Database of luminescent Minerals

LIEBIGITE

Chemical Formula: Ca₂(UO₂)(CO₃)₃ 11H₂O

Familly: Carbonates

Status: IMA-GP

Crystal System: Orthorhombic

Mineral for Display: No

Luminescence:

Daylight Picture

LIEBIGITE ,
Schwartzwalder Mine, Jefferson Co., Colorado USA
Photo and Copyright: Christopher J. Stefano, Michigan, USA
Used with permission of the author

Long Waves Picture (365nm)

LIEBIGITE UVLW,
Schwartzwalder Mine, Jefferson Co., Colorado USA
Photo and Copyright: Christopher J. Stefano, Michigan, USA
Used with permission of the author

Phosphorescence (in the common meaning of the term) seen by naked eye:

Comments:

It was first described in 1848 for an occurrence in Adrianople, Edirne Province, Marmara Region, Turkey. It was named for German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803–1873)

Main Activator(s) and spectrum:

Most Common Activator: (UO₂)²⁺ (Uranyl ion) intrinsic

Peaks in the spectrum (nm):

(UO₂)²⁺ : 464.3 (SW only), 469.3 (LW only), 482.8, 503.3, 524.8, 548.5, 574.8, 604.6, 638.5

  To the spectrum gallery (2 spectra in the gallery)

Comments on activators and spectra:

Peak at 464.3 is SW only;

In shortwave, peaks at 482.8 and 503.3 have approximately the same height giving a bluer apparence to the fluorescence color (estimated RGB color: 65, 255, 132).

In Longwave, the peak at 503.3 dominates all other peaks giving a green fluorescence color (estimated RGB color: 65, 255, 100).

Best Locality for luminescence(*):

• Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic;
• Schwartzwalder Mine, Ralston Buttes District, Jefferson Co., Colorado, USA;
• Pitch Mine, Marshall Pass District, Saguache Co., Colorado, USA;
• Les Mares III, Saint-Martin-du-Bosc, Le Bosc, Lodève, Hérault, Occitanie, France;

(*)Data are not exhaustive and are limited to the most important localities for fluorescence

Bibliographical Reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
• Uranium minerals Website: http://www.uraniumminerals.com ,
• Introduction to radioactive minerals, Robert Lauf, Schiffer Publishing, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7643-2912-8 ,

Luminescence Reference on internet:

• Smith, J.L. (1848) Two new minerals, - medjidite (sulphate of uranium and lime) - liebigite (carbonate of uranium and lime). American Journal of Science and Arts: 5: 336-338.
• Vochten R, Van Haverbeke L, Van Springel K (1993) Synthesis of liebigite and andersonite, and study of their thermal behavior and luminescence, The Canadian Mineralogist 31, 167-171 (http://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/CM31_167.pdf)
• Systematic Mineralogy of Uranium and Thorium, Clifford Frondel, p110
 
Images:
 
• Pitch Mine, Colorado, USA: http://www.mindat.org/photo-279481.html

Mineralogical Reference on internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Liebigite

  http://webmineral.com/data/Liebigite.shtml

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