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Limousinite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About LimousiniteHide

Formula:
BaCa[Be4P4O16] · 6H2O
Colour:
Colorless to snow-white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
2.58 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after the French historical region Limousin from which it was collected.
A beryllophosphate mineral structurally related to phillipsite. Unique combination of elements (2024). It is the third known natural zeolite-type beryllophosphate together with pahasapaite and wilancookite.

Chemically especially related to wilancookite and minjiangite (also beryllophosphates), and somewhat to babefphite. Also compare pahasapaite.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
53675
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53675:0

IMA Classification of LimousiniteHide

Classification of LimousiniteHide

8.CA.80

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
LmsIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of LimousiniteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless to snow-white
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Described as "without cleavage planes".
Density:
2.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Not measured due to the small size of crystals

Optical Data of LimousiniteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.532(2) nβ = 1.532(3) nγ = 1.558(2)
2V:
Calculated: 18°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.026
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 ”m thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
non-dispersive

Chemistry of LimousiniteHide

Mindat Formula:
BaCa[Be4P4O16] · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O50.181 %
Ba19.578 %
P17.663 %
Ca5.714 %
Be5.139 %
H1.724 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of LimousiniteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.4958(4) Å, b = 13.6758(4) Å, c = 13.4696(4) Å
β = 90.398(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.694 : 1 : 0.985
Unit Cell V:
1757 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Prismatic crystals up to 0.9 mm long with rhombic cross-sections.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23)

Type Occurrence of LimousiniteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Isolated, partly corroded, colorless to snow-white prismatic crystals up to 0.9 mm long with rhombic cross sections, in vug in altered primary Fe-Mn phosphates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical collections of (1) the Geological Museum of Lausanne, Switzerland, catalogue number MGL 093398, and (2) the Laboratory of Mineralogy, University of LiĂšge, Belgium, catalogue number ULG 21167
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Ba0.91K0.07)Σ0.98(Ca0.87Na0.05)Σ0.92[(Be3.87Al0.13)Σ4P4O16] · 5.56H2O
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
P2O542.06 %
SiO20.02 %
Al2O30.99 %
MgO0.02 %
ZnO0.03 %
FeO0.02 %
CaO7.20 %
BaO20.60 %
SrO0.06 %
Na2O0.21 %
K2O0.47 %
BeO14.34 %
H2O14.83 %
Total:100.85 %
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of LimousiniteHide

Other Language Names for LimousiniteHide

Relationship of Limousinite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Zeolite Group:
AlflarseniteNaCa2Be3Si4O13(OH) · 2H2OMon. 2 : P21
AmiciteK2Na2Al4Si4O16 · 5H2OMon. 2
Ammonioleucite(NH4)(AlSi2O6)Tet. 4/m : I41/a
AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
ArzamastseviteK6Al5Si6O20(OH)4ClTet. 42m : I42m
Bellbergite(K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2OHex.
BikitaiteLiAlSi2O6 · H2OTric. 1 : P1
BoggsiteCa8Na3(Si,Al)96O192 · 70H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
Brewsterite SubgroupZeolite Group.
Chabazite-Levyne SubgroupM[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O
ChiavenniteCaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
Clinoptilolite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)3-6[Al6-7Si29-30O72] · 20H2O
CowlesiteCaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
Dachiardite SubgroupZeolite Group.
DirenzoiteNaK6MgCa2(Al13Si47O120) · 36H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
EdingtoniteBa[Al2Si3O10] · 4H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
EpistilbiteCaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2OMon.
Erionite SubgroupM2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
FabriÚsiteNa3Al3Si3O12 · 2H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmm2
Faujasite SubgroupM3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O
Ferrierite SubgroupName used for unanalysed specimens that could be either ferrierite-K, ferrierite-Mg, ...
FerrochiavenniteCa1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)5Be2O13(OH)2] · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
Flörkeite(K3Ca2Na)[Al8Si8O32] · 12H2OTric. 1 : P1
Garronite Subgroup
GaultiteNa4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2OOrth. mm2 : Fdd2
Gismondine SubgroupZeolite Group.
Gmelinite SubgroupIn 1997, gmelinite was split into Gmelinite-Ca, Gmelinite-Na and Gmelinite-K.
GobbinsiteNa5(Si11Al5)O32 · 11H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
GoosecreekiteCa[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2OMon. 2 : P21
GottardiiteNa3Mg3Ca5Al19Si117O272 · 93H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmca
Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
HsianghualiteCa3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2Iso. 23 : I213
KalborsiteK6Al4BSi6O20(OH)4ClTet. 42m : P421c
KirchhoffiteCs(BSi2O6)Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/acd
LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
LeuciteK(AlSi2O6)Tet. 4/m : I41/a
LithositeK6Al4Si8O25 · 2H2OMon.
Loomisite Ba[Be2P2O8] · H2OMon. m
LovdariteK2Na6Be4Si14O36 · 9H2OOrth. mm2
MaricopaitePb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2OOrth.
MartinandresiteBa2(Al4Si12O32) · 10H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
Mazzite SubgroupZeolite Group.
MeieriteBa44Si66Al30O192Cl25(OH)33Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Im3m
MerlinoiteK5Ca2(Si23Al9)O64 · 24H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Immm
Montesommaite(K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 · 10H2OOrth. mm2 : Fdd2
Mordenite(Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2OOrth.
MountainiteKNa2Ca2[Si8O19(OH)] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
MutinaiteNa3Ca4Si85Al11O192 · 60H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
NabesiteNa2BeSi4O10 · 4H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
Natrolite SubgroupA subgroup of the Zeolite Group.
OffretiteKCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2OHex. 6m2 : P6m2
PahasapaiteLi8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2OIso. 23 : I23
ParthéiteCa2(Si4Al4) O15 (OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
Paulingite SubgroupPaulingite was originally described in 1960.
PerlialiteK9Na(Ca,Sr)[Al2Si4O12]6 · 15H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
Phillipsite Subgroup(Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O
Pollucite(Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2OIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
RoggianiteCa2Be(OH)2Al2Si4O13 · 2.5H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mcm
RongibbsitePb2(Si4Al)O11(OH) Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Terranovaite(Na,Ca)8(Si68Al12)O160 · 29H2OOrth.
Thomsonite SubgroupThe large majority of "thomsonite" is thomsonite-Ca.
ThornasiteNa12Th4+3(Si8O19)4 · 18H2OTrig. 3m : R3m
Tschernichite(Ca,Na2)[Al2Si4O12] · 4-8H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
TschörtneriteCa4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3[Al3Si3O12]4(OH)8 · nH2OIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
'UM1996-38-SiO:AlCaHNa'Na-Ca-Al-Si-O-H
'UM1999-33-SiO:AlHKNa'K7Na5Al12Si20O64 · 24H2O
'UM2002-40-SiO:AlCaHKMgNa'(Mg,Ca,Na,K)7.5(Al12.8Si51.2)O128 · 65H2OTet. 422 : P4122
'Unnamed (Ca analogue of Merlinoite)'(Ca,K,Na)5(Ca,Ba)2Al9Si23O64 · 23H2O ?
WairakiteCa(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
WeinebeneiteCaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. m : Bb
Wenkite(Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2OHex. 6m2 : P62m
Wilancookite(Ba5Li2◻)Ba6Be24P24O96 · 26H2OIso. 23 : I23
WillhendersoniteKCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
YugawaraliteCaAl2Si6O16 · 4H2OMon. m : Pb

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Limousinite associated with WhitmoreiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O
2 photos of Limousinite associated with Nsutite(Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2
1 photo of Limousinite associated with GreifensteiniteCa2Fe2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.CA.ApexiteNaMg(PO4) · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.BrandĂŁoiteBeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)5Tric. 1 : P1
8.CA.DavidlloyditeZn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.05ParafransoletiteCa3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.05FransoletiteCa3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CA.10EhrleiteCa4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.15FaheyiteBe2Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)4 · 6H2OTrig. 32 : P3121
8.CA.20MccrillisiteNaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
8.CA.20GainesiteNa(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5-2H2OTet. 4mm : I41md
8.CA.20SelwyniteNaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
8.CA.25PahasapaiteLi8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2OIso. 23 : I23
8.CA.30NizamoffiteMn2+Zn2(PO4)2(H2O)4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
8.CA.30ArsenohopeiteZn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.CA.30HopeiteZnZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.CA.35WarikahniteZn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.40PhosphophylliteZn2Fe 2+(PO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CA.42SteinmetziteZn2Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) · 3H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.45ParascholziteCaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2OMon.
8.CA.45ScholziteCaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
8.CA.50KeyiteCu2+3Zn4Cd2(AsO4)6 · 2H2OMon. 2/m
8.CA.55PushcharovskiteK0.6Cu18[AsO2(OH)2]4[AsO3OH]10(AsO4)(OH)9.6 · 18.6H2OTric.
8.CA.60ProsperiteCa2Zn4(AsO4)4 · H2OMon.
8.CA.65GengenbachiteKFe3+3(PO3OH)4[PO2(OH)2]2 · 6H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
8.CA.70ParahopeiteZn3(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.70ReaphookhilliteMgZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.75StergiouiteCaZn2(AsO4)2 · 4H2OMon. m : Pb
8.CA.85MinjiangiteBaBe2(PO4)2Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
8.CA.85Wilancookite(Ba5Li2◻)Ba6Be24P24O96 · 26H2OIso. 23 : I23

Fluorescence of LimousiniteHide

Non-fluorescent

Other InformationHide

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 LimousiniteHide

References for LimousiniteHide

Localities for LimousiniteHide

Showing 1 localities.

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.
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Locality ListHide

- 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.
France (TL)
 
  • Nouvelle-Aquitaine
    • Haute-Vienne
      • Bellac
        • RazĂšs
          • Chanteloube
            • Vilatte Quarries (La Vilate)
Miyawaki et al. (2019) +1 other reference
 
and/or  
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