Pseudoboleite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Pseudoboleite
Formula:
Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48
Colour:
Indigo blue, green-blue
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
4.85
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
From the Greek "false" and boleite.
Closely related to boleite on which it may form epitaxial overgrowths.
See also the related blue Pb-Cu-chlorides diaboleite and cumengeite.
See also the related blue Pb-Cu-chlorides diaboleite and cumengeite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3301
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3301:1
IMA Classification of Pseudoboleite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+31Cu2+24Cl62(OH)48
First published:
1895
Classification of Pseudoboleite
3.DB.10
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
B : With Pb, Cu, etc.
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
B : With Pb, Cu, etc.
10.6.8.1
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : AmBn(O,OH)pXq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : AmBn(O,OH)pXq
8.8.14
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pbol | 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 Pseudoboleite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavages.
Colour:
Indigo blue, green-blue
Streak:
Light green
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}, nearly perfect on {101}
Perfect on {001}, nearly perfect on {101}
Density:
4.85 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.07 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pseudoboleite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.03 nε = 2
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.030
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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Pseudoboleite
Mindat Formula:
Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Pseudoboleite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.24(2) Å, c = 30.74(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.017
Unit Cell V:
7,139.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Rarely single crystals (pseudo-cubic, thick tabular). Commonly epitaxial overgrowths on boleite with mutually parallel {001}.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014859 | Pseudoboleite | Giuseppetti G, Mazzi F, Tadini C (1992) The crystal structure of pseudoboleite: Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48; its relations with the structures of boleite and cumengeite Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1992 113-126 | 1992 | Boleo, Baja California, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Pseudoboleite
Epitaxial Minerals:
| 'Boleite' | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.43 Å | (100) |
| 3.83 Å | (100) |
| 2.707 Å | (95) |
| 2.551 Å | (60) |
| 2.389 Å | (60) |
| 2.334 Å | (65) |
| 1.990 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Secondary mineral of lead deposits. Smelter slag immersed in seawater.
Type Occurrence of Pseudoboleite
Other Language Names for Pseudoboleite
Dutch:Pseudoboleiet
German:Pseudoboleit
Russian:Псевдоболеит
Simplified Chinese:水氯铜铅矿
Spanish:Pseudoboleita
Traditional Chinese:水氯銅鉛礦
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 70 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Boleite | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
| 17 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
| 14 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Phosgenite | Pb2CO3Cl2 |
| 12 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Paratacamite | Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2 |
| 9 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
| 8 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Laurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 8 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 5 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 5 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Bindheimite | Pb2Sb2O6O |
| 5 photos of Pseudoboleite associated with Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DB. | Rickturnerite | Pb7O4[Mg(OH)4](OH)Cl3 |
| 3.DB.05 | Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 |
| 3.DB.15 | Boleite | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
| 3.DB.20 | Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
| 3.DB.25 | Bideauxite | Pb2AgCl3(F,OH)2 |
| 3.DB.30 | Chloroxiphite | Pb3CuO2Cl2(OH)2 |
| 3.DB.35 | Hematophanite | Pb4Fe3O8(OH,Cl) |
| 3.DB.40 | Parkinsonite | Pb7MoO9Cl2 |
| 3.DB.40 | Janchevite | Pb9V5+(O10.25◻0.75)Cl2.5 |
| 3.DB.40 | Asisite | Pb7SiO9Cl2 |
| 3.DB.45 | Eddavidite | Cu12Pb2O15Br2 |
| 3.DB.45 | Murdochite | Cu12Pb2O15Cl2 |
| 3.DB.50 | Yedlinite | Pb6Cr3+Cl6(O,OH,H2O)8 |
| 3.DB.55 | Siidraite | Pb2Cu(OH)2I3 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in HNO3.
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 Pseudoboleite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3301.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 Pseudoboleite
Reference List:
Lacroix, Alfred (1895) Sur quelques minéraux des mines du Boléo (Basse-Californie) Bulletin du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle , S. 1 Vol. 1. Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. 39-42
Friedel, Georges (1906) Contribution à l'étude de la boléite et de ses congénères. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 29 (2) 14-55 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1906.2769
Goßner, B., Arm, M. (1930) VIII. Chemische und röntgenographische Untersuchungen an Stoffen und Kristallen von komplexer Bauart. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 72 (1) 202-236 doi:10.1524/zkri.1930.72.1.202
Priedel, G. (1930) Sur la Boleite, la Pseudoboléite et la Cumengeite. Réponse à MM. Gossner et Arm. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, 73 (1-6). 147-158 doi:10.1524/zkri.1930.73.1.147
Gossner, B. (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 75: 365.
Hocart-Strasbourg, R. (1930) II. Sur la détermination des paramètres de la boléite, de la pseudoboléite et de la cumengéite, au moyen des rayons X. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 74 (1) 20-24 doi:10.1524/zkri.1930.74.1.20
Abdul-Samad, Fawzy A., Alun Humphries, D., Thomas, John H., Williams, Peter A. (1981) Chemical studies on the stabilities of boleite and pseudoboleite. Mineralogical Magazine, 44 (333) 101-104 doi:10.1180/minmag.1981.44.333.16
Frost, Ray L, Williams, Peter A (2004) Raman spectroscopy of some basic chloride containing minerals of lead and copper. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 60 (8) 2071-2077 doi:10.1016/j.saa.2003.11.007
Localities for Pseudoboleite
Showing 45 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 | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2009) +2 other references |
Chile | |
| Arfè et al. (2016) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Collected by Terry Szenic and in the ... | |
| maurizio dini collection - analysed ... | |
| Mr. Terry Szenics. | |
| Demetrius Pohl identified AMNH 1985 +2 other references | |
| Rob Lavinky samples +1 other reference | |
| Patrick Haynes with xrd confirmation ... | |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| maurzi +1 other reference |
France | |
| Chollet et al. (2013) |
Germany | |
| |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2014) |
| |
| Grolig et al. (1978) +1 other reference | |
| Rieck et al. (1999) +2 other references |
| Ko Jansen | |
| Fritz Schreiber collection (SXRD-analysed by Uwe Kolitsch) |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Pascal Chollet collection (visual ID by Uwe Kolitsch, by comparison to SXRD-analysed specimens) | |
Iran | |
| Bariand |
Italy | |
| Marco Bonifazi collection (typical twinning) |
| Rivista Mineralogica Italiana (3) |
| Ara D. et al. (2013) |
| Lecca et al. (2022) |
| Gian Claudio Lecca et al. (2025) | |
| Campostrini et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Bazzoni et al. (2014) |
| Franzini et al. (1992) |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Paris (1889) +2 other references |
| 2009 New Mexico Mineral Symposium ... |
| Panczner (1987) |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2020) |
Spain | |
| Pedro Mingueza et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| BMS Newsletter 79 (http://britishmicromountsociety.homestead.com/Gannell-Smelter.html) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Peter Trebilcock Collection. |
| Rust (2022) |
USA | |
| Michael Cline Collection |
| Williams (1961) +1 other reference |
| Palache (1941) +2 other references |
| PXRD analyzed by Tony Kampf. |
| Jerry Cone Collection |
| Washington Geology |
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Amelia Mine, Arroyo de la Soledad, Boleo District, Santa Rosalía, Mulegé Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico