Boleite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boleite
Boleite-rom51c.jpg
General
CategoryHalide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62
Strunz classification3.DB.15
Crystal systemIsometric
Crystal classHexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space groupPm3m
Unit cella = 15.29 Å; Z = 1
Identification
ColorDeep Prussian blue to indigo
Crystal habitCubic crystals
Cleavage[001] perfect
FractureUneven
Mohs scale hardness3.0 – 3.5
LusterVitreous to pearly
StreakGreenish blue
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity5.054
Optical propertiesIsotropic
Refractive indexn = 2.05
Other characteristicsRadioactive.svg Radioactive 0.36% (K)
References[1][2][3]

Boleite is a complex halide mineral with formula: KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62.[2] It was first described in 1891 as an oxychloride mineral. It is an isometric mineral which forms in deep-blue cubes. There are numerous minerals related to boleite, such as , , and diaboleite, and these all have the same complex crystal structure.[4] They all contain bright-blue cubic forms and are formed in altered zones of lead and copper deposits, produced during the reaction of chloride bearing solutions with primary sulfide minerals.[5]

Physical properties[]

The external property of a boleite crystal structure indicates its cubic structure. It is classified under the isometric crystal class. Boleite has a perfect cleavage in the [001] direction, and has a very dark glossy blue color with a light greenish-blue color streak. Twinning is best shown in this mineral by notches along the interpenetrated angles, which results in a crystal habit of pseudocubic penetration twinning along three different angles perpendicular to one another. Boleite has cubes over half an inch on each side, which consist of pseudo-octahedral tetragonal dipyramids.[6]

Geologic occurrence[]

Boleite and atacamite from the Santa Rosa Mine, Noche Buena, Mazapil Municipality, Zacatecas, Mexico

Boleite was first collected as a very minor ore of silver, copper and lead at Boleo, Mexico.[5] Boleite was named after its place of discovery, El Boleo mine, on the Baja Peninsula, near Santa Rosalia, Mexico.[2]

Minerals associated with boleite include , cumengeite, atacamite, anglesite, cerussite, phosgenite and gypsum at the type locality in Boleo, Mexico. In the Mammoth-St. Anthony mine of Arizona associated minerals include pseudoboleite, anglesite, cerussite, atacamite, paratacamite, leadhillite, paralaurionite, caledonite, phosgenite, matlockite and .[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. ^ a b c Mindat.org
  3. ^ Webmineral data
  4. ^ Martens, W., Williams, P.A., Frost, R.L. (2003) “Raman spectroscopy of the minerals boleite, cumengite, diaboleite and phosgenite – implications for the analysis of cosmetics of a antiquity”. Mineralogical Magazine. V.67: 103-111 1[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b Rouse, Roland C. (1973/01). “The Crystal Structure of boleite – A Mineral Containing Silver Atom Clusters”. Journal of Solid State Chemistry 6(1): 86-92 2
  6. ^ Weber, Julius (1974). The Formation of Minerals. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York, London. pp. 78-80

External links[]

  • Gossner, Bernard (December 1928). "The Crystal form of Boleite" (PDF). The American Mineralogist. 13: 580–582.
  • Cooper, Mark A.; Hawthorne, Frank C. (August 2000). "Boleite: Resolution of the Formula, KPb26Ag9Cu24Cl62(OH)48". The Canadian Mineralogist. 38 (4): 801–808. doi:10.2113/gscanmin.38.4.801.
  • Parker, Robert L. (1981). Rocks and Mineral Deposits. W.H. Freeman and Company. San Francisco. 343-422.
  • Pirsson, Louis V. (1964). Rocks and Rock Minerals. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, London. 34-56
  • Williams, Peter A., Thomas, John H., Humphries, Alun, Samad, Abdul F. (1981). “Chemical Studies on the Stabilities of Boleite and Pseudoboleite”. Mineralogical Magazine v.44: 101-104 3[permanent dead link]
  • link to cryptohalite
Retrieved from ""