Lapparentite

Named in 1933 by Henri Ungemach in honor of Albert de Lapparent [December 30, 1839 Bourges, France - 1908 France]. Lapparent studied at the Ecole des Mines and achieved highest recognition even though one of his classmates was Adolphe Carnot. Lapparent studied Alpine geology first in the Jura, Morvan and the Vosges districts and made important petrological researches of the Tyrol and later, Predazzo, where he distinguished the new rock type which he named monzonite. He later made important contributionss to the understanding of the petrogenesis of the melaphyres of the Fassa valley. Lacroix (1932) wrote: The study of contact phenomena of monzonite and dolomitic limestones allowed the young engineer to specify interesting facts: it led him to consider the transformations of these sediments as a result of chemical actions performed by a mechanism different from that of the purely igneous way defended by von Richthofen. We recognize in this discussion the influence of theoretical ideas of Elie de Beaumont whose imprint was so deep on the work of the French School, on the work of Daubrée to Delesse and their successors." Lacroix also noted that Lapparent was a sparkling conversationalist and was "fearless" when waltzing.

As Lapparent's career progressed, he made considerable studies for the geological map of France project to which Lacroix (1932) said; "Lapparent readily spoke of the charm of this period of his career during which, surrendering unreservedly to the outdoor life so attractive to a geologist; he divided his time between races across the country, from the Vosges to Normandy, Normandy to Burgundy and the Paris office..." In the late 1870s, Lapparent made a choice to enter the faculty of the Catholic University of Paris, although he would have had a higher reputation in government service. He was brilliant as an educator, researcher, and author. It is particularly noteworthy that Lapparent was successful in integrating much of the new advances in mineralogy into his works.

One project Lapparent was involved in was the English Channel Tunnel proposed in the 1870s. As leader of the French delegation he conceived of the research to verify that the chalk formation was not only the best unit to dig in, but he convinced the British delegation that the chalk was essentially continuous under the channel and the excavation would be successful.

Lapparent came from a large family, many of whose members were named "Albert". His grandson Albert Felix Lapparent was a famous paleontologist.

Lapparentite was studied by R. Rost in 1937 and stated that it was identical to tamarugite. Samuel G. Gordon in 1940 also stated that lapparentite was identical to tamarugite. In 1979, F. Cech renamed lapparentite and called it rostite, after R Rost.

A synonym of Rostite