Lorenzenite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Lorenzenite was named in honor of Johannes Theodor Lorenzen (1855-1884), Danish mineralogist interested in Greenland minerals. Lorenzen died at age 29 while on an expedition to Greenland in 1884.

Discovered in 1897;   IMA status:  Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Na₂Ti₂Si₂O₉

Sodium Titanium Silicate

Molecular Weight:

341.91 gm

Composition:

Sodium

13.45 %

Na

18.13 %

Na₂O

Titanium

28.01 %

Ti

46.73 %

TiO₂

Silicon

16.43 %

Si

35.15 %

SiO₂

Oxygen

42.12 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.03-50

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DB.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si₂O₆; Pyroxene-related minerals

Related to:

Lorenzenite Group

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Ramsayite, Ramzaite, Unnamed (MSH UK-1), Unnamed (MSH UK-16), Unnamed (MSH UK-7)

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals equant, bladed prismatic, to needlelike, to 6 cm; fibrous, felted, lamellar aggregates.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Distinct on {010}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.0

Density:

3.42 - 3.45 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

May fluoresce pale yellow to dull green under SW UV, with green cathodoluminescence.

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Pale Purple-Brown, pale Pink to Mauve, Brown to Black.

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous, Adamantine to Sub-Metallic, or Silky, Dull.

Refractive Index:

1.910 - 2.060  Biaxial  ( - )

Birefringence:

0.1000

Dispersion:

Distinct; r > v

Pleochroism:

Weak; X = Y = pale reddish yellow, yellowish brown to light brown; Z = pale yellow, brownish to dark brown.

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In nepheline syenites and their associated pegmatites.

Common Associations:

Aegirine, Nepheline, Microcline, Arfvedsonite, Elpidite, Loparite, Eudialyte, Astrophyllite, Mangan-Neptunite, Låvenite, Rinkite, Apatite, Titanite, Ilmenite

Common Impurities:

Zr, Al, Y, TR, La, Ce, Fe, Nb, Mn, Ca, Sr, F, H₂O

Type Locality:

Narssârssuk pegmatite (Narsarsuk pegmatite), Narssârssuk (Narsarsuk), Igaliku (Igaliko), Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland

Year Discovered:

1897

View mineral photos:

Lorenzenite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org 
Webmineral.com

Lorenzenite is a rare silicate mineral that has been known since its discovery in 1897 but was only described in the last 50 years. There are notable occurances on both the coast of Greenland and on the Kola Penninsula of Russia. Ramsayite is the old Russian name for Lorenzenite. Lorenzenite can have a high luster (adamantine to sub-metallic) due to its titanium content. Other titanium minerals, such as Rutile, also have a high luster.

Lorenzenite was named in honor of Johannes Theodor Lorenzen (1855-1884), Danish mineralogist interested in Greenland minerals. Lorenzen died at age 29 while on an expedition to Greenland in 1884. Lorenzen was responsible for the naming of the following minerals: Kaersutite, Kornerupine, Polylithionite, Rinkite and Steenstrupine.

There are several localities for finding Lorenzenite. From Narssârssuk and in the Gardiner complex, beyond the head of Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord, Greenland. Near Mt. Karnasurt, Lovozero massif, in the Khibiny massif, and the Kondor massif, Kola Peninsula; in the Inagli, Konder, and Murun massifs, near Aldan, Yakutia, Russia. At Lågendalen, near Larvik, and on Låven Island, Langesundsfjord, Norway. From Mont Saint-Hilaire and near Saint-Amable, Quebec, Canada. At Point of Rocks, Colfax County, New Mexico, and in the Diamond Jo quarry, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA. On Tenerife, Canary Islands.
 

  
Lorenzenite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Lorenzenite gems. Please check back soon.