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Lomonosovite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Lomonosovite
Formula:
Na5Ti2(Si2O7)(PO4)O2
Colour:
Dark cinnamon-brown to black, also rose-violet
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
2.88 - 3.13
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Mikhail Vassil’evich Lomonosov (Михаил Васильевич Ломоносов) (19 November 1711, Mishaninskaya, Archangelgorod Governorate, Tsardom of Russia - 15 April 1765, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire), polymath who made contributions in the areas of natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, art, philology, and language. He wrote multiple books on geology/mineralogy and discovered the law of constancy of interfacial angles, relating it with inner structure of crystals.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2428
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2428:6
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Lomonosovite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na6Na2Ti4+2Na2Ti4+2(Si2O7)2(PO4)2O4
First published:
1950
Type description reference:
Classification of Lomonosovite
9.BE.32
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
E : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
E : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
56.4.1.1
56 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups, With Additional O, OH, F and H2O
4 : Si2O7 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with [Si2O7] with other cation groups
56 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups, With Additional O, OH, F and H2O
4 : Si2O7 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with [Si2O7] with other cation groups
17.6.7
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
6 : Silicates with phosphate
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
6 : Silicates with phosphate
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Lom | 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 Lomonosovite
Adamantine, Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark cinnamon-brown to black, also rose-violet
Comment:
Transparent in thin plates.
Streak:
Light rose-cinnamon
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.88 - 3.13 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.04 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lomonosovite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.670 nβ = 1.750 nγ = 1.778
2V:
Measured: 56° , Calculated: 58°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.108
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
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 µm 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.
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 µm 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:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v or r < v
Optical Extinction:
X ∧ cleavage = 61°-66°; Y ∧ cleavage = 59°-65°; Z ∧ cleavage = 37°-41°.
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X = yellow, pale yellow, nearly colorless; Y = brownish, yellow-orange, lilac; Z = yellowish brown, dark brown, dark blackish brown.
Comments:
Absorption: Z > Y > X.
Chemistry of Lomonosovite
Mindat Formula:
Na5Ti2(Si2O7)(PO4)O2
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Zr,Fe,Nb,Ta,Mn,Mg,Ca,Cl,H2O
Crystallography of Lomonosovite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.49 Å, b = 7.11 Å, c = 14.5 Å
α = 101°, β = 96°, γ = 90°
α = 101°, β = 96°, γ = 90°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.772 : 1 : 2.039
Unit Cell V:
552.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Thin lamellar or tabular crystals.
Twinning:
Fine polysynthetic twinning observed.
Comment:
Niobium-rich lomonosovite variety are a = 5.411(1) Å, b = 7.108(1) Å, c = 14.477(2) Å, α = 99.78(1)°, β = 96.59(1)°, γ = 90.26(1)°, V = 544.94(5) Å3, Z = 1, sp. gr. P1.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018518 | Lomonosovite | Camara F, Sokolova E, Hawthorne F C, Abdu Y (2008) From structure topology to chemical composition. IX. Titanium silicates: revision of the crystal chemistry of lomonosovite and murmanite, Group-IV minerals Mineralogical Magazine 72 1207-1228 | 2008 | Lovozero alkaline massif, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015603 | Lomonosovite | Belov N V, Gavrilova G S, Solov'eva L P, Khalilov A D (1977) The refined structure of lomonosovite Soviet Physics Doklady 22 422-424 | 1977 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.83 Å | (100) |
| 1.778 Å | (90) |
| 1.840 Å | (80) |
| 2.73 Å | (70) |
| 2.65 Å | (70) |
| 2.60 Å | (70) |
| 2.08 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Lovozero massif, Russia.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Lomonosovite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Laminated tabular crystals up to 7x5x0.6 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Pegmatites in syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Lomonosovite
Dutch:Lomonosoviet
German:Lomonosovit
Lomonossowit
Lomonossowit
Russian:Ломоносовит
Simplified Chinese:磷硅钛钠石
Spanish:Lomonosovita
Traditional Chinese:磷矽鈦鈉石
Relationship of Lomonosovite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Murmanite Group:
| Calciomurmanite | (Na,◻)2Ca(Ti,Mg,Nb)4[Si2O7]2O2(OH,O)2(H2O)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Kolskyite | CaNa2Ti4(Si2O7)2O4(H2O)7 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Murmanite | Na2Ti2(Si2O7)O2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Paralomonosovite | Na6◻4Ti4(Si2O7)2[PO3OH][PO2(OH)2]O2(OF) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Quadruphite | Na6Na2(CaNa)2Na2Ti2Na2Ti2(Si2O7)2(PO4)4O4F2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Schüllerite | Ba2Na(Mn,Ca)(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)2Ti2(Si2O7)2(O,F)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Selivanovaite | NaFe3+Ti4(Si2O7)2O4(H2O)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Sobolevite | Na13Ca2Mn2Ti3(Si2O7)2(PO4)4O3F3 | Mon. m : Pb |
| Vigrishinite | NaZnTi4(Si2O7)2O3(OH)(H2O)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 21 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 11 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 7 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
| 7 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Leucosphenite | BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30 |
| 7 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Eudialyte | Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Zorite | Na8(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 14H2O |
| 6 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Lamprophyllite | (Na,Mn2+)3(Sr,Na)2(Ti,Fe3+)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH,O,F)2 |
| 5 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Bornemanite | Na6BaTi2Nb(Si2O7)2(PO4)O2(OH)F |
| 5 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 4 photos of Lomonosovite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.BE. | Zinkgruvanite | Ba4Mn2+4Fe3+2(Si2O7)2(SO4)2O2(OH)2 |
| 9.BE. | Calciomurmanite | (Na,◻)2Ca(Ti,Mg,Nb)4[Si2O7]2O2(OH,O)2(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE. | Cámaraite | Ba3Na(Fe2+,Mn)8Ti4(Si2O7)4O4(OH,F)7 |
| 9.BE. | Alfredcasparite | Sr2TiO(Si2O7) |
| 9.BE. | Batievaite-(Y) | Y2Ca2Ti(Si2O7)2(OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE. | Nacareniobsite-(Y) | Na3Ca3YNb(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE. | Alexkuznetsovite-(Ce) | Ce2Mn(CO3)(Si2O7) |
| 9.BE. | Bobshannonite | Na2KBa(Mn,Na)8(Nb,Ti)4(Si2O7)4O4(OH)4(O,F)2 |
| 9.BE. | Paralomonosovite | Na6◻4Ti4(Si2O7)2[PO3OH][PO2(OH)2]O2(OF) |
| 9.BE. | Madeiraite | Na2Ca2Fe2Zr2(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE. | Bortolanite | Ca2(Ca1.5Zr0.5)Na(NaCa)Ti(Si2O7)2(OF)F2 |
| 9.BE. | Longshoushanite-(Ce) | Ce4MgAl2Ti2(Si2O7)2O8 |
| 9.BE. | Moxuanxueite | NaCa6Zr(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE. | Delhuyarite-(Ce) | Ce4Mg(Fe3+,W)3◻(Si2O7)2O6(OH)2 |
| 9.BE. | Christofschäferite-(Ce) | Ce3CaMnTiFe3+Ti2(Si2O7)2O8 |
| 9.BE.X | Asimowite | Fe2+4O(Si2O7) |
| 9.BE. | Biraite-(La) | La2Fe2+(CO3)(Si2O7) |
| 9.BE. | Pilanesbergite | Na2Ca2Fe2Ti2(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.02 | Wadsleyite | Mg4O(Si2O7) |
| 9.BE.02 | Ohtaniite | Mg3(Si0.5◻0.5)Si2O8 |
| 9.BE.05 | Lawsonite | CaAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.BE.05 | Hennomartinite | SrMn3+2(Si2O7)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.BE.05 | Cortesognoite | CaV2(Si2O7)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.BE.05 | Noelbensonite | BaMn3+2(Si2O7)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.BE.05 | Itoigawaite | SrAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.BE.07 | Ilvaite | CaFe3+Fe2+2(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.07 | Amamoorite | CaMn2+2Mn3+(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.07 | Manganilvaite | CaFe2+Fe3+Mn2+(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.10 | Suolunite | Ca2(H2Si2O7) · H2O |
| 9.BE.12 | Jaffeite | Ca6(Si2O7)(OH)6 |
| 9.BE.15 | Fresnoite | Ba2Ti(Si2O7)O |
| 9.BE.17 | Janhaugite | (Na,Ca)3(Mn2+,Fe2+)3(Ti,Zr,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O2(OH,F)2 |
| 9.BE.17 | Burpalite | Na2CaZr(Si2O7)F2 |
| 9.BE.17 | Niocalite | (Ca,Nb)4(Si2O7)(O,OH,F)2 |
| 9.BE.17 | Normandite | NaCa(Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb,Zr)(Si2O7)OF |
| 9.BE.17 | Hiortdahlite | Na2Ca4(Ca0.5Zr0.5)Zr(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.17 | Låvenite | Na2Ca2Mn2Zr2(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.17 | Cuspidine | Ca8(Si2O7)2F4 |
| 9.BE.17 | Wöhlerite | Na2Ca4ZrNb(Si2O7)2O3F |
| 9.BE.17 | Baghdadite | Ca6Zr2(Si2O7)2O4 |
| 9.BE.20 | Nacareniobsite-(Ce) | Na3Ca3(Ce,REE)Nb(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.20 | Roumaite | (Ca,Na,REE,◻)7(Nb,Ti)[Si2O7]2OF3 |
| 9.BE.20 | Rinkite-(Ce) | (Ca3Ce)Na(NaCa)Ti(Si2O7)2(OF)F2 |
| 9.BE.20 | Nacareniobsite-(Nd) | Ca2(CaNd)Na3Nb(Si2O7)2(OF)F2 |
| 9.BE.20 | Rinkite-(Y) | Na2Ca4YTi(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.20 | Mosandrite-(Ce) | (Ca3REE)[(H2O)2Ca0.5◻0.5]Ti(Si2O7)2(OH)2(H2O)2 |
| 9.BE.22 | Hainite-(Y) | Na2Ca4(Y,REE)Ti(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.22 | Rosenbuschite | Na6Ca6Zr3Ti(Si2O7)4O2F6 |
| 9.BE.22 | Götzenite | NaCa6Ti(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.22 | Fogoite-(Y) | Na3Ca2Y2Ti(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.22 | Kochite | Na3Ca2MnZrTi(Si2O7)2OF3 |
| 9.BE.23 | Dovyrenite | Ca6Zr(Si2O7)2(OH)4 |
| 9.BE.25 | Lamprophyllite | (Na,Mn2+)3(Sr,Na)2(Ti,Fe3+)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH,O,F)2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Seidozerite | Na4MnZr2Ti(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Nabalamprophyllite | (BaNa)Ti2Na3Ti(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Schüllerite | Ba2Na(Mn,Ca)(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)2Ti2(Si2O7)2(O,F)4 |
| 9.BE.25 | Ericssonite | BaMn2+2Fe3+(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.25 | Grenmarite | Na4MnZr3(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Kazanskyite | BaNa3Ti2Nb(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE.25 | Saamite | Ba◻Na3Ti2Nb(Si2O7)2O2(OH)F(H2O)2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Emmerichite | Ba2Na(Na,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Mg)Ti2(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Barytolamprophyllite | (Ba,Na)2(Na,Ti,Fe3+)4Ti2(Si2O7)2O(OH,F) |
| 9.BE.25 | 'Ericssonite-2O' | BaMn2+2Fe3+(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.25 | Fluorbarytolamprophyllite | (Ba,Sr)2[(Na,Fe2+)3(Ti,Mg)F2][Ti2(Si2O7)2O2] |
| 9.BE.25 | Fluorlamprophyllite | Na3(SrNa)Ti3(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.25 | Lileyite | Ba2(Na,Fe,Ca)3MgTi2(Si2O7)2O2F2 |
| 9.BE.27 | Kolskyite | CaNa2Ti4(Si2O7)2O4(H2O)7 |
| 9.BE.27 | Vigrishinite | NaZnTi4(Si2O7)2O3(OH)(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE.27 | Selivanovaite | NaFe3+Ti4(Si2O7)2O4(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE.27 | Murmanite | Na2Ti2(Si2O7)O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.BE.30 | Epistolite | (Na◻)Nb2Na3Ti(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 9.BE.35 | Vuonnemite | Na11Ti4+Nb2(Si2O7)2(PO4)2O3(F,OH) |
| 9.BE.37 | Sobolevite | Na13Ca2Mn2Ti3(Si2O7)2(PO4)4O3F3 |
| 9.BE.40 | Ferroinnelite | Ba4Ti2Na(NaFe2+)Ti(Si2O7)2[(SO4)(PO4)]O2[O(OH)] |
| 9.BE.40 | Phosphoinnelite | Na3Ba4Ti3(Si2O7)2(PO4,SO4)2O2F |
| 9.BE.40 | Innelite | Ba4Ti2Na(NaMn2+)Ti(Si2O7)2[(SO4)(PO4)]O2[O(OH)] |
| 9.BE.42 | Yoshimuraite | Ba2Mn2Ti(Si2O7)(PO4)O(OH) |
| 9.BE.42 | Horiite | Ba2Mn2Mn4Ti2(Si2O7)2(PO4)2O2(OH)2 |
| 9.BE.45 | Quadruphite | Na6Na2(CaNa)2Na2Ti2Na2Ti2(Si2O7)2(PO4)4O4F2 |
| 9.BE.47 | Polyphite | Na5(Na4Ca2)Ti2(Si2O7)(PO4)3O2F2 |
| 9.BE.50 | Shkatulkalite | Na2Nb2Na3Ti(Si2O7)2O2(FO)(H2O)4(H2O)3 |
| 9.BE.50 | Bornemanite | Na6BaTi2Nb(Si2O7)2(PO4)O2(OH)F |
| 9.BE.55 | Hejtmanite | Ba2Mn2+4Ti2(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2F2 |
| 9.BE.55 | Bykovaite | (Ba,Na,K)2(Na,Ti,Mn)4(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O2(H2O,F,OH)2 · 3.5H2O |
| 9.BE.55 | Nechelyustovite | (Ba,Sr,K)2(Na,Ti,Mn)4(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O2(O,H2O,F)2 · 4.5H2O |
| 9.BE.55 | Bafertisite | Ba2Fe2+4Ti2(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2F2 |
| 9.BE.60 | Delindeite | (Na,K)2(Ba,Ca)2(Ti,Fe,Al)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.BE.62 |






Yubileinaya pegmatite, Karnasurt Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia