Leiteite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Leiteite
Luis Antonio Bravo Teixeira-Leite
Formula:
Zn(As2O4)
Colour:
Colorless to brown
Lustre:
Pearly
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
4.3
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named for Luis Antonio Bravo Teixeira-Leite (1942–1999), Portuguese-South African amateur mineralogist of Pretoria, South Africa, who noted the first specimen. Pronounced 'lāˈ-tīt'. Look for more details here: http://www.mindat.org/article.php/1606/Homage+to+a+friend
This page provides mineralogical data about Leiteite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2370
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2370:8
Similar Names
| Latite | A rock classification type | |
| Lautite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | CuAsS |
| Leyteite | A variety of 'Bitumen' ['Petroleum'] | |
| Liottite | A valid IMA mineral species | (Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4 |
| Lutite | A synonym of 'Mudstone' |
IMA Classification of Leiteite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Zn2+As3+2O4
Approval year:
1976
First published:
1977
Classification of Leiteite
4.JA.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
A : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites; without additional anions, without H2O
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
A : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites; without additional anions, without H2O
45.1.7.1
45 : ACID AND NORMAL ANTIMONITES AND ARSENITES
1 : Miscellaneous
45 : ACID AND NORMAL ANTIMONITES AND ARSENITES
1 : Miscellaneous
23.3
23 : Arsenites
23 : Arsenites
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lt | 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 Leiteite
Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless to brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100}
{100}
Comment:
Flexible and inelastic, somewhat sectile
Density:
4.3(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 4.61 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured value low due to air trapped between cleavage surfaces.
Optical Data of Leiteite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.87 nβ = 1.88 nγ = 1.98
2V:
Measured: 26° , Calculated: 38°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.110
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
Comments:
X ∧ a = +11°; Z ∧ c = +10°; Y = b.
Chemistry of Leiteite
Mindat Formula:
Zn(As2O4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Leiteite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P121/c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.542(1) Å, b = 5.022(1) Å, c = 17.597(5) Å
β = 90.81(3)°
β = 90.81(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.904 : 1 : 3.504
Unit Cell V:
401.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
No crystal forms
Crystal Structure
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001093 | Leiteite | Ghose S, Sen Gupta P K, Schlemper E O (1987) Leiteite, ZnAs2O4: A novel type of tetrahedral layer structure with arsenite chains American Mineralogist 72 629-632 |  | 1987 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.133 Å | (100) |
| 3.163 Å | (76) |
| 1.685 Å | (49) |
| 3.320 Å | (39) |
| 3.302 Å | (32) |
| 4.833 Å | (31) |
Comments:
From type description. Strong preferred orientation can affect the data.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Leiteite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Cleavable masses to 7 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 1976,432.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA, number 137105.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, number M34727.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA, number 137105.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, number M34727.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Leiteite
Other Language Names for Leiteite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 52 photos of Leiteite associated with Ludlockite | PbFe3+4As3+10O22 |
| 10 photos of Leiteite associated with Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
| 7 photos of Leiteite associated with Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] |
| 6 photos of Leiteite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 5 photos of Leiteite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| 5 photos of Leiteite associated with Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| 5 photos of Leiteite associated with Tennantite-(Fe) | Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12S |
| 4 photos of Leiteite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Leiteite associated with Stranskiite | Zn2Cu(AsO4)2 |
| 3 photos of Leiteite associated with 'Unnamed Mineral (Tsumeb GS4)' |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.JA.10 | Reinerite | Zn3(AsO3)2 |
| 4.JA.15 | Karibibite | Fe3+3(As3+O2)4(As3+2O5)(OH) |
| 4.JA.20 | Manganoschafarzikite | MnSb2O4 |
| 4.JA.20 | Trippkeite | Cu2+As3+2O4 |
| 4.JA.20 | Schafarzikite | Fe2+Sb3+2O4 |
| 4.JA.20 | Kusachiite | CuBi2O4 |
| 4.JA.20 | Igelströmite | Fe3+(Sb3+Pb2+)O4 |
| 4.JA.25 | Apuanite | Fe2+Fe3+4Sb3+4O12S |
| 4.JA.30 | Versiliaite | Fe2Fe4Sb6O16S |
| 4.JA.35 | Schneiderhöhnite | Fe2+Fe3+3As3+5O13 |
| 4.JA.40 | Zimbabweite | (Na,K)2PbAs4(Ta,Nb,Ti)4O18 |
| 4.JA.45 | Ludlockite | PbFe3+4As3+10O22 |
| 4.JA.50 | Paulmooreite | Pb2[As2O5] |
| 4.JA.55 | Stibivanite | Sb2VO5 |
| 4.JA.60 | Chadwickite | (UO2)[HAsO3] |
Fluorescence of Leiteite
Not fluorescent
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 Leiteite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2370.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Leiteite
Reference List:
Avery, S. (1906) The constitution of Paris green and its homologues. Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 28 (9). 1155-1164 doi:10.1021/ja01975a005(synthetic)
Erd, Richard C., Cesbron, Fabien P., Vachey, Helene, Czamanske, Gerald K. (1977) Leiteite: a New Mineral from Tsumeb. The Mineralogical Record, 8 (3) 95-97
Fleischer, Michael, Cabri, Louis J., Pabst, and Adolf (1977) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1259-1262 pp.1259-1260
Erd, Richard C., Cesbron, Fabien P., Vachey, Helene, Czamanske, Gerald K. (1977) Leiteite: a New Mineral from Tsumeb. The Mineralogical Record, 8 (3) 95-97
Ghose, Subrata, Gupta, P. K Sen, Schlemper, E. O. (1987) Leiteite, ZnAs2O4: A novel type of tetrahedral layer structure with arsenite chains. American Mineralogist, 72 (5-6) 629-632
Localities for Leiteite
Showing 5 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.
Austria | |
| Schebesta (1992) +1 other reference |
France | |
| Lheur et al. (1998) |
Germany | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1988) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1989) +1 other reference |
Namibia (TL) | |
| Erd et al. (1977) |
Quick NavTopAbout LeiteiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia