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Lavinskyite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Lavinskyite
Dr. Robert Lavinsky
Formula:
K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4
Colour:
Light blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.61
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by H. Yang, R.T. Downs, S.H. Evans, and W.W. Pinch in 2014 in honor of Robert Matthew Lavinsky (13 December 1972, Columbus, Ohio, USA - ), mineral collector and dealer.
Two polytypes are known, lavinskyite-2O (formerly "lavinskyite") and lavinskyite-1M; the latter was originally approved as "liguriaite", but subsequently recognised as a monoclinic MDO polytype of "lavinskyite" (IMA proposal 16-E; Kolitsch et al., 2018).
Lavinskyite-2O is isotypic with plancheite.
Lavinskyite-2O is isotypic with plancheite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42860
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42860:0
IMA Classification of Lavinskyite
Approved
IMA Formula:
K(LiCu2+)Cu2+6(Si4O11)2(OH)4
Approval year:
2012
First published:
2014
Classification of Lavinskyite
9.DP.55
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lvs | 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 Lavinskyite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light blue
Streak:
Very pale blue
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}.
On {010}.
Parting:
None observed.
Density:
3.61(3) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.62 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lavinskyite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.675(1) nβ = 1.686(1) nγ = 1.715(1)
2V:
Measured: 64° (2), Calculated: 64.2°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
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:
None observed
Optical Extinction:
X = a, Y = b, Z = c
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = dark blue, Y = light blue, and Z = light blue
Comments:
Absorption X > Y = Z
Chemistry of Lavinskyite
Mindat Formula:
K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Lavinskyite
Polytype:
Formula:
Crystal System:
Class (H-M)
Space Group:
Space Group Setting:
Cell Parameters:
Ratio:
Unit Cell Volume (calc):
Z:
Comment:
| Lavinskyite-1M | Lavinskyite-2O |
|---|---|
| K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4 | K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4 |
| Monoclinic | Orthorhombic |
| 2/m - Prismatic | mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal |
| P21/c | |
| P21/c | |
| a = 10.224(2) Å, b = 19.085(4) Å, c = 5.252(1) Å β = 92.23(3)°, γ = 92.23(3)° | a = 19.046(3) Å, b = 20.377(2) Å, c = 5.2497(6) Å |
| a:b:c = 0.536 : 1 : 0.275 | a:b:c = 0.935 : 1 : 0.258 |
| V 1024 ų | V 2037.4 ų |
| 2 | |
| Non-standard space group Pcnb. |
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020034 | Lavinskyite | Yang H, Downs R T, Evans S H, Pinch W W (2014) Lavinskyite, K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4, isotypic with plancheite, a new mineral from the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa American Mineralogist 99 525-530 | 2014 | Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.291 Å | (100) |
| 3.321 Å | (27) |
| 6.994 Å | (18) |
| 4.984 Å | (18) |
| 9.608 Å | (13) |
| 3.964 Å | (11) |
| 9.006 Å | (8) |
| 4.057 Å | (6) |
| 2.979 Å | (6) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) |
Type Occurrence of Lavinskyite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Light blue plates, associated with wesselsite and scottyite . Broken pieces are bladed, elongated along [001], up to 0.5 × 0.3 × 0.1 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineral Museum of the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA, catalogue number 19335.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Lavinskyite
Other Language Names for Lavinskyite
Dutch:Lavinskyiet
German:Lavinskyit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 12 photos of Lavinskyite associated with Scottyite | BaCu2Si2O7 |
| 10 photos of Lavinskyite associated with Effenbergerite | BaCuSi4O10 |
| 8 photos of Lavinskyite associated with Wesselsite | SrCuSi4O10 |
| 5 photos of Lavinskyite associated with Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 2 photos of Lavinskyite associated with Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DP.05 | Meliphanite | (Ca,Na)2(Be,Al)[Si2O6(OH,F)] |
| 9.DP.15 | Leucosphenite | BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30 |
| 9.DP.20 | Ferriprehnite | Ca2Fe3+(Si3AlO10)(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.20 | Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.25 | Amstallite | CaAl[(Al,Si)4O8(OH)2](OH)2 · (H2O,Cl) |
| 9.DP.30 | Kvanefjeldite | Na4(Ca,Mn)(Si3O7)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.35 | Lemoynite | (Na,K)2CaZr2Si10O26 · 5H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Hogarthite | (Na,K)2CaTi2Si10O26 · 8H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Natrolemoynite | Na4Zr2Si10O26 · 9H2O |
| 9.DP.40 | Altisite | Na3K6Ti2Al2Si8O26Cl3 |
| 9.DP.45 | Chiappinoite-(Y) | Y2Mn(Si3O7)4 |
| 9.DP.50 | Esquireite | BaSi6O13 · 7H2O |
| 9.DP.55 | Plancheite | Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 3.4431% | 1,067 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in water, acetone, or hydrochloric acid.
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 Lavinskyite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42860.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Lavinskyite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2012) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2012. CNMNC Newsletter No 14. Mineralogical Magazine, 76 (5) 1281-1288 doi:10.1180/minmag.2012.076.5.15
Yang, H., Downs, R. T., Evans, S. H., Pinch, W. W. (2014) Lavinskyite, K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4, isotypic with plancheite, a new mineral from the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa. American Mineralogist, 99 (2) 525-530 doi:10.2138/am.2014.4601
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter 32. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (5) 915-922 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.084
Kolitsch, Uwe, Merlino, Stefano, Belmonte, Donato, Carbone, Cristina, Cabella, Roberto, Lucchetti, Gabriella, Ciriotti, Marco E. (2018) Lavinskyite-1M, K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4, the monoclinic MDO equivalent of lavinskyite-2O (formerly lavinskyite), from the Cerchiara manganese mine, Liguria, Italy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 30 (4) 811-820 doi:10.1127/ejm/2018/0030-2731
Localities for Lavinskyite
Showing 4 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The
Wessels Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa