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Lautenthalite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About LautenthaliteHide

Formula:
PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Colour:
Green, bright blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
Specific Gravity:
3.84 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by O. Medenbach and W. Gebert in 1993 for the type occurrence at Lautenthal, Germany, site of an ancient smelter.
Devilline Group.

The lead analogue of devilline and campigliaite.
Difficult to distinguish from both without analytical methods.

Found at several slag localities, and in mine waste dumps


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2347
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2347:0

IMA Classification of LautenthaliteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Cu2+4(S6+O4)2(OH)6·3H2O
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1993

Classification of LautenthaliteHide

7.DF.70

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
31.6.1.2

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
LthIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of LautenthaliteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Green, bright blue
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Good on {001} and {010}
Density:
3.84 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of LautenthaliteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.659(2) nβ = 1.703(2) nγ = 1.732(2)
2V:
Measured: 78° to 79°, Calculated: 78°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.073
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.

Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
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.
Dispersion:
r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
Z = b; Y ∧ c = 4(1)°.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = pale blue; Y = Z = blue.

Chemistry of LautenthaliteHide

Mindat Formula:
PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O33.596 %
Cu31.396 %
Pb25.593 %
S7.921 %
H1.494 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Cu
Pb
S
H

Crystallography of LautenthaliteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 21.642(8) Å, b = 6.040(2) Å, c = 22.544(8) Å
β = 108.2(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.583 : 1 : 3.732
Unit Cell V:
2,799.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Tabular crystals, sheaflike or irregular aggregates.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic on {100}.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
5.14 Å(100)
4.53 Å(60)
3.40 Å(80)
2.821 Å(30)
2.631 Å(50)
2.531 Å(40)
2.421 Å(30)
Comments:
Lautenthal, Germany. The data are from the type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Geological Setting:
Oxidation zone of Pb-Cu deposits.

Type Occurrence of LautenthaliteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Bright blue crystals up to 0.5 x 0.3 x 0.03 mm, and as sheaflike aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institut fur Mineralogie, Ruhr-Universitat, Bochum, Germany.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Smelter slag.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of LautenthaliteHide

Other Language Names for LautenthaliteHide

Relationship of Lautenthalite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Devilline Group:
Aldridgeite(Cd2+,Ca)(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
CampigliaiteMn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OMon. 2 : B2
DevillineCaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
KobyasheviteCu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
OrthoserpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OOrth. mm2 : Pca21
SerpieriteCa(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
'Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline)'CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
29 photos of Lautenthalite associated with LangiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O
27 photos of Lautenthalite associated with AnglesitePbSO4
14 photos of Lautenthalite associated with LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
14 photos of Lautenthalite associated with WroewolfeiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O
12 photos of Lautenthalite associated with CerussitePbCO3
11 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Ramsbeckite(Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O
11 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Schulenbergite(Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O
7 photos of Lautenthalite associated with SphaleriteZnS
6 photos of Lautenthalite associated with SusannitePb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
5 photos of Lautenthalite associated with GoethiteFe3+O(OH)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.DF.Siligiite [Pb(H2O)5(SO4)][Zn9(OH)18]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.AlcaparrosaiteK3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.FlaggitePb4Cu2+4Te6+2(SO4)2O11(OH)2(H2O)Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.BairditePb2Cu2+4Te6+2O10(OH)2(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.TzeferisiteCaZn8(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2(H2O)9Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
7.DF.Cherokeeite[Pb2Zn(OH)4](SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.Ammoniomathesiusite(NH4)5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2OTet. 4/m : P4/n
7.DF.Sigogglinite[Pb6Zn(OH)8]2(SO4)6 · (H2O)8-xMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.DF.XBlueridgeite[Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)2(S2O3)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.ErssoniteMg7Fe3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 12H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
7.DF.PoellmanniteCa6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.Carlsonite(NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.DF.Cuprocherokeeite[Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.Haywoodite[Pb(H2O)10][Zn12(OH)20(H2O)(SO4)3]Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.ChromschieffelinitePb10Te6+6O20(OH)14(CrO4)(H2O)5Orth. 222 : C2221
7.DF.05UklonskoviteNaMg(SO4)F · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.DF.10KainiteKMg(SO4)Cl · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.10KaliochalciteKCu2(SO4)2[(OH)(H2O)]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.15NatrochalciteNaCu2(SO4)2(OH) · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.17GenplesiteCa3Sn(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DF.17'Unnamed (Ba-Sb Silicate-Sulphate-Hydroxide-Hydrate)'Ba3Sb5+[(Si,S)O3(OH)]2(OH,O)6 · 3H2O Trig. 3 : P3
7.DF.20SideronatriteNa2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.DF.20MetasideronatriteNa2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
7.DF.25FleischeritePb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DF.25MallestigitePb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DF.25SchaurteiteCa3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DF.25DespujolsiteCa3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
7.DF.30Slavíkite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.35MetavoltineK2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2OTrig.
7.DF.40LannoniteMg2Ca4Al4(SO4)8F8 · 24H2OTet. 4/m : I4/m
7.DF.40VlodavetsiteAlCa2(SO4)2F2Cl · 4H2OTet. 4/m : I4/m
7.DF.45PeretaiteCa(SbO)4(SO4)2(OH)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.50GordaiteNaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DF.50CalamaiteNa2TiO(SO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ibam
7.DF.52Huizingite-(Al)[(NH4)9(SO4)2][(Al,Fe3+)3(OH)2(H2O)4(SO4)6]Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.52ScordariiteK8(Fe3+0.670.33)[Fe3+3O(SO4)6]2 · 14H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.55Clairite(NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 · 3H2OTric.
7.DF.55GiacovazzoiteK5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 10H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.57MagnanelliiteK3Fe3+2(SO4)4(OH)(H2O)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.60ArzruniteCu4Pb2(SO4)(OH)4Cl6 · 2H2O (?)Orth.
7.DF.60EvdokimoviteTl4(VO)3(SO4)5(H2O)5Mon. 2/m
7.DF.62Bridgesite-(Ce)CaCe2Cu6(SO4)4(OH)12 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.65ElyitePb4Cu(SO4)O2(OH)4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.70YecoraiteFe3+3Bi5(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)O9 · 9H2O
7.DF.75RiomarinaiteBi(SO4)(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.80DukeiteBi3+24Cr6+8O57(OH)6 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c

Fluorescence of LautenthaliteHide

Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Reacts readily with HCl to form a residue of PbS04.
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 LautenthaliteHide

References for LautenthaliteHide

Localities for LautenthaliteHide

Showing 21 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria
 
  • Styria
    • Liezen District
      • Öblarn
        • Walchen
50. +1 other reference
France
 
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
    • Puy-de-Dôme
      • Riom
        • Vitrac
Y. Vessely collection
  • Occitanie
    • Lozère
      • Florac
        • Vialas
Lheur et al. (1998) +1 other reference
      • Mende
        • Saint-Léger-de-Peyre
Patrice Queneau Collection visual identification. Confirmed. Analyzed by Nicolas Meisser (Naturéum)
Germany
 
  • Lower Saxony
    • Goslar District
      • Langelsheim
        • Grane Reservoir
Confirmed by mr. Steve Rust.
        • Lautenthal
Medenbach et al. (1993)
Greece
 
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
        • Lophos
          • Agrileza mines
        • Plaka
          • Plaka Mines
Italy
 
  • Tuscany
    • Livorno Province
      • Castagneto Carducci
Jansen et al. (1998)
Japan
 
  • Akita Prefecture
    • Daisen City
Yamada et al. (2000) +1 other reference
UK
 
  • England
    • Cumbria
      • Allerdale
        • Above Derwent
          • Coledale
Jarvis +2 other references
  • Scotland
    • Dumfries and Galloway
      • Wanlockhead
American Mineralogist +3 other references
  • Wales
    • Ceredigion
      • Ceulanymaesmawr
        • Tal-y-bont
Rust et al. (1988)
      • Cwmrheidol
        • Ystumtuen
Mason et al. (1995)
      • Llangynfelyn
        • Tre-Taliesin
Ex-S Rust collection
      • Trefeirig
        • Pen-bont Rhydybeddau
Ex-S Rust collection
      • Upper Llanfihangell-y-Creuddyn
        • Pontrhydygroes
Green et al. (1996) +1 other reference
      • Ysbyty Ystwyth
Day (1999)
    • Powys
      • Machynlleth
        • Dylife
USA
 
  • North Carolina
    • Haywood County
      • Waterville Lake
A. Kampf or C. Emproto PXRD and/EDS ...
 
and/or  
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