Cotunnite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Cotunnite
Domenico Cotugno
Formula:
PbCl2
Colour:
Colourless, white, light yellow, light green
Lustre:
Adamantine, Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
5.8
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Domenico Cotugno (29 January 1736, Ruvo di Puglia, Italy - 6 October 1822, Naples, Italy), Professor of Anatomy, University of Naples.
In the experimental volcanic gas condensation by Africano et al. (2002) it deposits below 325°C.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1141
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1141:5
Similar Names
| Coutinite | A synonym of Lanthanite-(Nd) |
IMA Classification of Cotunnite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Cl2
First published:
1825
Classification of Cotunnite
3.AB.85
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
9.2.7.1
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
8.8.4
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cot | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Cotunnite
Adamantine, Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, light yellow, light green
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}.
On {010}.
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
5.8 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.81 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cotunnite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.199 nβ = 2.217 nγ = 2.26
2V:
Measured: 67° , Calculated: 68°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.061
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Cotunnite
Mindat Formula:
PbCl2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cotunnite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.6222(5) Å, b = 9.0448(7) Å, c = 4.5348(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.843 : 1 : 0.501
Unit Cell V:
312.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Usually flattened {010} and elongated [001]. Doubly terminated with equivalent faces unequally developed. Reentrant angles may be present in the prism zone due to oscillatory combination of {210} and {110}. Massive, granular.
Twinning:
On {120} (artificial crystals).
Comment:
Space group Pnam (non-standard setting)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011874 | Cotunnite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 298-306 | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Cotunnite
Epitaxial Minerals:
| 'Galena' | PbS |
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.057 Å | (35) |
| 3.890 Å | (75) |
| 3.810 Å | (40) |
| 3.579 Å | (100) |
| 2.776 Å | (55) |
| 2.510 Å | (45) |
| 2.096 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) | |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) | |
| 57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Geological Setting:
Alteration product of galena under arid, saline conditions.
Type Occurrence of Cotunnite
Synonyms of Cotunnite
Other Language Names for Cotunnite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Cotunnite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 8 photos of Cotunnite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Cotunnite associated with Challacolloite | KPb2Cl5 |
| 5 photos of Cotunnite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 5 photos of Cotunnite associated with Phosgenite | Pb2CO3Cl2 |
| 4 photos of Cotunnite associated with Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
| 2 photos of Cotunnite associated with Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
| 2 photos of Cotunnite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 2 photos of Cotunnite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 2 photos of Cotunnite associated with Boleite | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.AB. | Manuelarossiite | PbCaAlF7 |
| 3.AB. | Fluorocronite | PbF2 |
| 3.AB.05 | Tolbachite | CuCl2 |
| 3.AB.10 | Coccinite | HgI2 |
| 3.AB.15 | Sellaite | MgF2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Lawrencite | (Fe2+,Ni)Cl2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Scacchite | MnCl2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Chloromagnesite | MgCl2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Frankdicksonite | BaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Strontiofluorite | SrF2 |
| 3.AB.30 | Tveitite-(Y) | (Y, Na)6Ca6Ca6(Ca,Na)F42 |
| 3.AB.35 | Gagarinite-(Y) | NaCaYF6 |
| 3.AB.35 | Polezhaevaite-(Ce) | NaSrCeF6 |
| 3.AB.35 | Gagarinite-(Ce) | Na(REExCa1-x)(REEyCa1-y)F6 |
| 3.AB.37 | Calcioaravaipaite | PbCa2AlF9 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Cotunnite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1141.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Cotunnite
Reference List:
Von Kobell, F. (1830) Charakteristik der Mineralien. Part 1 (1830); part 2 (1831), Nürnberg: 2: 179.
Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et de ses colonies Vol. 4. Library Polytechnique, Paris. p.890
Localities for Cotunnite
Showing 106 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| MacLeod (1991) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2013) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
Brazil | |
| Kaminsky et al. (2015) |
Canada | |
| Kodera et al. (2025) |
| Vale SA |
| Dare et al. (2014) | |
| Liferovich & Mitchell pers. comm. L. ... |
| EcoMetrix Reort for Stillwater Canada Inc (2012) |
Chile | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter | |
| Demetrius Pohl identified AMNH 1985 +2 other references | |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference | |
France | |
| Bari (1982) |
| Wittern et al. (1997) |
| Gol (2009) |
| Jean-Luc Portes Collection |
| Favreau et al. (2024) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... +1 other reference | |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2010) |
| Habel (2009) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| XRD analysis (T. Witzke) |
Greece | |
| |
| Fritz Schreiber collection (SXRD-analysed by Uwe Kolitsch) +1 other reference |
| Rieck (n.d.) |
| |
| Schnorrer-Köhler et al. (1981) +1 other reference | |
| Papavasiliou et al. (2017) |
India | |
| Genkin et al. (1985) |
Indonesia | |
| MacLeod et al. (2001) |
| Knuever et al. (2023) | |
Iran | |
| Bariand |
Israel | |
| Itamer (1993) |
Italy | |
| Parascandola (1959) +1 other reference |
| [Lapis 1994:5 p.13-23 +5 other references |
| - (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
| Parascandola (1959) +3 other references |
| Parascandola (1959) +2 other references | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2023) |
| Pelloux (1927) +7 other references | |
| Pellino et al. (2025) | |
| Gentile et al. (2023) |
| Mavris et al. (2020) |
| Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) |
| Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) | |
| Campostrini et al. (2010) |
| Lattanzi P. Tanelli G. (Toscana) +1 other reference |
| www.comune.pisa.it (2000) |
| Franzini et al. (1992) +2 other references |
Japan | |
| Africano et al. (2002) |
Namibia | |
| Raman and EDS confirmed by Joy Desor. |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) |
Norway | |
| W. L. Griffin et al. (1977) |
| Husdal (2021) |
Peru | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Poland | |
| Kucha (2021) |
| Kucha (2021) |
| Kruszewski (2012) |
Romania | |
| www.minerals-of-the-carpathians |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Ayupova et al. (2022) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| |
| Pekov et al. (2015) | |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Zelenski et al. (2020) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data 2019 |
| Perevoznikova et al. (2009) |
| Shevko et al. (2018) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2023) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... | |
| Navarro et al. (2008) |
| Navarro et al. (2008) | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2020) |
| García Guirado (2016) |
| CARMONA RUIZ et al. (2025) |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2018) |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Dill et al. (2023) | |
| Dill et al. (2023) | |
| Joan Abella i Creus (Joanabellacreus@gmail.com) |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
Switzerland | |
| Raber et al. (2023) |
Tunisia | |
| Kutzke et al. (1997) |
UK | |
| BMS Newsletter 79 (http://britishmicromountsociety.homestead.com/Gannell-Smelter.html) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Tarmac |
| |
| Turner (2006) +2 other references |
| |
| Hubbard et al. (2005) |
USA | |
| Hill (1914b) +2 other references |
| Collected by Bob Housley. SEM EDS ... |
| Shepard (1866) |
| McSwiggen (1999) |
| Robert E Walstrom (2015) |
| Walstrom (n.d.) | |
| Alminas +2 other references |
| Bullock (1981) |
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Cerro Challacollo, Pozo Almonte, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá, Chile