Leightonite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About LeightoniteHide

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Formula:

K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4 · 2H2O

Colour:

Pale blue, greenish-blue; pale blue in transmitted light.

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named in honor of Tomás Leighton Donoso (1896–1967), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Santiago, Chile.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2369:2

271efe45-0bf1-4043-8e93-ab0b8e8c7f35

IMA Classification of LeightoniteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Type description reference:

Classification of LeightoniteHide

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7.CC.70

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations

29.4.5.2

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
4 : AmBn(XO4)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p < 3:2 and > 1:1

25.2.18

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of LeightoniteHide

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Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Pale blue, greenish-blue; pale blue in transmitted light.

Density:

2.95 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.95 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of LeightoniteHide

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RI values:

_n_α = 1.574 - 1.578 _n_β = 1.587 _n_γ = 1.595

2V:

Measured: 60° , Calculated: 86°

δ = 0.021

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Chemistry of LeightoniteHide

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Mindat Formula:

K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4 · 2H2O

Crystallography of LeightoniteHide

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Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Cell Parameters:

a = 11.654(2) Å, b = 7.497(1) Å, c = 10.097(1) Å
β = 125.21(1)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.554 : 1 : 1.347

Unit Cell V:

720.78 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Pseudo-orthorhombic. Blades or laths elongated [001] and flattened {100}; rarely equant. Curved surfaces cutting away more or less of the front edges of the prism produce an hour-glass appearance. Also occurs as cross-fiber veinlets.

Twinning:

Repeated lamellar twinning on (100) and (010) of a sub-rectangular triclinic structure results in mimetic orthorhombic symmetry.

Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0002814	Leightonite	Menchetti S, Bindi L, Bonazzi P, Olmi F (2002) Disordered distribution of Cu in the crystal structure of leightonite, K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4.2H2O American Mineralogist 87 721-725		2002	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα

Data Set:

Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Powder Diffraction Data:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of LeightoniteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

cross-fiber veinlet fillings and crystals in open cavities.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1938,56.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 97540–97544.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, C5536.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Palache, C. (1938) Leightonite, a new sulphate of copper from Chile. American Mineralogist: 23: 34-37.

Other Language Names for LeightoniteHide

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Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Other InformationHide

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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 LeightoniteHide

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References for LeightoniteHide

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Localities for LeightoniteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- 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.