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Thorneite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Thorneite, etc.

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

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About ThorneiteHide

Brent Thorne

Formula:

Pb₆(Te⁶⁺₂O₁₀)(CO₃)Cl₂(H₂O)

Colour:

lemon yellow, yellow-orange

Lustre:

Adamantine

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

6.790 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named in honor of Mr. Brent Thorne (b. 1951), American pharmacist (chemist), systematic mineral collector/micromounter of Bountiful, Utah, USA, who collected studied material.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Unique combination of elements (as of 2022). The first mineral with dimeric (di)tellurate anions, where octahedral TeO₆ groups share their edges.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

39558

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:39558:8

Similar NamesHide

Thorianite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

ThO₂

IMA Classification of ThorneiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Pb²⁺₆(Te⁶⁺₂O₁₀)(CO₃)Cl₂(H₂O)

Approval year:

2009

First published:

2010

Type description reference:

Kampf, A. R., Mills, S. J., Housley, R. M., Marty, J., Thorne, B. (2010) Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: IV. Markcooperite, Pb(UO₂)Te⁶⁺O₆, the first natural uranyl tellurate. American Mineralogist, 95 (10) 1554-1559 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3513

Classification of ThorneiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

7.DC.50

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H₂O
C : With only medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra

Dana 8th ed.:

33.3.4.

33 : SELENATES AND TELLURATES
3 : Compound Selenates and Tellurates

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
Tne	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 ThorneiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Lemon yellow, yellow-orange

Comment:

Fresh material is bright lemon-yellow; darkens to yellow-orange on exposure.

Streak:

Pale yellow

Hardness:

2 on Mohs scale

Comment:

Hardness is estimated based upon behavior of crystals when broken.

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
On {100}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Splintery

Comment:

Very fragile and easily crushed

Density:

6.790 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Comment:

Could not be measured

Optical Data of ThorneiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (+)

Dispersion:

None observed

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Comments:

Refractive indices predicted to be 2.01-2.03.
Large 2V.
Y = b, Z ^ a = 29° in obtuse β.

Chemistry of ThorneiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Pb₆(Te⁶⁺₂O₁₀)(CO₃)Cl₂(H₂O)

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Pb	68.787 %
Te	14.120 %
O	12.394 %
Cl	3.923 %
C	0.665 %
H	0.112 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

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

Crystallography of ThorneiteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

B2/b

Cell Parameters:

a = 21.305(1) Å, b = 11.059(1) Å, c = 7.564(1) Å
β = 101.112(4)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.926 : 1 : 0.684

Unit Cell V:

1,748.76 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Forms {100}, {010}, {110}, and {21-1}

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0017719	Thorneite	Kampf A R, Housley R M, Marty J (2010) Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: III. Thorneite, Pb6(Te6+2O10)(CO3)Cl2(H2O), the first mineral with edge-sharing octahedral tellurate dimers American Mineralogist 95 1548-1553		2010	Otto Mountain, Baker, California	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Thorneite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Kampf A R'
'Housley R M'
'Marty J'
_journal_name_full 'American Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 95 
_journal_year 2010
_journal_page_first 1548
_journal_page_last 1553
_publ_section_title
;
 Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: III.
 Thorneite, Pb6(Te6+2O10)(CO3)Cl2(H2O), the first mineral with
 edge-sharing octahedral tellurate dimers
;
_database_code_amcsd 0017719
_chemical_compound_source 'Otto Mountain, Baker, California'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Pb6 Te2 C Cl1.5 O14.5 H2.5'
_cell_length_a 21.305
_cell_length_b 11.059
_cell_length_c 7.564
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 101.112
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1748.758
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      6.830
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'C 1 2/c 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Pb1   0.63753   0.09635   0.15303   1.00000   0.01860
Pb2   0.69515   0.41296   0.96922   1.00000   0.02200
Pb3   0.55264   0.24366   0.52254   1.00000   0.02830
Te   0.78842   0.30010   0.36271   1.00000   0.01340
C   0.50000   0.98220   0.25000   1.00000   0.02500
Cl   0.58840   0.39330   0.16820   0.75000   0.05700
O-H   0.58840   0.39330   0.16820   0.25000   0.05700
O1   0.50000   0.09900   0.25000   1.00000   0.05200
O2   0.54870   0.92650   0.21830   1.00000   0.04400
O3   0.78150   0.45260   0.24790   1.00000   0.02600
O4   0.64510   0.27170   0.73670   1.00000   0.02000
O5   0.72690   0.23380   0.16540   1.00000   0.01600
O6   0.64350   0.13810   0.45340   1.00000   0.01400
O7   0.72010   0.34600   0.49370   1.00000   0.01200
Owat   0.50000   0.39100   0.75000   1.00000   0.08900
H   0.52500   0.44200   0.82900   1.00000   0.08000
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
Pb1 0.01390 0.02410 0.01650 0.00150 -0.00050 -0.00120
Pb2 0.02180 0.02330 0.01950 -0.00200 0.00070 -0.00210
Pb3 0.01770 0.03760 0.02790 0.00560 0.00060 -0.00470
Te 0.01140 0.01600 0.01280 -0.00300 0.00240 -0.00080
C 0.02800 0.01700 0.02500 0.00000 -0.01000 0.00000
Cl 0.03200 0.08000 0.05900 0.00600 0.00900 -0.00200
O-H 0.03200 0.08000 0.05900 0.00600 0.00900 -0.00200
O1 0.03400 0.03300 0.07900 0.00000 -0.01500 0.00000
O2 0.02200 0.04900 0.06300 0.00100 0.01300 -0.00900
O3 0.02400 0.02800 0.02100 -0.01100 -0.00600 0.00800
O4 0.01600 0.02800 0.01600 -0.00800 0.00300 -0.01200
O5 0.01300 0.01900 0.01400 -0.00400 -0.00400 0.00400
O6 0.00800 0.02500 0.01000 -0.00100 0.00300 -0.00200
O7 0.01100 0.01300 0.01400 0.00200 0.00800 -0.00300
Owat 0.09500 0.09400 0.08100 0.00000 0.02200 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
10.43 Å	(55)
3.733 Å	(27)
3.595 Å	(33)
3.351 Å	(66)
3.224 Å	(100)
3.093 Å	(30)
2.900 Å	(44)
2.133 Å	(38)

Locality:

Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Reference:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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]
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates]
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals]

Type Occurrence of ThorneiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA

General Appearance of Type Material:

Prismatic to bladed crystals, to 0.5 mm, in parallel and random intergrowths.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, catalog numbers 62257, 62258, 62259, and 62260.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Oxidation of primary sulfides and tellurides during or following brecciation of the quartz veins.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Acanthite	Cerussite	Native Gold	Hessite	Housleyite
Iodargyrite	Khinite	Markcooperite	Ottoite	Paratimroseite
Telluroperite	Timroseite	Wulfenite

Reference:

Synonyms of ThorneiteHide

IMA2009-023

Other Language Names for ThorneiteHide

Dutch:Thorneiet

German:Thorneit

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

28 photos of Thorneite associated with Khinite	Pb²⁺Cu²⁺₃[Te⁶⁺O₆](OH)₂
16 photos of Thorneite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
5 photos of Thorneite associated with Timroseite	Pb₂Cu₅(TeO₆)₂(OH)₂
4 photos of Thorneite associated with Housleyite	Pb₆CuTe⁶⁺₄O₁₈(OH)₂
3 photos of Thorneite associated with Markcooperite	Pb₂(UO₂)(TeO₆)
3 photos of Thorneite associated with Native Gold	Au
3 photos of Thorneite associated with Fuettererite	Pb₃Cu²⁺₆Te⁶⁺O₆(OH)₇Cl₅
3 photos of Thorneite associated with Hagstromite	Pb₈Cu²⁺(Te⁶⁺O₆)₂(CO₃)Cl₄
2 photos of Thorneite associated with Ottoite	Pb₂TeO₅
2 photos of Thorneite associated with Eckhardite	(Ca,Pb)Cu²⁺Te⁶⁺O₅(H₂O)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

7.DC.05	Meta-aluminite	Al₂(SO₄)(OH)₄ · 5H₂O	Mon. 2/m
7.DC.05	Aluminite	Al₂(SO₄)(OH)₄ · 7H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
7.DC.10	Parabutlerite	Fe³⁺(SO₄)(OH) · 2H₂O	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
7.DC.10	Butlerite	Fe³⁺(SO₄)(OH) · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
7.DC.15	Fibroferrite	Fe³⁺(SO₄)(OH) · 5H₂O	Trig. 3 : R3
7.DC.20	Xitieshanite	Fe³⁺(SO₄)Cl · 6H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
7.DC.25	Zincobotryogen	(Zn,Mg,Mn²⁺)Fe³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH) · 7H₂O	Mon. 2/m
7.DC.25	Botryogen	MgFe³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH) · 7H₂O	Mon. 2/m
7.DC.30	Chaidamuite	ZnFe³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH) · 4H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
7.DC.30	Guildite	CuFe³⁺(SO₄)₂(OH) · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
7.DC.40	Pauladamsite	Cu₄(SeO₃)(SO₄)(OH)₄ · 2H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
7.DC.45	Riotintoite	Al(SO₄)(OH) · 3H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
7.DC.55	Vendidaite	Al₂(SO₄)(OH)₃Cl · 6H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b

Fluorescence of ThorneiteHide

In UV light:

Not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Turns opaque and dissolves slowly in HCl.

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 ThorneiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-39558.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Thorneite on Webmineral

Look for Thorneite on Wikipedia

Look for Thorneite on Mineralien Atlas

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 ThorneiteHide

Reference List:

(2021) Thorneite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for ThorneiteHide

Showing 6 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.


USA
Arizona Cochise County Tombstone Mining District Contention-Grand Central Mine group ⓘ Grand Central Mine	Marek Chorazewicz (2026)
California San Bernardino County Silver Lake Mining District Soda Mountains Baker ⓘ Otto Mountain	Kampf et al. (2010)
ⓘ Aga Mine	EDS confirmed by Robert Housley. ...
ⓘ Bird Nest drift (TL)	Kampf et al. (2010)
ⓘ Ridge Ledge prospect	Thorne (n.d.)
ⓘ SW cut

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Thorneite

About ThorneiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of ThorneiteHide

Classification of ThorneiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ThorneiteHide

Optical Data of ThorneiteHide

Chemistry of ThorneiteHide

Crystallography of ThorneiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of ThorneiteHide

Synonyms of ThorneiteHide

Other Language Names for ThorneiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of ThorneiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for ThorneiteHide

References for ThorneiteHide

Localities for ThorneiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide