Loop branched 14er single chain of Liebauite Data from: M. H. Zö11er, E. Tillmanns, G. Hentschel (1992): Liebauite, Ca3Cu5Si9O26: A new silicate mineral with 14er single chain, Zeitschrift für Kristallographie Vol. 200, pp. 115 -126 http://rruff.info/doclib/zk/vol200/ZK200_115.pdf Calculation of image data: Larry W. Finger, Martin Kroeker, and Brian H. Toby, DRAWxtl, an open-source computer program to produce crystal-structure drawings, J. Applied Crystallography V40, pp. 188-192, 2007 http://www.lwfinger.net/drawxtl/ Rendering: POVRAY — Photo: Bubenik · CC BY-SA 3.0
Liebauite
Liebauite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Ca₃Cu₅Si₉O₂₆.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/c).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–6; specific gravity 3.62; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Lie, IMA status: approved, named in 1990.
Found in cavities in argillaceous sedimentary xenoliths subjected to very high-grade thermal metamorphism.
It is found associated with Cuprorivaite, tenorite, volborthite, calciovolborthite.
The name refers to Dr. Friedrich Liebau, Kiel, Germany, prominent worker on silicate minerals.