Boleit is a halide- class mineral discovered in 1891 at the Amelia Mine ( Boleo , Bahia , Baja California , Mexico ). It is soluble in nitric acid .
| Is sick | |
|---|---|
 Boleitis in association with paratacamite and anglesitis | |
| Formula | KAg 9 Pb 26 Cu 24 Cl 62 (OH) 48 |
| Physical properties | |
| Color | Deep blue, the color of Prussian blue, indigo |
| Trait color | Bluish green |
| Shine | Glass, mother of pearl |
| Transparency | Translucent |
| Hardness | 3 - 3,5 |
| Cleavage | Perfect |
| Kink | Uneven |
| Density | 5,054 g / cm³ |
| Syngonia | Cubic |
| Refractive index | n = 2.05 |
Content
- 1 Crystallography
- 2 Optical properties
- 3 Forms of selection
- 4 In association with other minerals
- 5 Chemical composition
- 6 Like a gem
- 7 Deposits
- 8 Literature
- 9 References
Crystallography
| Point group | m3m (4 / m 3 2 / m) - Hexaoctahedral |
|---|---|
| Space group | Pm3m (P4 / m 3 2 / m) |
| Syngonia | Cubic |
| Cell options | a = 15.29Å |
| Number of formula units (Z) | one |
| Unit cell volume | V 3,574.56 ų (calculated according to the unit cell parameters) |
Optical Properties
| Type of | Isotropic |
|---|---|
| Refractive indices | n = 2.05 |
| Maximum birefringence | δ = 0.000 - isotropic, does not have birefringence |
| Optical relief | Very tall |
| Pleochroism | Absent |
| Luminescence | Absent |
Selection Forms
Boleitis is allocated in the form of cubic crystals with a face length of not more than 15 millimeters, growing on clay rock . The mineral can form twins of germination, where in individual samples the faces of the cube and octahedron are visible.
In association with other minerals
Boleitis is associated with other halides , including pseudoboleitis (Pb 31 Cu 24 Cl 62 (OH) 48 ), kumengit (Pb 21 Cu 20 Cl 42 (OH) 40 • 6H 2 O) and brospantite (Cu 4 SO 4 (OH ) 6 ).
Chemical Composition
| Chemical element | % | % oxide |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium | 0.36 | 0.43 |
| Copper | 13.94 | 15.70 (CuO) |
| Silver | 8.88 | 9.54 |
| Hydrogen | 0.44 | 3.95 |
| Lead | 49.26 | 53.06 |
| Chlorine | 20.10 | |
| Oxygen | 7.02 | - |
Like a gem
Some of the most advanced crystals of boleitis have been faceted. However, the hardness of the mineral does not exceed 3.5 according to the Mohs school , which is why burned surfaces quickly lose their luster when in contact with other objects.
Deposits
The most significant deposits of boleitis are located in Baja California ( Mexico ), New South Wales ( Australia ), Great Britain and Arizona ( USA ).
Literature
- Rouse, RC (1973): The crystal structure of boleite - a mineral containing silver atom clusters. Journal of Solid State Chemistry 6, 86-92.
- Winchell, RE and Rouse, RC (1974): The mineralogy of the boleite group. Mineralogical Record 5, 280-287.
- Cooper, MA and Hawthorne, FC (2000): Boleite: revision of the formula, KPb26Ag9Cu24Cl62 (OH) 48. Canadian Mineralogist 38, 801-808.