Mereheadite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Mereheadite
Formula:
Pb47Cl25(OH)13O24(CO3)(BO3)2
Formula originally assumed to be Pb2O(OH)Cl.
Colour:
Pale yellow to reddish-orange
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
7.12
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Merehead quarry, Somerset, the source of this and other unusual lead secondary minerals.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2648
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2648:8
IMA Classification of Mereheadite
Classification of Mereheadite
3.DC.45
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mrh | 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 Mereheadite
Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Pale yellow to reddish-orange
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(001)
(001)
Fracture:
Hackly, Conchoidal
Density:
7.12 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.31 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mereheadite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 2.19 nγ = 2.28
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.090
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 17.20% | 17.95% |
| 420nm | 16.50% | 17.40% |
| 440nm | 15.90% | 16.90% |
| 460nm | 15.50% | 16.50% |
| 480nm | 15.10% | 16.10% |
| 500nm | 14.90% | 15.80% |
| 520nm | 14.50% | 15.50% |
| 540nm | 14.30% | 15.30% |
| 560nm | 14.10% | 15.20% |
| 580nm | 14.00% | 15.00% |
| 600nm | 13.90% | 14.90% |
| 620nm | 13.80% | 14.80% |
| 640nm | 13.80% | 14.80% |
| 660nm | 13.70% | 14.70% |
| 680nm | 13.60% | 14.65% |
| 700nm | 13.60% | 14.60% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 17.95%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Gray
Internal Reflections:
Light yellow
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Mereheadite
Mindat Formula:
Pb47Cl25(OH)13O24(CO3)(BO3)2
Formula originally assumed to be Pb2O(OH)Cl.
Formula originally assumed to be Pb2O(OH)Cl.
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Mereheadite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
m - Domatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.372(1) Å, b = 27.9419(19) Å, c = 10.6661(6) Å
β = 93.152(5)°
β = 93.152(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.622 : 1 : 0.382
Unit Cell V:
5169.6 ų
Comment:
SG Cm; originally reported cell (Welch et al., 1998): C2/c, 5.680, 5.565, 13.143 A, 90.64°.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014589 | Mereheadite | Krivovichev S V, Turner R, Rumsey M, Sidra O I, Kirk C A (2009) The crystal structure and chemistry of mereheadite Mineralogical Magazine 73 103-117 | 2009 | Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.930 Å | (100) |
| 3.785 Å | (48) |
| 2.825 Å | (43) |
| 6.581 Å | (37) |
| 2.182 Å | (37) |
| 2.780 Å | (36) |
| 3.267 Å | (35) |
Comments:
Merehead Quarry, Somerset, England. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Mereheadite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Polycrystalline aggregates, up to 10 x 30 mm, in which individual grains are anhedral and rarely exceed 2 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, London, England, specimen BM 1965,285 and polished mount E.1175.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Lead bearing lenses and cavities in veins of manganese and iron oxide minerals that cut through a sequence of dolomitic limestone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Mereheadite
Other Language Names for Mereheadite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Mereheadite associated with Mendipite | Pb3Cl2O2 |
| 10 photos of Mereheadite associated with Chloroxiphite | Pb3CuO2Cl2(OH)2 |
| 9 photos of Mereheadite associated with Rickturnerite | Pb7O4[Mg(OH)4](OH)Cl3 |
| 7 photos of Mereheadite associated with Crednerite | Cu+Mn3+O2 |
| 6 photos of Mereheadite associated with Parkinsonite | Pb7MoO9Cl2 |
| 6 photos of Mereheadite associated with Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3 photos of Mereheadite associated with Plumbonacrite | Pb5O(OH)2(CO3)3 |
| 3 photos of Mereheadite associated with Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 3 photos of Mereheadite associated with Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 |
| 3 photos of Mereheadite associated with Symesite | Pb10(SO4)O7Cl4 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DC. | Gajardoite | KCa0.5As3+4O6Cl2 · 5H2O |
| 3.DC. | Lucabindiite | (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br) |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(NH4) | (NH4)3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(K) | K3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Napoliite | Pb2OFCl |
| 3.DC. | Torrecillasite | Na(As,Sb)3+4O6Cl |
| 3.DC.05 | Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3.DC.05 | Laurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3.DC.05 | Mauriziodiniite | (NH4)(As2O3)2I |
| 3.DC.05 | Russoite | (NH4)ClAs2O3(H2O)0.5 |
| 3.DC.10 | Fiedlerite | Pb3FCl4(OH) · H2O |
| 3.DC.15 | Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
| 3.DC.15 | Telluroperite | Pb3TeO4Cl2 |
| 3.DC.20 | Laurelite | Pb7F12Cl2 |
| 3.DC.25 | Zhangpeishanite | BaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Matlockite | PbFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Zavaritskite | (BiO)F |
| 3.DC.25 | Rorisite | CaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Bismoclite | BiOCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Vegrandisite | BaCl2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Nadorite | PbSbClO2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Perite | PbBiClO2 |
| 3.DC.40 | Thorikosite | Pb3Cl2(OH)(SbO3,AsO3) |
| 3.DC.50 | Blixite | Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4 |
| 3.DC.52 | Rumseyite | Pb2OClF |
| 3.DC.55 | Vladkrivovichevite | [Pb32O18][Pb4Mn2O]Cl14(BO3)8 · 2H2O |
| 3.DC.55 | Pinalite | Pb3WO5Cl2 |
| 3.DC.57 | Yeomanite | Pb2O(OH)Cl |
| 3.DC.60 | Symesite | Pb10(SO4)O7Cl4 · H2O |
| 3.DC.60 | 'Lorettoite' | Pb7O6Cl2 |
| 3.DC.62 | 'Sarawakite (of Frenzel)' | Sb, O, Cl (?) |
| 3.DC.65 | Ecdemite | Pb6As3+2O7Cl4 |
| 3.DC.70 | Mendipite | Pb3Cl2O2 |
| 3.DC.75 | Damaraite | Pb3Cl(OH)O2 |
| 3.DC.80 | Onoratoite | Sb8Cl2O11 |
| 3.DC.95 | Barstowite | Pb4Cl6(CO3) · H2O |
Fluorescence of Mereheadite
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 Mereheadite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2648.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Mereheadite
Reference List:
Welch, M. D., Criddle, A. J., Symes, R. F. (1998) Mereheadite, Pb2O(OH)Cl: a new litharge-related oxychloride from Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset. Mineralogical Magazine, 62 (3) 387-393 doi:10.1180/002646198547657
Localities for Mereheadite
Showing 6 localities.
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.
Argentina | |
| Grundmann et al. (2018) |
| Grundmann et al. (2018) |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1999) +1 other reference |
| Rouse et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Day (1999) |
| Alabaster (1989) +7 other references |
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The
Torr Works Quarry, Cranmore, Mendip, Somerset, England, UK