LAURIONITE

    Class : Halides
    Subclass : Oxychlorides
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : PbCl(OH)
    Rarity : Very rare

Laurionite is a lead chloride produced by the action of salt water on lead-bearing materials. It is the dimorph of paralaurionite. It is found in the oxidation zone of lead deposits, but the most beautiful crystals come from cavities of ancient lead slag, exposed to sea spray : the Lavrion mines (Greece) from which it takes its name. Laurionite forms small tabular prismatic crystals with pyramidal endings, colorless to white, rarely slightly brownish, associated with other secondary lead minerals.

Main photo : Laurionite from Lavrion, Greece © Marco Bonifazi

Laurionite from Baratti slags, Tuscany, Italy © Gianandrea Ghirri
Laurionite from Baratti slags, Tuscany, Italy © Marco Bonifazi
Laurionite from Tor Caldara slags, Italy © Marco Bonifazi
Laurionite from Lavrion, Greece © Elmar Lackner

Laurionite in the World

The silver mine near Ogies (South Africa) provided small millimeter crystals, as did several lead mines in Great Britain. Among the slag localities, in addition to Lavrion (Greece), laurionite is particularly known at Baratti Beach (Tuscany, Italy) and at Astfeld, near Goslar (Germany).

Laurionite in France

In France, laurionite is reported at Cap Garonne (Var) as well as in the slag of Poullaouen (Finistère) and Carnoët (Côtes-d'Armor).

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3.5 to 4
Density : 6.24
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 2.077 to 2.116
Birefringence : 0.081
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : White

Solubility : Nitric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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