Lüneburgite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Lüneburgite
Formula:
Mg3[B2(OH)6](PO4)2 · 6H2O
Colour:
White to brownish or green, colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.05
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
After the type locality, Lüneburg, Germany.
Lüneburgite is found in clays with evaporite minerals (halite, sylvite, polyhalite, etc.) and has also been found in guano deposits.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2458
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2458:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
76a97c81-fef9-499d-9c9b-bacb02598db4
IMA Classification of Lüneburgite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mg3[B2(OH)6(PO4)2] · 6H2O
First published:
1870
Classification of Lüneburgite
6.AC.60
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
43.5.11.1
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
10.2.1
10 : Borates with other anions
2 : Borates with phosphate or arsenate
10 : Borates with other anions
2 : Borates with phosphate or arsenate
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 |
---|---|---|
Lbu | 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 Lüneburgite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White to brownish or green, colorless
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Prismatic cleavage with an angle of about 73° (viewed microscopically). Minute pseudo-hexagonal plates.
On {010}, fair.
Prismatic cleavage with an angle of about 73° (viewed microscopically). Minute pseudo-hexagonal plates.
On {010}, fair.
Density:
2.05 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.204 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lüneburgite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.520 - 1.522 nβ = 1.540 - 1.541 nγ = 1.545 - 1.549
2V:
Measured: 63° , Calculated: 62° to 60°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.025 - 0.027
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
distinct to strong
Chemistry of Lüneburgite
Mindat Formula:
Mg3[B2(OH)6](PO4)2 · 6H2O
Crystallography of Lüneburgite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.3475(6) Å, b = 9.8027(11) Å, c = 6.2976(5) Å
α = 84.456(9)°, β = 106.402(8)°, γ = 96.400(9)°
α = 84.456(9)°, β = 106.402(8)°, γ = 96.400(9)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.648 : 1 : 0.642
Unit Cell V:
372.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Flattened masses and nodules with fine fibrous to earthy structure. Minute pseudo-hexagonal tablets.
Twinning:
Common, by rotation about [110].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.98 Å | (100) |
4.85 Å | (70) |
2.964 Å | (60) |
2.819 Å | (45) |
3.23 Å | (40) |
2.507 Å | (35) |
3.027 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) |
Type Occurrence of Lüneburgite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland, 1I-5734; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162602.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Gypsum-bearing marl.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Nöllner, C. (1870) Über den Lüneburgit. Sitzungsberichte der königlich bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München, Band I: 291-293.
Synonyms of Lüneburgite
Other Language Names for Lüneburgite
German:Lueneburgit
Luneburgit
Luneburgit
Russian:Люнебургит
Simplified Chinese:硼磷镁石
Spanish:Lueneburgita
Luneburgita
Luneburgita
Traditional Chinese:硼磷鎂石
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.AC.05 | Sinhalite | MgAl(BO4) |
6.AC.10 | Pseudosinhalite | Mg2Al3(BO3)2(OH)O3 |
6.AC.15 | Béhierite | (Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4) |
6.AC.15 | Schiavinatoite | (Nb,Ta)(BO4) |
6.AC.20 | Frolovite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 |
6.AC.25 | Hexahydroborite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 · 2H2O or CaB2O4 · 6H2O |
6.AC.30 | Henmilite | Ca2Cu[B(OH)4]2(OH)4 |
6.AC.35 | Bandylite | Cu[B(OH)4]Cl |
6.AC.40 | Teepleite | Na2[B(OH)4]Cl |
6.AC.45 | Moydite-(Y) | Y[B(OH)4](CO3) |
6.AC.50 | Carboborite | Ca2Mg[B(OH)4]2(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
6.AC.55 | Sulfoborite | Mg3[B(OH)4]2(SO4)(OH,F)2 |
6.AC.65 | Seamanite | Mn2+3[B(OH)4](PO4)(OH)2 |
6.AC.70 | Cahnite | Ca2[B(OH)4](AsO4) |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Bulganak volcano material [cm-1]: 3495, 3440, 3390s, 3250sh, 3215, 3100, 2965, 2625w, 1665, 1325sh, 1283, 1185, 1122s, 1075s, 973, 891s, 830sh, 783, 712, 664, 638, 576, 537, 520sh, 462w
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 Lüneburgite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2458.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 Lüneburgite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.103
Gupta, P. K. Sen, Swihart, George H., Dimitrijevic, R., Hossain, M. B. (1991) The crystal structure of lüneburgite, Mg3(H2O)6[B2(OH)6(PO4)2]. American Mineralogist, 76 (7-8) 1400-1407
Localities for Lüneburgite
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).
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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile | |
| Gupta et al. (1991) |
SEM-EDS by Igor V. Pekov | |
China | |
Dongyan Wei (1985) | |
Germany | |
| Braitsch (1961) |
| C. Noellner: "Über Lüneburgit" (1876) +1 other reference |
| Nöllner (1870) |
| F. Heide & E. Bader (1964) |
Serbia | |
| Econ Geol (1992) |
Turkey | |
| Helvaci et al. (2004) |
| Ortı́ et al. (2002) |
Turkmenistan | |
| Evseev (1995) |
Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
Ukraine | |
| Shnykov E.F. at al. (1971) |
USA | |
| Field collected by Gunnar Färber |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Palache et al. (1951) | |
Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
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Volgershall, Lüneburg, Lüneburg District, Lower Saxony, Germany