
Ma, Chi, Krot, Alexander N, Nagashima, Kazuhide, Dunn, Tasha (2024) Louisfuchsite, Ca2 (Mg4Ti2)(Al4Si2) O20, a new rhönite-type mineral from the NWA 4964 CK meteorite: A refractory phase from the solar nebula. American Mineralogist, 109 (11). 2006-2012

Synonyms of LouisfuchsiteHide

Other Language Names for LouisfuchsiteHide

Relationship of Louisfuchsite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Sapphirine Group > Sapphirine Supergroup
Other Members of Sapphirine Group:
AddibischoffiteCa2Al6Al6O20Tric. 1 : P1
Khmaralite(Mg,Al,Fe)16[(Al,Si,Be)12O36]O4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
SapphirineMg4(Mg3Al9)O4[Si3Al9O36]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
'UM2002-52-SiO:AlFeMg'Mg4(Mg1.5Fe+20.3Fe+31.6Al8.5)O4[Si1.7Al10.3O36]
WarkiteCa2Sc6Al6O20Tric. 1 : P1

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Louisfuchsite associated with PerovskiteCaTiO3
1 photo of Louisfuchsite associated with GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3
1 photo of Louisfuchsite associated with SpinelMgAl2O4

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.DH.DevilliersiteCa4Ca2Fe3+10O4[(Fe3+10Si2)O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.'Gageite-2M'(Mn,Mg,Zn)42Si16O54(OH)40Mon. 2/m
9.DH.BavsiiteBa2V2O2[Si4O12]Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.DH.YuzuxiangiteSr3Fe3+(Si2O6)2(OH) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
9.DH.05LeucophaniteNaCaBeSi2O6FOrth. 222 : P212121
9.DH.10OhmiliteSr3(Ti,Fe3+)(Si4O12)(O,OH) · 2-3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
9.DH.15HaradaiteSrVSi2O7Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.DH.15SuzukiiteBaVSi2O7Orth.
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite(K,Ba)KNa(Ti,Nb)2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.20BatisiteBaNaNaTi2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.20NoonkanbahiteBaKNaTi2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.25TaikaniteSr3BaMn2+2(Si4O12)O2Mon. 2 : B2
9.DH.30KrauskopfiteBaSi2O5 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.35GageiteMn21(Si4O12)2O3(OH)20Mon. 2/m
9.DH.35Balangeroite(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn2+)42Si16O54(OH)40Mon. 2/m
9.DH.40KuratiteCa2(Fe2+5Ti)O2[Si4Al2O18]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40AenigmatiteNa4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40DorriteCa4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Si3Al8Fe3+O36)Tric.
9.DH.40SerendibiteCa4[Mg6Al6]O4[Si6B3Al3O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40KhesiniteCa4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Fe3+9Si3)O36Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40'UM1991-29-SiO:FeMgNa'Na4(Mg5Fe3+7)O4[Si9Fe3+3O36]
9.DH.40HøgtuvaiteCa4[Fe2+6Fe3+6]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40'Leucorhönite'Ca2(Mg,Fe3+,Al)6(Si,Al)6O20Tric.
9.DH.40WelshiteCa4Mg9Sb3O4[Si6Be3AlFe2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40WilkinsoniteNa2Fe2+4Fe3+2(Si6O18)O2Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40KrinoviteNa2Mg4Cr3+2(Si6O18)O2Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40Makarochkinite(Ca,Na)4[Fe2+8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.45SapphirineMg4(Mg3Al9)O4[Si3Al9O36]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.50Khmaralite(Mg,Al,Fe)16[(Al,Si,Be)12O36]O4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.55'UM1988-26-SiO:AlMg'Mg4Al2O[Si3Al2O15]
9.DH.55Surinamite(Mg,Fe)3Al4BeSi3O16Mon. 2/m
9.DH.60DeeriteFe2+6Fe3+3(Si6O17)O3(OH)5Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.65Taneyamalite(Na,Ca)Mn2+12(Si,Al)12(O,OH)44Tric.
9.DH.65HowieiteNa(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al,Mg)12(Si6O17)2(O,OH)10Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.70JohninnesiteNa2Mn2+9Mg7(OH)8[AsO4]2[Si6O17]2Tric.
9.DH.75AgrelliteNaCa2Si4O10FTric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

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 LouisfuchsiteHide

References for LouisfuchsiteHide

Localities for LouisfuchsiteHide

Showing 1 localities.

ⓘ - 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Northwest Africa Meteorites (TL)
 
Miyawaki et al. (2022)
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