Londonite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Londonite
David London
Formula:
CsBe4Al4(B11Be)O28
Colour:
Milky white to pale yellow; yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
8
Specific Gravity:
3.34
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named by William B. Simmons, F. Pezzotta, A.U. Falster, and W.L. Webber in 2001 in honor of David London (1953 – ), Professor of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, for his contributions to the understanding of granite pegmatites.
The cesium-dominant analogue of Rhodizite, much rarer than rhodizite. Londonite-Rhodizite Series.
NOTE:
Specimens from Madagascar without analysis should be labelled as londonite-rhodizite series. Many crystals contain complex patchy zones of both londonite and rhodizite which are only visible by back-scattered electron imaging (Simmons et al. 2001).
Londonite is the sixth oxysalt mineral with species-defining Cs (discluding silicates), the other ones being ramanite-(Cs) (another borate), cesiodymite (sulphate), caesiopharmacosiderite (arsenate), margaritasite (vanadate), and mccrillisite (phosphate).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Londonite.
NOTE:
Specimens from Madagascar without analysis should be labelled as londonite-rhodizite series. Many crystals contain complex patchy zones of both londonite and rhodizite which are only visible by back-scattered electron imaging (Simmons et al. 2001).
Londonite is the sixth oxysalt mineral with species-defining Cs (discluding silicates), the other ones being ramanite-(Cs) (another borate), cesiodymite (sulphate), caesiopharmacosiderite (arsenate), margaritasite (vanadate), and mccrillisite (phosphate).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Londonite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7082
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7082:5
Similar Names
| Lintonite | A synonym of Thomsonite-Ca | |
| Loudounite | A valid IMA mineral species | NaCa5Zr4Si16O40(OH)11 · 8H2O |
IMA Classification of Londonite
Classification of Londonite
6.GC.05
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ldn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ldn | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Londonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Londonite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Milky white to pale yellow; yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
8 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
None
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.34 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.42 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Londonite
Type:
Isotropic
Chemistry of Londonite
Mindat Formula:
CsBe4Al4(B11Be)O28
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Londonite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
P43m
Setting:
P43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.3205(3) Å
Unit Cell V:
392.3 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Dodecahedron {110}, tristetrahedron {211}, tetrahedron {111}, deltoid dodecahedron {221} and rare cube {100}
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010650 | Londonite | Taxer K J, Buerger M J (1967) The crystal struture of rhodizite to name the Cs dominant phase: londonite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 125 423-436 |  | 1967 | Manjaka, Madagascar | 0 | 293 |
| 0017717 | Londonite | Gatta G D, Vignola P, McIntyre G J, Diella V (2010) On the crystal chemistry of londonite [(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be5B11O28]: a single-crystal neutron diffraction study at 300 and 20 K American Mineralogist 95 1467-1472 | | 2010 | Antsongombato Gem mine, Betafo district, Madagascar | 0 | 300 |
| 0017718 | Londonite | Gatta G D, Vignola P, McIntyre G J, Diella V (2010) On the crystal chemistry of londonite [(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be5B11O28]: a single-crystal neutron diffraction study at 300 and 20 K American Mineralogist 95 1467-1472 | | 2010 | Antsongombato Gem mine, Betafo district, Madagascar | 0 | 20 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.320 Å | (20) |
| 3.274 Å | (50) |
| 2.9898 Å | (100) |
| 2.4410 Å | (50) |
| 2.2072 Å | (20) |
| 2.1132 Å | (35) |
| 1.9565 Å | (20) |
| 1.8301 Å | (20) |
| 1.7755 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Londonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Two well formed crystals 1 cm across (type locality)in saccharoidal albite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
In the mineralogical collection of the Museum of Natural History of Milan, Italy, number MSNM M31115.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In the pocket zone of complex LCT pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Londonite
Other Language Names for Londonite
Relationship of Londonite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 28 photos of Londonite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 19 photos of Londonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 7 photos of Londonite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 3 photos of Londonite associated with Feldspar Group | |
| 3 photos of Londonite associated with Liddicoatite | Ca(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 3 photos of Londonite associated with 'Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series' | |
| 3 photos of Londonite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Londonite associated with 'Rubellite' | |
| 1 photo of Londonite associated with Schiavinatoite | Nb(BO4) |
| 1 photo of Londonite associated with K Feldspar |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
Fluorescence of Londonite
weak yellow-green fluorescence under short-wave UV light
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 Londonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7082.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 Londonite
Reference List:
Frondel, Clifford, Ito, Jun (1965) Composition of rhodizite. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 10 (1) 409-412 doi:10.1007/bf01128644
Simmons, W. B.; Pezzotta, F.; Falster, A. U.; Webber, K. L. (2001) Londonite, a new mineral species: the Cs-dominant analogue of rhodizite from the Antandrokomby granitic pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Mineralogist, 39 (3). 747-755 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.39.3.747
Mandarino, Joseph A. (2002) New minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40 (3) 1001-1020 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.40.3.1001
Laurs, Brendan M.; Pezzotta, Federico; Simmons, William B. (Skip); Falster, Alexander U.; Muhlmeister, Sam (2002) Rhodizite-Londonite from the Antsongombato Pegmatite, Central Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, 38 (4). 326-339 doi:10.5741/gems.38.4.326
Gatta, G. D., Vignola, P., McIntyre, G. J., Diella, V. (2010) On the crystal chemistry of londonite [(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be5B11O28]: A single-crystal neutron diffraction study at 300 and 20 K. American Mineralogist, 95 (10) 1467-1472 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3554
Localities for Londonite
Showing 10 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.
Madagascar (TL) | |
| Simmons et al. (2001) |
| Taxer et al. (1967) |
| Pers. com Dr. Federico Pezzotta to Knut ... +1 other reference |
| Simmons et al. (2001) | |
| Enrico Bonacina photo & specimen |
| Simmons et al. (2001) |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Pekov et al. (2010) |
| Pekov et al. (2010) |
| Pekov et al. (2010) |
Quick NavTopAbout LondoniteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPronunciation Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Antsongombato gem mine, Antsentsindrano, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar