Lazurite Mineral Data

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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."

Name Pronunciation:

Lazurite

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),

Crystal Structure:

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Hassan I , Peterson R C , Grundy H D , Acta Crystallographica, Section C , 41 (1985) p.827-832, The structure of lazurite, ideally Na6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)S2, a member of the, sodalite group, Locality: Baffin Island

Physical Properties of Lazurite

Cleavage:

{110} Imperfect

Color:

Blue, Azure blue, Violet blue, Greenish blue.

Density:

2.38 - 2.42, Average = 2.4

Diaphaneity:

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:

Non-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
Ncalc = 1.43 - 1.48

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.5-1.522.

Calculated Properties of Lazurite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.37 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Lazurite =2.40 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0086724318
Boson Index = 0.9913275682

Photoelectric:

PE_Lazurite= 2.67 barns/electron
U=PE_Lazurite x rElectron Density= 6.33 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Lazurite is Not Radioactive

Lazurite Classification

Dana Class:

76.02.03.04 (76)Tectosilicate Al-Si Framework

(76.02)Feldspathoids and related species

(76.02.03)Sodalite group

76.02.03.01 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

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

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

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

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

76.02.03.06 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

76.02.03.07 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

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

Strunz Class:

09.FB.10 09 - SILICATES (Germanates)

09.F - Tektosilicates without Zeolitic H2O

09.FB -Tektosilicates with additional anions

09.FB.10 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 43m 4 3m

09.FB.10 Danalite Fe4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Genthelvite Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Helvite Mn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

09.FB.10 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

09.FB.10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

09.FB.10 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2

Other Lazurite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Lazurite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - QUT Mineral Atlas
15 - Ruff.Info
16 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
17 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Lazurite Specimen Label here :

Lazurite

Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S
Dana No: 76.02.03.04 Strunz No: 09.FB.10
Locality:

Notes: