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Schwartzembergite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

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Schwartzembergite

Unión Minera mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

Unión Minera mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

Unión Minera mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

Schwartzembergite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

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About SchwartzembergiteHide

Adolf E. Schwarzenberg

Formula:

Pb₅H₂(IO₂)O₄Cl₃

Colour:

Yellow to yellow-brown, reddish brown

Lustre:

Adamantine

Hardness:

2½

Specific Gravity:

7.39

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Name:

Named after a "Dr Schwartzemberg", a misspelling of Dr Adolf Emilio Schwarzenberg (2 December 1826, Kassel, Germany – 7 January 1907, Osorno, Chile), assayer at Copiapó, Chile.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Cachinal, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

A secondary lead mineral found in oxidized zones of lead-bearing deposits in arid regions.
Schwartzembergite is a highly unusual mineral since it contains trivalent iodine.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3592

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3592:3

IMA Classification of SchwartzembergiteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

Pb²⁺₅H₂I³⁺O₆Cl₃

First published:

1864

Classification of SchwartzembergiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

4.KB.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
K : Iodates: Trigonal [IO₃] pyramids (mostly).
B : Iodates with additional anions, without H₂O

Dana 7th ed.:

22.1.3.1

Dana 8th ed.:

22.1.3.1

22 : IODATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Miscellaneous

Hey's CIM Ref.:

29.7

29 : Iodates

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Swb	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 SchwartzembergiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine

Colour:

Yellow to yellow-brown, reddish brown

Streak:

Light yellow

Hardness:

2½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
On {001}.

Density:

7.39 g/cm³ (Measured)

Optical Data of SchwartzembergiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 2.25 n_β = 2.35 n_γ = 2.36

Max. Birefringence:

δ = 0.110
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.

Thickness: 30 µm

Rotation:

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Dispersion:

r > v extreme

Comments:

Crystals are divided into variously oriented biaxial sectors with variable 2V.

Chemistry of SchwartzembergiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Pb₅H₂(IO₂)O₄Cl₃

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Pb	75.771 %
I	9.282 %
Cl	7.779 %
O	7.021 %
H	0.147 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Cl, H, I, O, Pb - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SchwartzembergiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

I4/mmm

Cell Parameters:

a = 3.977(1) Å, c = 12.566(4) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 3.16

Unit Cell V:

198.75 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Crystals flat-pyramidal, rounded. Compact to earthy crusts and masses.

Comment:

Electron diffraction suggests a C- or I-centered orthorhombic supercell with a = 2as, b = 6bs, c = cs (s = subcell), i.e., an 8 x 24 A supercell (Welch, 2001).

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0005721	Schwartzembergite	Welch M D, Hawthorne F C, Cooper M A, Kyser T K (2001) Trivalent iodine in the crystal structure of schwartzembergite, Pb5IO6H2Cl3 The Canadian Mineralogist 39 785-795		2001		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Schwartzembergite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Welch M D'
'Hawthorne F C'
'Cooper M A'
'Kyser T K'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 39 
_journal_year 2001
_journal_page_first 785
_journal_page_last 795
_publ_section_title
;
 Trivalent iodine in the crystal structure of schwartzembergite, Pb5IO6H2Cl3
;
_database_code_amcsd 0005721
_chemical_formula_sum 'Pb1.666 I.334 Cl O2'
_cell_length_a 3.977
_cell_length_b 3.977
_cell_length_c 12.566
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 198.751
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      7.603
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I 4/m m m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  'y,x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  'y,x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
Pb   0.00000   0.00000   0.14210   0.83300
I   0.00000   0.00000   0.18500   0.16700
Cl   0.00000   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000
O   0.50000   0.00000   0.25000   1.00000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Pb 0.00240 0.00240 0.00220 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
I 0.00110 0.00110 0.00310 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
Cl 0.00240 0.00240 0.00400 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
O 0.00310 0.00310 0.00320 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Loading XRD data...

2θ (degrees) d-spacing (Å)

Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.880 Å	(100)
1.633 Å	(90)
2.806 Å	(80)
2.091 Å	(70)
3.782 Å	(60)
1.986 Å	(60)
1.262 Å	(60)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals]
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals]

Type Occurrence of SchwartzembergiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Cachinal, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile

General Appearance of Type Material:

Crust on galena.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

n.d.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Anglesite

Cerussite

Galena

Synonyms of SchwartzembergiteHide

Lead oxychloriodide

Lead oxychloroiodide

Plumboiodite

Lead oxychloride (in part)

Other Language Names for SchwartzembergiteHide

Dutch:Schwartzembergiet

French:Oxychloroïodure de plomb

German:Schwartzembergit
Bleioxychlorojodür
Jodblei
Plumboiodit

Russian:Шварцембергит

Spanish:Plomo oxichloro-ioduro
Plumboiodita
Schwartzembergita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

28 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Phoenicochroite	Pb₂(CrO₄)O
18 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Seeligerite	Pb₃(IO₃)OCl₃
16 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Wulfenite	Pb(MoO₄)
3 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Boleite	KPb₂₆Ag₉Cu₂₄(OH)₄₈Cl₆₂
3 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Pseudoboleite	Pb₃₁Cu₂₄Cl₆₂(OH)₄₈
3 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Diaboleite	Pb₂CuCl₂(OH)₄
3 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Iranite	Pb₁₀Cu(CrO₄)₆(SiO₄)₂(OH)₂
2 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
2 photos of Schwartzembergite associated with Anhydrite	CaSO₄
1 photo of Schwartzembergite associated with Quartz	SiO₂

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

4.KB.	Pohlite	Pb₇(IO₃)(OH)₄Cl₉	Tric. 1 : P1
4.KB.	Bluebellite	Cu₆[(I⁵⁺O₃)(OH)₃](OH)₇Cl	Trig. 3 : R3
4.KB.05	Salesite	Cu(IO₃)(OH)	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.KB.15	Seeligerite	Pb₃(IO₃)OCl₃	Orth. mm2 : Cmm2

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Soluble in HCl with evolution of Cl.

Health Risks:

Emits toxic chlorine gas when contacted by hydrochloric acid.

Internet Links for SchwartzembergiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3592.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for SchwartzembergiteHide

Reference List:

Domeyko (1864) Annales des mines: 5: 453 (as Oxychloroïodure de plomb).

Dana, James D., Brush, George Jarvis (1868) A System of Mineralogy (5th ed.). p.882pp.120-121

Adam, M. (1869) Tableau minéralogique, Paris: 67 (as Plumbiodite).

Domeyko, I. (1879) Elementos de Mineralogia, 3rd. edition: 319, 705 (as Plomo oxichloro-ioduro).

Bertrand, Emile (1881) Étude optique de différents minéraux. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 4 (4) 87-89 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1881.1635

Herbert Smith, G. F., Prior, G. T. (1911) On Schwartzembergite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 16 (74) 77-83 doi:10.1180/minmag.1911.016.74.01

Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.132

Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry; Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons.pp.317-318

Mücke, A. (1970) Schwartzembergit von der Mina Sta. Ana. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, 467-472.

Welch, M. D., Hawthorne, F. C., Cooper, M. A., Kyser, T. K. (2001) Trivalent iodine in the crystal structure of schwartzembergite, Pb²⁺₅I³⁺O₆H₂Cl₃. The Canadian Mineralogist, 39 (3) 785-795 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.39.3.785

(2005) Schwartzembergite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for SchwartzembergiteHide

Showing 23 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

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Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Chile
Antofagasta Antofagasta Province Antofagasta ⓘ Aguas Blancas mine	Lukas Kruszewski collection
ⓘ Cachinal (TL)	Palache et al. (1951) +3 other references
Cerro Palestina Estación Cerro Negro ⓘ Magallanes district	Palache et al. (1951)
ⓘ Covadonga mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schlüter (Hamburg University)
ⓘ Magallanes mine	"Yacimientos Metalíferos de Chile" +1 other reference
ⓘ Viente Cinco Vein	Schwartzembergite was identified by ...
Cuevitas San Cristóbal ⓘ Bolaco Mine	Sample from the collection of Copiapó ...
Sierra Gorda Caracoles mining district Caracoles ⓘ Asunción Mine	Brugger et al. (2012)
ⓘ Generosa Mine	Palache et al. (1951)
ⓘ Herminia Mine	Palache et al. (1951)
ⓘ La Poderosa Mine	Collected by Terry Szenic and in the ...
ⓘ San Francisco Mine	Vajdak (2006)
ⓘ Santa Ana Mine	Domeyko (1864)
ⓘ Unión Minera mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schlüter (Hamburg University)
La Deseada sector Sierra San José ⓘ Araucana mine	. Tartakowsky: "Visita a la Mina ... +1 other reference
Quebrada Honda ⓘ San Rafael Mine	Palache et al. (1951)
ⓘ Rosario mine	Rob Lavinky samples +1 other reference
Taltal Reventon District ⓘ Paposo
ⓘ Veinte Cinco vein	Jewel Tunnel Imports specimens
Atacama Copiapó Province Copiapó Cachiyuyo de Llampos mining district ⓘ Dulcinea de Llampos Mine	Robert Jenkins collections +1 other reference
Tarapacá Iquique Province ⓘ Santa Rosa-Huantajaya mining district (Huantajaya mining district) ?	Palache et al. (1951)
Tamarugal Province Pozo Almonte Cerro Challacollo ⓘ Lolón Main Mine	Remy Phillippe personal communication

Mexico
Sonora Arizpe Municipality Arizpe ⓘ Chispas Mine (Pedrazzini mine; J. Pedrazzini mine) ?	Panczner (1987)

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Schwartzembergite

About SchwartzembergiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of SchwartzembergiteHide

Classification of SchwartzembergiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of SchwartzembergiteHide

Optical Data of SchwartzembergiteHide

Chemistry of SchwartzembergiteHide

Crystallography of SchwartzembergiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of SchwartzembergiteHide

Synonyms of SchwartzembergiteHide

Other Language Names for SchwartzembergiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for SchwartzembergiteHide

References for SchwartzembergiteHide

Localities for SchwartzembergiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide