Sampleite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Sampleite
Formula:
NaCaCu5(PO4)4Cl · 5H2O
Colour:
Light blue, bluish green; blue in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Pearly
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.2
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named by Cornelius Hurlbut Jr. in honour of Mr. Mat Sample, Mine Superintendent for the Chile Exploration Company in 1921 (on staff as early as 1915) in Chuquicamata, Chile.
Lavendulan Group. The phosphate analogue of Lavendulan.
A polymorph is known (Giester et al., 2007). Compare UM2007-17-PO:CaClCuHNa.
An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zones of copper deposits in arid climates; also occurs as a rare mineral in caves.
A polymorph is known (Giester et al., 2007). Compare UM2007-17-PO:CaClCuHNa.
An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zones of copper deposits in arid climates; also occurs as a rare mineral in caves.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3515
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3515:2
IMA Classification of Sampleite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
NaCaCu2+5(PO4)4Cl·5H2O
Classification of Sampleite
8.DG.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 0.5:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 0.5:1
42.9.4.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq·xH2O
22.2.1
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smp | 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 Sampleite
Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on {010}.
Colour:
Light blue, bluish green; blue in transmitted light.
Streak:
Light blue
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}, perfect; on {100} and {001}, good.
On {010}, perfect; on {100} and {001}, good.
Density:
3.2 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.26 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sampleite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.625 - 1.629 nβ = 1.674 - 1.677 nγ = 1.674 - 1.679
2V:
Measured: 5° to 23°, Calculated: 22°
Birefringence:
0.049
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.049 - 0.050
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:
r > v
Optical Extinction:
Parallel. X = b, Y = a, Z = c.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Deep blue, blue-green; Y = Light blue, turquoise-blue; Z = Turquoise-blue, colourless.
Comments:
Absorption: X > Y > Z.
Chemistry of Sampleite
Mindat Formula:
NaCaCu5(PO4)4Cl · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Sampleite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmmm
Setting:
C2/m2/m2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.72 Å, b = 38.48 Å, c = 9.67 Å
β = 90.0°
β = 90.0°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.253 : 1 : 0.251
Unit Cell V:
3,616.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Thin lath-like, pseudo-orthorhombic plates, flattened on {010}, elongated along [001]; rosettes; commonly aggregated into crusts.
Twinning:
Common.
Comment:
Pseudo-orthorhombic metrics. Old literature gives "orthorhombic" cell with a = 9.7, b = 38.7, c = 9.45 A. The polymorph described by Giester et al. (2007) has space group P21/c, a = 9.695(2), b = 9.673(2), c = 19.739(4) Å, beta = 102.61(3)°, V = 1806.5(6) Å3, Z = 4; a P21/n modification is also known
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
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007197 | Sampleite | Giester G, Kolitsch U, Leverett P, Turner P, Williams P A (2007) The crystal structures of lavendulan, sampleite, and a new polymorph of sampleite European Journal of Mineralogy 19 75-93 | 2007 | Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0007196 | Sampleite | Giester G, Kolitsch U, Leverett P, Turner P, Williams P A (2007) The crystal structures of lavendulan, sampleite, and a new polymorph of sampleite European Journal of Mineralogy 19 75-93 | 2007 | Northparkes mine, Goonumbla, New South Wales, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.60 Å | (100) |
| 6.85 Å | (70) |
| 4.30 Å | (80) |
| 3.89 Å | (70) |
| 3.04 Å | (100) |
| 1.79 Å | (70) |
| 1.71 Å | (80) |
| 1.45 Å | (70) |
Comments:
ICDD 11-349
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Geological Setting:
Oxidized zones of copper deposits in arid climates; in caves derived from copper sulfides in cave walls and phosphorus from bat guano; miarolytic cavities in granite; in pegmatites.
Type Occurrence of Sampleite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Earthy crusts and crack fillings. Micaceous rosettes and aggregates of small platy crystals in small cracks.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: 95023, 95024. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA: 137298.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Highly oxidized ore.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Sampleite
Relationship of Sampleite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Lavendulan Group:
| Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Zdenĕkite | NaPbCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Sampleite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 15 photos of Sampleite associated with Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| 10 photos of Sampleite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 6 photos of Sampleite associated with Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| 5 photos of Sampleite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Sampleite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Sampleite associated with Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| 3 photos of Sampleite associated with Connellite | Cu19(SO4)(OH)32Cl4 · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Sampleite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 2 photos of Sampleite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DG. | Jasonsmithite | Mn2+4ZnAl(PO4)4(OH)(H2O)7 · 3.5H2O |
| 8.DG. | Davidbrownite-(NH4) | (NH4)5(V4+O)2(C2O4)[PO2.75(OH)1.25]4 · 3H2O |
| 8.DG. | Relianceite-(K) | K4Mg(V4+O)2(C2O4)(PO3OH)4(H2O)10 |
| 8.DG. | Pleysteinite | [(H2O)0.5K0.5]2Mn2Al3(PO4)4F2 · 14H2O |
| 8.DG.05 | Fluor-rewitzerite | [(H2O)K]Mn2(Al2Ti)(PO4)4(OF)(H2O)10 · 4H2O |
| 8.DG.05 | Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| 8.DG.05 | Lemanskiite | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 3H2O |
| 8.DG.05 | Zdenĕkite | NaPbCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| 8.DG.05 | Rewitzerite | [K(H2O)]Mn2Al3(PO4)4(OH)2 · 14H2O |
| 8.DG.10 | Dacostaite | K(Mg2Al)[Mg(H2O)6]2(AsO4)2F6 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Sampleite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, fuses at 2 to a black globule coloring the flame bright green.
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 Sampleite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3515.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sampleite
Reference List:
Hurlbut, C. S. (1942) Sampleite, a new mineral from Chuquicamata, Chile. American Mineralogist, 27 (8) 586-589
Guillemin, Claude (1956) Contribution à la minéralogie des arséniates, phosphates et vanadates de cuivre. II. — Phosphates et vanadates de cuivre. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie, 79 (4). 219-275 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1956.5073esp. pg. 226-229
Fabrizi, Maria, Ganiaris, Helen, Tarling, Stephen, Scott, David A. (1989) The occurrence of sampleite, a complex copper phosphate, as a corrosion product on copper alloy objects from Memphis, Egypt. Studies in Conservation, 34 (1). 45-51 doi:10.1179/sic.1989.34.1.45
Giester, Gerald; Kolitsch, Uwe; Leverett, Peter; Turner, Peter; Williams, Peter A. (2007) The crystal structures of lavendulan, sampleite, and a new polymorph of sampleite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 19 (1). 75-93 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2007/0019-0075
Panikorovskii, T. L., Yakovenchuk, V. N., Pakhomovsky, Ya. A., Konoplyova, N. G., Ivanyuk, G. Yu., Antonov, A. A., Shilovskikh, V. V., Krivovichev, S. V. (2023) DFT Modeling of the Hydrogen Bonding System in Sampleite. Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society) 5, 83-99 doi:10.31857/s0869605523050052
Localities for Sampleite
Showing 50 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.
Australia | |
| |
| Birch et al. (1997) |
| Birch et al. (1997) |
| Beyer et al. (1996) |
| Henry et al. (1988) +2 other references |
| Bridge et al. (1978) |
| Bridge et al. (1978) |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) |
| Clarke et al. (1986) | |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2008) |
| Kirchner (1978) +1 other reference |
| Adlassnig et al. (2013) |
| - (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| Knobler +1 other reference |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| identified by Gerhard Möhn | |
| Pieczonka et al. (2017) | |
| Mr. Terry Szenics (found in 1993 and subsequently analysed) +3 other references |
| Kampf et al. (2012) |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) |
| Hurlbut (1942) +1 other reference |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schlüter (Hamburg University) |
| |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schlüter (Hamburg University) | |
| Personally collected by Günter Frenz |
| various added photos |
| David J. Eicher collection | |
| Kampf et al. (2025) |
Egypt | |
| Fabrizi et al. (1989) |
Germany | |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll et al. (2011) |
Italy | |
| Larocca (2012) |
| Kampf et al. (2025) |
| Ruggieri et al. (1997) |
| Ruggieri et al. (1997) | |
| Brizzi et al. (1994) |
Mexico | |
| Megaw (2023) |
Morocco | |
| Favreau (2012) |
Namibia | |
| Steffen Jahn (2001) |
Portugal | |
| Alves (2016) |
Romania | |
| Onac et al. (2002) |
Russia | |
| Yakovenchuk et al. (2018) |
| Bortnikova et al. (2005) |
South Africa | |
| Martini (1997) |
Spain | |
| |
USA | |
| ex-John Callahan Collection. ex-Ron ... +1 other reference |
| Kampf et al. (2024) | |
| MarekC (2019) |
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Endeavour 26, Northparkes Mine Project, Goonumbla, Kennedy Co., New South Wales, Australia