Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Pegmatite de Minh Tien, near Lucyen, Yenbai province, Vietnam
SIZE : 16.5 x 11 x 9 cm

This sample is an association of liddicoatite with albite and muscovite. The liddicoatite has a spray shape of elongated crystals which are red-pink and transparent. The albite is characterized by white lamellar and the muscovite by silver layers.

This specimen comes from Minh Tien in Yenbai area in Vietnam. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is today kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Liddicoatite

HISTORY : Species dedicated to Richard T. Liddicoat Junior (1918-2002), American gemmologist and former president of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

Species first described by Dunn, Appleman and Nelen in 1977

Type-locality: Antsirabé, Antananarivo, Madagascar

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ca (Li,Al)3 Al6 (BO3)3 Si6O18 (O,OH,F)4
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Brown, green, pink, blue. Show colour zonations
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White or nearly colourless
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, curved
HARDNESS : 7,5
DENSITY : 3,05

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Tourmaline
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/E.19-80
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.CK.05

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Liddicoatite

Liddicoatite

MNHN N°207.12

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