Zabuyelite is the natural mineral form of lithium carbonate, with a formula Li2CO3. It was discovered in 1987 at Lake Zabuye, Tibet, after which it is named. It forms colorless vitreous monoclinic crystals.
| Zabuyelite | |
|---|---|
 Zabuyelite crystals found in spodumene | |
| General | |
| Category | Carbonate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Li2CO3 |
| IMA symbol | Zab[1] |
| Strunz classification | 5.AA.05 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | C2/c |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 73.89 g/mol |
| Color | Colorless |
| Cleavage | {100} perfect; {011} good |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3 |
| Streak | White |
| Specific gravity | 2.09 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (–) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.4285, nβ = 1.5672, nγ = 1.5743 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.1458 |
| Pleochroism | none |
| 2V angle | 25° |
| References | [2][3][4] |
It occurs as inclusions within halite in lithium rich evaporites and as solid phase in fluid inclusions in the mineral spodumene. Associated minerals include halite, gaylussite and northupite in the Tibet locality.[4]
In addition to the Tibetan salt lake it has been reported from Bikita and Kamativi in Zimbabwe, from Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, US and the Tanco pegmatite, Bernic Lake, Manitoba, Canada.[4]
References
edit- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Zabuyelite at Webmineral
- ^ Zabuyelite at Mindat
- ^ a b c Zabuyelite at Handbook of Mineralogy