Lazurite Mineral Data

Lazurite Mineral Data +

General Lazurite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 498.31 gm

Sodium 13.84 % Na 18.66 % Na₂O

Calcium 8.04 % Ca 11.25 % CaO

Aluminum 16.24 % Al 30.69 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 16.91 % Si 36.17 % SiO₂

Sulfur 6.43 % S 6.43 % S^2-

- % S -3.21 % -O=S

Oxygen 38.53 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na₃CaAl₃Si₃O₁₂S

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1890

Locality:

District of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Persian lazward - "blue."

Synonym:

Lapis lazuli

Lasurite

Sapphiros of Pliny

Ultamarine pigment

Lazurite Image

Images:

Lazurite

Comments: A single, deep blue, dodecahedron of Lazurite measuring 1 cm on a white marble matrix.
Location: Firgamu, Badakhashan Province, Afghanistan. Scale: 1.2 x 1 x 0.9 cm.
© Isaias Casanova / IC Minerals

Images:

Lazurite Phlogopite

Comments: Gemmy brownish phlogopite crystals on blue lazurite (lapis) matrix with minor pyrite.
Location: Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. Scale: 10 x 11.5 cm.
© Kevin Ward

Lazurite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 9.105, Z = 2; V = 754.81 Den(Calc)= 2.19

Crystal System:

Isometric - HextetrahedralH-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: P 43n

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.71(1), 2.62(0.8), 2.87(0.45),

Physical Properties of Lazurite

Cleavage:

[110] Imperfect

Color:

Blue, Azure blue, Violet blue, Greenish blue.

Density:

2.38 - 2.42, Average = 2.4

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

5.5 - Knife Blade

Luminescence:

Fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous - Dull

Streak:

light blue

Optical Properties of Lazurite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.076 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.179 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2333,KPDmeas= 0.2129,KC= 0.1979

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.5-1.522.

Calculated Properties of Lazurite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.37 gm/cc
note: r_Lazurite=2.40 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00867
Boson Index = 0.99133

Photoelectric:

PE_Lazurite= 2.67 barns/electron
U=PE_Lazurite x r_electron= 6.33 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Lazurite is Not Radioactive

Lazurite Classification

Dana Class:

76.2.3.4 (76)Tectosilicate Al-Si Framework

(76.2)Feldspathoids and related species

(76.2.3)Sodalite group

76.2.3.1 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.2 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

76.2.3.3 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.4 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.5 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 43m 4 3m

76.2.3.6 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

76.2.3.7 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

76.2.3.8 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2

Strunz Class:

VIII/J.11-40 VIII - Silicates

VIII/J - Tectosilicates (network) with anions unfamiliar to the tetraheders

VIII/J.11 - Sodalite group, Tsaregorodtsevite - Wadalite series

VIII/J.11-05 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2

VIII/J.11-10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-20 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

VIII/J.11-30 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-40 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-50 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

VIII/J.11-60 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

VIII/J.11-70 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 43m 4 3m

VIII/J.11-80 Wadalite Ca6Al5Si2O16Cl3 I 43d 4 3m

Other Lazurite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

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Lazurite

Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S
Dana No: 76.2.3.4 Strunz No: VIII/J.11-40
Locality:

Notes: