LIEBENERITE Meaning and
Definition
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Liebenerite is a rare mineral that belongs to the complex silicate group. It typically occurs as a secondary mineral in copper-rich hydrothermal deposits. The name "liebenerite" is derived from the German mineralogist Ernst Liebener, who first discovered this mineral in the 19th century.
The physical properties of liebenerite are well-defined. It commonly forms as radiating, fibrous or granular aggregates. Its color ranges from light green to grayish green, and it exhibits a vitreous to pearly luster. Liebenerite has a Mohs hardness of 5.5-6, which makes it relatively soft compared to other minerals.
Chemically, liebenerite is a complex hydrous copper aluminum silicate, with the chemical formula Cu2Al2Si4O12(OH)2·7H2O. Its crystal structure consists of chains of edge-sharing tetrahedra that are cross-linked through aluminum octahedra. These chains and octahedra form layers parallel to the crystallographic a-axis. Liebenerite is known to contain variable amounts of other elements such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, which can substitute for the copper and aluminum atoms in the crystal lattice.
In terms of its optical properties, liebenerite displays biaxial positive interference figures and non-pleochroism. It has a relatively high refractive index, making it transparent to translucent in thin sections. However, due to its rarity and limited occurrence, liebenerite has little practical significance. It is primarily of interest to mineral collectors and researchers due to its unique crystal structure and chemical composition.
Common Misspellings for LIEBENERITE
- kiebenerite
- piebenerite
- oiebenerite
- luebenerite
- ljebenerite
- lkebenerite
- loebenerite
- l9ebenerite
- l8ebenerite
- liwbenerite
- lisbenerite
- lidbenerite
- lirbenerite
- li4benerite
- li3benerite
- lievenerite
- lienenerite
- liehenerite
- liegenerite
- liebwnerite
