Richelsdorfite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Richelsdorfite
Formula:
Ca2Cu5Sb(AsO4)4(OH)6Cl · 6H2O
Colour:
Turquoise-blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, Wilhelm Mine (Wechselschacht), Bauhaus, Richelsdorf District, North Hesse, Hesse, Germany.
Several richelsdorfite-like, Sb- and/or Cl-free "varieties" also exist (e.g., Walenta, 2000). Some of them probably are new species or possibly polytypes.
A "carbonate-richelsdorfite" has been characterised by Drescher and Susse (1997) and was tentatively identified by Gröbner (2000).
Structurally related to the Lavendulan Group.
A "carbonate-richelsdorfite" has been characterised by Drescher and Susse (1997) and was tentatively identified by Gröbner (2000).
Structurally related to the Lavendulan Group.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3414
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3414:8
IMA Classification of Richelsdorfite
Classification of Richelsdorfite
8.DK.
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
K : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 1:1 and < 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
K : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 1:1 and < 2:1
42.7.15.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
22.2.6
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rdf | 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 Richelsdorfite
Optical Data of Richelsdorfite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.64 nβ = 1.692 nγ = 1.694
2V:
Measured: 10° to 15°, Calculated: 20°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.054
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 weak
Chemistry of Richelsdorfite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Cu5Sb(AsO4)4(OH)6Cl · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Richelsdorfite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.08 Å, b = 14.21 Å, c = 13.49 Å
β = 101.06°
β = 101.06°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.991 : 1 : 0.949
Unit Cell V:
2,648.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
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
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Display Options
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2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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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
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010965 | Richelsdorfite | Susse P, Tillmann B (1987) The crystal structure of the new mineral richelsdorfite, Ca2Cu5Sb(Cl/(OH)6/(AsO4)4)*6H2O Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 179 323-334 |  | 1987 | Iba, near Richelsdorf, Hessen, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.80 Å | (30) |
| 4.913 Å | (70) |
| 4.392 Å | (60) |
| 3.045 Å | (100) |
| 2.669 Å | (50) |
| 1.753 Å | (60) |
| 0.795 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Richelsdorfite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogische Sammlungen, Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, number 7.4.161.1.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 150229.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 150229.
Synonyms of Richelsdorfite
Other Language Names for Richelsdorfite
Relationship of Richelsdorfite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
| Lavendulan Group | Mahnertite, richelsdorfite, andyrobertsite and calcioandyrobertsite are structurally ... |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 17 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 7 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 4 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 4 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| 3 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| 2 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Claraite | (Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14 · 7H2O |
| 2 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Annabergite | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 2 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Richelsdorfite associated with Bodieite | Bi2(TeO3)2(SO4) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DK. | Regerite | KFe6(PO4)4(OH)7(H2O)6 · 4H2O |
| 8.DK. | Bimbowrieite | NaMgFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DK. | Puttapaite | Pb2Mn2+2ZnCr3+4O2(AsO4)4(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Thalliumpharmacosiderite | TlFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Pharmacosiderite | KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Plumbopharmacosiderite | Pb0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Strontiopharmacosiderite | Sr0.5Fe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Bariopharmacosiderite | Ba0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 8.DK.10 | Hydroniumpharmacosiderite | (H3O)Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.12 | Hydroniumpharmacoalumite | (H3O)Al4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4.5H2O |
| 8.DK.12 | Bariopharmacoalumite | Ba0.5Al4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.12 | Pharmacoalumite | KAl4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6.5H2O |
| 8.DK.12 | Calciopharmacoalumite | Ca0.5Al4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 8.DK.12 | Natropharmacoalumite | NaAl4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.DK.15 | Matioliite | NaMgAl5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DK.15 | Burangaite | NaFe2+Al5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DK.15 | Natrodufrénite | NaFe3+Fe3+5(PO4)4O(OH)5(H2O)2 |
| 8.DK.15 | Dufrénite | Ca0.5Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DK.15 | Gayite | NaMn2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DK.20 | Kidwellite | NaFe3+9+x(PO4)6(OH)11 · 3H2O, x = 0.33 |
| 8.DK.25 | Bleasdaleite | (Ca,Fe3+)2Cu5(Bi,Cu)(PO4)4(H2O,OH,Cl)13 |
| 8.DK.30 | Matulaite | (Fe3+,Al)Al7(PO4)4(PO3OH)2(OH)8(H2O)8 · 8H2O |
| 8.DK.35 | Krasnovite | Ba(Al,Mg)(PO4,CO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
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 Richelsdorfite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3414.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Richelsdorfite
Reference List:
Dunn, Pete J., Grice, Joel D. Fleischer, Michael, Pabst, Adolf (1984) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 69 (1-2) 210-215
Süsse, Peter, Tillmann, Bruno (1987) The crystal structure of the new mineral richelsdorfite, Ca2Cu5Sb(Cl/(OH)6/(AsO4)4)·6H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 179 (1) 323-334 doi:10.1524/zkri.1987.179.1-4.323
Jambor, John L., Pertsev, Nikolai N., Roberts, Andrew C. (1995) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 80 (7-8). 845-850
Localities for Richelsdorfite
Showing 79 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. (2026) |
| Carinthia II (2017) |
| C.Auer (2016) |
| R.Poeverlein (2016) |
| R.Poeverlein (2016) | |
| A.Lechner (2014) |
| Gröbner (2000) |
| Schnorrer et al. (2005) |
| Schnorrer+Poeverlein (2005) | |
| Schnorrer et al. (2002) |
| Der Aufschluß (2006) |
| Poeverlein et al. (2007) | |
| Putz et al. (2012) |
| A. Lechner (Siegsdorf, Germany) |
| 58. +1 other reference |
| - (n.d.) +1 other reference |
France | |
| Sarp et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| Bari (1982) |
| Bari (1982) +1 other reference |
| Brunsperger et al. (2013) |
| Forner et al. (1997) |
| Jean-Marie LAURENT collection +1 other reference |
| Favreau et al. (2024) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... +1 other reference | |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Hock et al. (1992) |
| Belendorff et al. (1987) |
| Legner et al. (2022) |
| Aufschluss 73 (7+8) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Süsse et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1991) | |
| |
| Fehr (1983) | |
| Wittern et al. (1986) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Der Aufschluss 2000 (2) |
| Lapis (12) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Der Aufschluss Vol.55 |
| Gerstenberg et al. (12/21) |
| Mineralienatlas.de |
| Wittern (2001) |
| www.mineralienatlas.de (2016) |
| Lapis 30 (7/8) | |
| Gröbner et al. (2008) |
| Gröbner et al. (2008) |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2014) |
| Rieck et al. (1999) |
Hungary | |
| collection: Gábor Koller |
| GEODA |
Italy | |
| Bortolozzi et al. (2017) |
| Boscardin et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Matsubara et al (2003) +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2021) |
Portugal | |
| Pedro Alves analytical data |
Slovakia | |
| Szakáll et al. (2014) |
Spain | |
| Schnorrer (2000) |
| Joan Abella i Creus (Joanabellacreus@gmail.com) |
| Mineralogía de la concesión San Rafael |
| issuu.com (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet et al. (2011) |
UK | |
| Hubbard et al. (2020) |
USA | |
| Hålenius et al. (2018) |
| In the collection of Brent Thorne. ... | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| From the collection of Tom Wyman. ID by ... |
| Tom Wyman collection | |
| XRD analyzed by Tony Kampf. | |
| In the collection of Chuck Adan. EDS by ... |
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Triembach-au-Val, Sélestat-Erstein, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, France