Lulzacite Explained

Lulzacite
Category:	Phosphate minerals
Formula:	Sr2Fe^2+(Fe^2+,Mg)2Al4(PO4)4(OH)10
Imasymbol:	Lul^[1]
Strunz:	8.BK.25
System:	Triclinic
Class:	Pinacoidal (same H-M symbol)
Symmetry:	P
Color:	Grayish-green to yellowish-green
Habit:	Anhedral aggregates; rarely small euhedral crystals
Cleavage:	None
Mohs:	5.5–6
Luster:	Vitreous
Refractive:	nα = 1.654 nβ = 1.674 nγ = 1.684
Opticalprop:	Biaxial (-)
Birefringence:	δ = 0.030
Gravity:	3.55
Diaphaneity:	Transparent–translucent

Lulzacite is a strontium-containing phosphate mineral with the chemical formula Sr₂Fe²⁺(Fe²⁺,Mg)₂Al₄(PO₄)₄(OH)₁₀.^{[2] [3]}

The mineral was first described in 2000 from quartzite deposits (47.7139°N -1.4889°W) at Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux, Loire-Atlantique, France, and is named after Y. Lulzac, a French geologist who discovered the mineral. In this deposit, lulzacite occurs within quartz and siderite veinlets at quartzite–limestone contacts. Other minerals found in the veinlets include apatite, goyazite, and pyrite.^[4]

Lulzacite crystallizes in the triclinic system with P space group. It is isostructural with jamesite (Pb₂Zn(Fe²⁺,Zn)₂Fe³⁺₄(AsO₄)₄(OH)₁₀).^{[4] [5]}

Notes and References

1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
2. Web site: Lulzacite Mineral Data. webmineral.com. David Barthelmy. September 4, 2010.
3. Web site: Lulzacite. mindat.org. Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau. September 4, 2010.
4. Lulzacite, Sr₂Fe²⁺(Fe²⁺,Mg)₂Al₄(PO₄)₄(OH)₁₀, a new strontium phosphate (Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux, Loire-Atlantique, France). . Yves . Moëlo . Yves Moëlo . Bernard Lasnier . Pierre Palvadeau . Philippe Léone . François Fontan . Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série IIA . 15 March 2000. 330. 5 . 317 - 324. 10.1016/S1251-8050(00)00152-X. 2000CRASE.330..317M .
5. Web site: Jamesite. mindat.org. Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau. September 4, 2010.