Fluocerite-(La)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Fluocerite-(La)
Formula:
LaF3
Hardness:
4 - 5
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
In allusion to its relationship to Fluocerite-(Ce), plus the "-(La)" suffix due to the dominance of lanthanum in the composition.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1568
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1568:0
Similar Names
| Fluocerite | A synonym | |
| Fluocerite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | CeF3 |
| Flusscerit |
IMA Classification of Fluocerite-(La)
Approved
IMA Formula:
La3+F3
Classification of Fluocerite-(La)
3.AC.15
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
C : M:X = 1:3
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
C : M:X = 1:3
9.3.4.2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
3 : AX3
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
3 : AX3
8.7.2
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
7 : Halides of the rare earth metals
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
7 : Halides of the rare earth metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Fcrt-La | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Fluocerite-(La)
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Fluocerite-(La)
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.609 nε = 1.603
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.006
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Fluocerite-(La)
Mindat Formula:
LaF3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Fluocerite-(La)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.1871(4) Å, c = 7.3501(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.023
Unit Cell V:
328.80 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Comment:
For synthetic material.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020644 | Fluocerite-(La) | Zalkin A, Templeton D H (1985) Refinement of the trigonal structure of lanthanum trifluoride with neutron diffraction data Acta Crystallographica B41 91-93 |  | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0009547 | Fluocerite-(La) | Cheetham A K, Fender B E F, Fuess H, Wright A F (1976) A powder neutron diffraction study of lanthanum and cerium trifluorides Acta Crystallographica B32 94-97 | | 1976 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0010627 | Fluocerite-(La) | Mansmann M (1965) Die kristallstruktur von lanthantrifluorid Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 122 375-398 |  | 1965 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0012039 | Fluocerite-(La) | Schlyter K (1952) On the crystal structure of fluorides of the tysonite LaF3 type Arkiv for Kemi 5 73-82 | 1952 | Osterby, parish of Skedevi, Dalecarlia, Sweden | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017899 | Fluocerite-(La) | Oftedal I (1929) Ueber die Kristallstruktur von Tysonit und einigen kuenstlich dargestellten Lanthanidenfluoriden _cod_database_code 1010983 Zeitschrift fur Physikalische Chemie 5 272-292 | 1929 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.60 Ã | (4) |
| 3.19 Ã | (10) |
| 2.07 Ã | (6) |
| 2.01 Ã | (6) |
| 1.796 Ã | (5.5) |
| 1.736 Ã | (4) |
| 1.048 Ã | (7) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Fluocerite-(La)
Synonyms of Fluocerite-(La)
Fluocerite (in part)
Other Language Names for Fluocerite-(La)
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.AC.05 | Zharchikhite | AlF(OH)2 |
| 3.AC.10 | Molysite | FeCl3 |
| 3.AC.15 | Fluocerite-(Ce) | CeF3 |
| 3.AC.20 | Gananite | BiF3 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Fluocerite-(La)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1568.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Fluocerite-(La)
Reference List:
Staritzky, Eugene., Asprey, L B. (1957) Crystallographic Data. 157. Lanthanum Trifluoride, LaF3; 158. Neodymium Trifluoride, NdF3. Analytical Chemistry, 29 (5). 856-857 doi:10.1021/ac60125a610
Mansmann, M. (1964) Zur Kristallstruktur von Lanthantrifluorid. Zeitschrift fÞr anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 331 (1-2). 98-101 doi:10.1002/zaac.19643310115
Mansmann, M. (1965) Die Kristallstruktur von Lanthantrifluorid. Zeitschrift fÞr Kristallographie, 122 (5-6). p.375-398. doi:10.1524/zkri.1965.122.5-6.375
Wesley, R. D., DeKock, C. W. (1971) Geometry and Infrared Spectra of MatrixâIsolated RareâEarth Halides. I. LaF3, CeF3, PrF3, NdF3, SmF3, and EuF3. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 55 (8) 3866-3877 doi:10.1063/1.1676673
Afanasiev, M. L., Habuda, S. P., Lundin, A. G. (1972) The symmetry and basic structures of LaF3, CeF3, PrF3 and NdF3. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 28 (10) 2903-2905 doi:10.1107/s0567740872007198
Cheetham, A. K., Fender, B. E. F., Fuess, H., Wright, A. F. (1976) A powder neutron diffraction study of lanthanum and cerium trifluorides. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 32 (1) 94-97 doi:10.1107/s0567740876002380
Laiho, R., Lakkisto, M. (1983) Investigation of the refractive indices of LaF3, CeF3, PrF3 and NdF3. Philosophical Magazine B, 48 (2). 203-207 doi:10.1080/13642818308226470
Zalkin, A., Templeton, D. H. (1985) Refinement of the trigonal crystal structure of lanthanum trifluoride with neutron diffraction data. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 41 (2) 91-93 doi:10.1107/s0108768185001689
Maximov, B., Schulz, H. (1985) Space group, crystal structure and twinning of lanthanum trifluoride. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 41 (2) 88-91 doi:10.1107/s0108768185001677
Nickel, Ernest H., Mandarino, Joseph A. (1987) Procedures involving the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names and guidelines on mineral nomenclature. American Mineralogist, 72 (9-10) 1031-1042 (Appendix 2)
Localities for Fluocerite-(La)
Showing 7 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Qu et al. (2019) |
Germany | |
| In several collections +1 other reference |
Kazakhstan | |
| ÐĄÐÐÐĒÐÐÐÐ Ð. ÐÐÐÐÐĻÐÐÐ (2021) |
| - (1984) +1 other reference | |
Russia | |
| Kovalev et al. (2023) |
Sweden | |
| Ãhman et al. (2005) |
| Andersson et al. (2024) |
Quick NavTopAbout Fluocerite-(La)Unique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Zhanuzak, Kent Massif, Karkaraly, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan