LIOTTITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Tectosilicates
    Crystal system : Hexagonal
    Chemistry : (Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4
    Rarity : Very rare

Liottite is an extremely rare silicate from the cancrinite group which is only known in the cavities of metasomatized limestone blocks in Italian trachytic pumice deposits. It was named in honor of Italian mineral collector Luciano Liotti who discovered the mineral. Liottite forms colorless, flattened hexagonal crystals measuring up to 1 cm in diameter.

Main photo : Liottite from Mt Saliette, Valentano, Viterbo Province, Lazio, Italy © Gianfranco Ciccolini

Liottite from Bassano Romano, Viterbo Province, Lazio, Italy © Gianfranco Ciccolini
Liottite from Case Collina, Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy © Gianfranco Ciccolini
Liottite from Montenero Quarry, Onano, Viterbo Province, Lazio, Italy © Stephan Wolfsried
Liottite from Montenero Quarry, Onano, Viterbo Province, Lazio, Italy © Enrico Bonacina

Liottite in the World

Liottite is only known in a few localities in Italy such as Pitigliano (Tuscany), the Montenero quarry, the Biachella valley and Mount Saliette (Lazio), etc...

Liottite in France

Liottite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 5
Density : 2.56
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.528 to 1.530
Birefringence : 0.002
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None