Langbeinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Langbeinite
Formula:
K2Mg2(SO4)3
Colour:
Colorless, white, pale tinges; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
2.83
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
After A. Langbein of Leopoldshall, Germany.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2320
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2320:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
37bbc554-3020-4509-a2fb-7bfda82456b1
IMA Classification of Langbeinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1891
Classification of Langbeinite
7.AC.10
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
28.4.4.1
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : Miscellaneous
25.3.13
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
25 : Sulphates
3 : Sulphates of Mg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lbn | 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 Langbeinite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white, pale tinges; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.83 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.77 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Langbeinite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.5329 - 1.5347
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Low
Chemistry of Langbeinite
Mindat Formula:
K2Mg2(SO4)3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Langbeinite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
2 3 - Tetartoidal
Space Group:
P21 3
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.92 Å
Unit Cell V:
976.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals rare. Usually disseminated grains, nodular or massive aggregates.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0017885 | Langbeinite | Mereiter K (1979) Refinement of the crystal structure of langbeinite, K2Mg2(SO4)3 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1979 182-188 | 1979 | the Harmstorf deposit, Werratal, Hessen, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.137 Å | (100) |
| 2.651 Å | (35) |
| 4.051 Å | (25) |
| 2.992 Å | (16) |
| 2.753 Å | (16) |
| 2.405 Å | (12) |
| 1.609 Å | (12) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Geological Setting:
Salt deposits.
Type Occurrence of Langbeinite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless masses from a drill core.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
n.d.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Potash deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Langbeinite
German:Langbeinit
Russian:Лангбейнит
Simplified Chinese:无水钾镁矾
Spanish:Langbeinita
Traditional Chinese:無水鉀鎂礬
Relationship of Langbeinite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Calciolangbeinite | K2Ca2(SO4)3 | Iso. 2 3 : P21 3 |
| Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 | Iso. 2 3 : P21 3 |
| Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 | Iso. 2 3 : P21 3 |
| Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 | Iso. 2 3 : P21 3 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Langbeinite associated with Sylvite | KCl |
| 3 photos of Langbeinite associated with Lammerite | Cu3(AsO4)2 |
| 2 photos of Langbeinite associated with Piypite | K4Cu4O2(SO4)4 · (Na,Cu)Cl |
| 2 photos of Langbeinite associated with Kozyrevskite | Cu4O(AsO4)2 |
| 2 photos of Langbeinite associated with Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| 2 photos of Langbeinite associated with Tenorite | CuO |
| 1 photo of Langbeinite associated with Ericlaxmanite | Cu4O(AsO4)2 |
| 1 photo of Langbeinite associated with Sanderite | MgSO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AC. | Aluminopyracmonite | (NH4)3Al(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC. | Amgaite | Tl+32Te6+O6 |
| 7.AC.05 | Vanthoffite | Na6Mg(SO4)4 |
| 7.AC.08 | Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.10 | Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AC.15 | Yavapaiite | KFe(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.15 | Eldfellite | NaFe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Sabieite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.20 | Steklite | KAl(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Möhnite | (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.35 | Belomarinaite | KNa(SO4) |
| 7.AC.35 | Natroaphthitalite | KNa3(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.40 | Itelmenite | Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.45 | Saranchinaite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 |
| 7.AC.50 | Majzlanite | K2Na(ZnNa)Ca(SO4)4 |
| 7.AC.60 | Philoxenite | (K,Na,Pb)4(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Cu)3(Fe3+0.5Al0.5)(SO4)8 |
| 7.AC.75 | Petrovite | Na12Cu2(SO4)8 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Melting Point = 930°.
Notes:
Slowly soluble in H2O. Piezoelectric.
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 Langbeinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2320.html
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References for Langbeinite
Reference List:
Localities for Langbeinite
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.
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Exel (1993) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
China | |
| Anthony |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) |
| Zhongde Zhu (1988) |
| Bingxiao Li (1992) |
| Li et al. (2015) |
Czech Republic | |
| Zacek et al. (1995) |
| hořící odval dolu Kateřina v ... +1 other reference |
El Salvador | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) |
France | |
| Naze-Nancy Masalehdani et al. (2009) |
| Vlastélic et al. (2013) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Krah et al. (1988) | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiss: "Mineralienfundstellen et al. (Munich) |
| Bode "Mineralien und Fundstellen BRD" ... +1 other reference |
| Andrew Hodgson Collection |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Dana 6:A3:14 +2 other references |
| Naumann (1898) +1 other reference |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8) |
| W.I. Borrisenkow (1968) |
| A.Dietrich (2004) |
Guatemala | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) |
Japan | |
| Seki et al. (1987) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov et al. (1993) |
Nicaragua | |
| Stoiber et al. (1974) |
Pakistan | |
| Dana 6: 899 +1 other reference |
Poland | |
| Jirásek +7 other references |
| Kruszewski et al. (2019) |
Russia | |
| Chesnokov et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pekov et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
| N. V. Chukanov et al. (2006) +4 other references | |
| kimberlites of Udachnaya-East pipe (Siberia) +1 other reference |
Tajikistan | |
| PXRD |
UK | |
| Smith et al. (2014) |
| Smith et al. (2014) | |
| Kemp et al. (2016) | |
Ukraine | |
| Bukowski +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
USA | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Northrop (1959) |
| Hawley +5 other references | |
| - (2005) | |
| SIMMONS (2013) | |
| NMBMMR Bull 87 Mineral and Water ... +1 other reference | |
| NMBMMR Bull 87 Mineral and Water ... +1 other reference | |
| - (2005) | |
| King (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
| - (2005) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
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Hattorf Potash Works, Phillippsthal, Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Kassel Region, Hesse, Germany