Lawrencite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Andrew Lawrence
About Lawrencite
John Lawrence Smith
Formula:
(Fe2+,Ni)Cl2
Colour:
White (unoxidized), green to brown (oxidized)
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
3.16
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1845 by Charles Thomas Jackson in honor of John Lawrence Smith (17 December 1818, near Charleston, South Carolina, USA - 12 October 1883, Louisville, Kentucky, USA), chemist, mineralogist, and student of meteorites. He discovered the mineral. He also invented the inverted microscope.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2351
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2351:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
c77b0183-3280-4d08-b1e1-2e029574c4f4
IMA Classification of Lawrencite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
FeCl2
Classification of Lawrencite
3.AB.20
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
9.2.3.1
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
8.11.10
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
11 : Halides of Fe and Ni
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
11 : Halides of Fe and Ni
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Law | 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 Lawrencite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White (unoxidized), green to brown (oxidized)
Comment:
Soft
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {0001} ?
On {0001} ?
Density:
3.16 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.26 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Lawrencite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.576 nε = 1.576
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.000
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
Chemistry of Lawrencite
Mindat Formula:
(Fe2+,Ni)Cl2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Lawrencite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Setting:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.58 Å, c = 17.57 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 4.908
Unit Cell V:
195.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals are thin hexagonal plates {0001} (artificial). Massive only in natural material.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011807 | Lawrencite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 239-444 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018471 | Lawrencite | Herpin A, Meriel P (1957) Etude par diffraction de neutrons a 4.2 K de la structure antiferromagnetique de Cl2Fe Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences 245 650-653 | 1957 | synthetic | 0 | 4.2 | |
| 0018598 | Lawrencite | Vettier C, Yelon W B (1975) The structure of FeCl2 at high pressures Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 36 401-405 | 1975 | 0.104 | 293 | ||
| 0018599 | Lawrencite | Vettier C, Yelon W B (1975) The structure of FeCl2 at high pressures Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 36 401-405 | 1975 | 0.315 | 293 | ||
| 0018600 | Lawrencite | Vettier C, Yelon W B (1975) The structure of FeCl2 at high pressures Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 36 401-405 | 1975 | 0.57 | 293 | ||
| 0018601 | Lawrencite | Vettier C, Yelon W B (1975) The structure of FeCl2 at high pressures Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 36 401-405 | 1975 | 0.597 | 293 | ||
| 0018602 | Lawrencite | Vettier C, Yelon W B (1975) The structure of FeCl2 at high pressures Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 36 401-405 | 1975 | 0.64 | 293 | ||
| 0018640 | Lawrencite | Wilkinson M K, Cable J W, Wollan E O, Koehler W C (1959) Neutron diffraction investigations of the magnetic ordering in FeBr2, CoBr2, FeCl2, and CoCl2 Physical Review 113 497-507 | 1959 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.9 Å | (63) |
| 3.07 Å | (30) |
| 2.54 Å | (100) |
| 1.953 Å | (13) |
| 1.800 Å | (63) |
| 1.467 Å | (20) |
| 1.138 Å | (18) |
Comments:
Synthetic. ICDD 1-1106.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47i : [Terrestrial weathering of meteorites] | |
| 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:
Fissures in iron meteorites; sublimation product in volcanic fumaroles.
Type Occurrence of Lawrencite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Iron meteorite.
Other Language Names for Lawrencite
French:Chlorure de fer
Fer muriaté (in part)
Fer muriaté (in part)
German:Eisenchlorür
Lawrencit
Lawrencit
Italian:Ferro muriato
Russian:Лавренсит
Spanish:Lawrencita
Relationship of Lawrencite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Chloromagnesite | MgCl2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Scacchite | MnCl2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Tolbachite | CuCl2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Lawrencite associated with Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| 5 photos of Lawrencite associated with Plessite | |
| 4 photos of Lawrencite associated with Limonite | |
| 4 photos of Lawrencite associated with Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| 3 photos of Lawrencite associated with Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
| 3 photos of Lawrencite associated with Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
| 1 photo of Lawrencite associated with Talnakhite | Cu9(Fe,Ni)8S16 |
| 1 photo of Lawrencite associated with Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 1 photo of Lawrencite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.AB. | Fluorocronite | PbF2 |
| 3.AB. | Manuelarossiite | PbCaAlF7 |
| 3.AB.05 | Tolbachite | CuCl2 |
| 3.AB.10 | Coccinite | HgI2 |
| 3.AB.15 | Sellaite | MgF2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Chloromagnesite | MgCl2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Scacchite | MnCl2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Frankdicksonite | BaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Strontiofluorite | SrF2 |
| 3.AB.30 | Tveitite-(Y) | (Y, Na)6Ca6Ca6(Ca,Na)F42 |
| 3.AB.35 | Gagarinite-(Y) | NaCaYF6 |
| 3.AB.35 | Gagarinite-(Ce) | Na(REExCa1-x)(REEyCa1-y)F6 |
| 3.AB.35 | Polezhaevaite-(Ce) | NaSrCeF6 |
| 3.AB.37 | Calcioaravaipaite | PbCa2AlF9 |
| 3.AB.85 | Cotunnite | PbCl2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Extremely hygroscopic; readily soluble in water.
Gains water and oxidizes to ferric chloride (molysite).
Gains water and oxidizes to ferric chloride (molysite).
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Extremely hygroscopic
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
None.
Internet Links for Lawrencite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2351.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Lawrencite
Reference List:
Localities for Lawrencite
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.
Argentina | |
| Kurat et al. (2009) |
Australia | |
| Madigan (1940) |
| Madigan (1939) |
| Alderman (1940) |
Belarus | |
| Bakhtin et al. (2017) |
Burkina Faso | |
| Alfredo Petrov collection |
Canada | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
China | |
| |
Czech Republic | |
| Skála R. |
Greenland | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec. |
Italy | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Pelloux (1927) +1 other reference | |
| D'Orazio et al. (2004) |
Mexico | |
| Cohen (1903) |
| Buchwald (1975) |
Philippines | |
| Hill Jr. (1974) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Sharygin et al. (2013) | |
| www.kscnet.ru (2019) |
| Vergasova et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra (1986) |
USA | |
| Cook et al. (1982) |
| Cook et al. (1982) |
| Galbraith (1947) |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Howard (2007) |
| Cook (1978) |
| Henderson et al. (1951) |
| Wirt Tassin (1902) |
| Buchwald (1975) |
| Tassin (1905) |
| Dana (1892) | |
| Venable (1890) |
| C. R. Acad. Sci. 84 (1877) |
| Kunz (1887) +1 other reference |
| Paris (2011) |
| Beck et al. (1951) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Berquist et al. (ed.) |
Quick NavTopAbout LawrenciteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Nandan meteorite, Lihu - Yaochai area, Nandan County, Hechi, Guangxi, China