Lazurite Mineral Data
General Lazurite Information
Chemical Formula:
Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 498.31 gm
Sodium 13.84 % Na 18.66 % Na2 O
Calcium 8.04 % Ca 11.25 % CaO
Aluminum 16.24 % Al 30.69 % Al2 O3
Silicon 16.91 % Si 36.17 % SiO2
Sulfur 6.43 % S 6.43 % S2-
- % S -3.21 % -O=S
Oxygen 38.53 % O
______ ______
100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Na3 CaAl3 Si3 O12 S
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:
Phlogopite Lazurite
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 - Hextetrahedral H-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: P 4 3n
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 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
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:
PELazurite = 2.67 barns/electronU=PELazurite x r Electron 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 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.02 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 4 3m 4 3m
76.02.03.03 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.04 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.05 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 4 3m 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 4 3m 4 3m
09.FB.10 Danalite Fe4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Genthelvite Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Helvite Mn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra
09.FB.10 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 4 3m 4 3m
09.FB.10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 4 3n 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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Lazurite
Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S
Dana No: 76.02.03.04 Strunz No: 09.FB.10
Locality:
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