Lévyne-Ca
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Lévyne-Ca
Formula:
(Ca,Na2,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
2.09 - 2.16
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Originally named both levyne and leveyne in two papers by David Brewster in 1825. The name is in honor of Serve-Dieu Abailard "Armand" Lévy (14 November 1794 Paris, France - 29 July 1841 Pecq near Saint-Germain, France), mineralogist and crystallographer, Paris University, France. Lévy used the nickname "Armand", partly as a personal preference and partly to avoid anti-antisemitism. Of the two original spellings, levyne became the accepted one. The suffix was added in 1997 by the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association to denote the dominant exchangeable cation and distinguish it from the newly named levyne-Na. The IMA added the diacritic in 2008, resulting in lévyne-Ca.
Isostructural with:
The calcium-dominant member of the Levyne series.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Levyne-Ca
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7154
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7154:9
Similar Names
| Lévyne-Na | A valid IMA mineral species | (Na2,Ca,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O |
IMA Classification of Lévyne-Ca
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca3(Si12Al6)O36·18H2O
First published:
1825
Classification of Lévyne-Ca
9.GD.15
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Dana 7th ed.:
77.1.2.8
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lév-Ca | 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 Lévyne-Ca
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on the {1011}.
Perfect on the {1011}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.09 - 2.16 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.17 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lévyne-Ca
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.489 - 1.51 nε = 1.487 - 1.502
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.002 - 0.008
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
Chemistry of Lévyne-Ca
Mindat Formula:
(Ca,Na2,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Lévyne-Ca
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.4 Å, c = 22.8 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.701
Unit Cell V:
3,545.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
9
Morphology:
Hexagonal crystals, platy to tabular on {0001}. Modified by {1011} or {1021} dipyramids.
Twinning:
Probably all natural crystals are twinned by penetration, rotation on [0001].
Epitaxial Relationships of Lévyne-Ca
Epitaxial Minerals:
| Erionite Subgroup | M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
Epitaxy Comments:
At many localities, a thin layer of epitaxial erionite is found on the {0001} face.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.084 Å | (100) |
| 2.805 Å | (60) |
| 6.69 Å | (24) |
| 8.15 Å | (20) |
| 3.854 Å | (18) |
| 3.156 Å | (17) |
| 3.338 Å | (16) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals |
Type Occurrence of Lévyne-Ca
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Amygdaloidal basalt.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Lévyne-Ca
Relationship of Lévyne-Ca to other Species
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 48 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O |
| 33 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Erionite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 30 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| 19 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Erionite Subgroup | M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 19 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 13 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Cowlesite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2O |
| 8 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| 7 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Erionite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 6 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 5 photos of Lévyne-Ca associated with Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-Ca | Ca2(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O |
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-K | K4(Si8Al4O24) · 11H2O |
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-Na | Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Mg | (Mg0.7K0.5Ca0.5Na0.1)[Al3Si9O24] · 10H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Sr | Sr2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.15 | Lévyne-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O |
| 9.GD.25 | Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.25 | Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Mg | (Mg,Na2,Ca)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Na | (Na2,Ca,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.35 | Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.35 | Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-K | K4(Si20Al4O48) · 13H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O |
| 9.GD.45 | Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-K | (K,Na)5(Si31Al5)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Mg | [Mg2(K,Na)2Ca0.5](Si29Al7)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Na | (Na,K)5(Si31Al5)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-NH4 | (NH4,Mg0.5)5(Al5Si31O72) · 22H2O |
| 9.GD.55 | Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Not soluble in acid. Does not gelatinize in acid.
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 Lévyne-Ca
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7154.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Lévyne-Ca
Reference List:
Sheppard, Richard A., Gude, Arthur J., 3rd,, Desborough, George A., White, and John S. (1974) Levyne-offretite intergrowths from basalt near Beech Creek, Grant County, Oregon. American Mineralogist, 59 (7-8) 837-842
Passaglia, E., Galli, E., Rinaldi, R. (1974) Levynes and erionites from Sardinia, Italy. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 43 (4) 253-259 doi:10.1007/bf00373482
Merlino, S., Galli, E., Alberti, A. (1975) The crystal structure of levyne. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 22 (2). 117-129 doi:10.1007/bf01089112
Wise, William S., Tschernich, R. W. (1976) The chemical compositions and origin of the zeolites offretite, erionite, and levyne. American Mineralogist, 61 (9-10) 853-863
Galli, E., Rinaldi, R., Modena, C. (1981) Crystal chemistry of levynes. Zeolites, 1 (3). 157-160 doi:10.1016/s0144-2449(81)80005-x
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, et al. (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6). 1571-1606
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, Nickel, Ernest H., Passaglia, Elio, Peacor, Donald R., Quartieri, Simona, Rinaldi, Romano, Ross, Malcolm, Sheppard, Richard A., Tillmanns, Ekkehart, Vezzalini, Giovanna (1998) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals: report of the subcommittee on zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine, 62 (4) 533-571 doi:10.1180/002646198547800
Gatta, G. D. (2005) Anomalous elastic behavior and high-pressure structural evolution of zeolite levyne. American Mineralogist, 90 (4) 645-652 doi:10.2138/am.2005.1768
Localities for Lévyne-Ca
Showing 59 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.
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Burnt Cabin Creek, Spray, Wheeler County, Oregon, USA