Barlowite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Barlowite
William Barlow
Formula:
Cu4BrF(OH)6
Colour:
Blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
4.21 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named in honor of William Barlow [8 August 1845 – 28 February 1934], an English amateur geologist and crystallographer; he independently enumerated the 230 space groups and proposed several crystal structures in the 1880's.
Isostructural with:
The Br analogue of claringbullite.
In the structure there is Cu(1)(OH)4Br2 polyhedron, that is a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedron. Each Cu(1) octahedron have four edges common with adjacent octahedra, thus forming a sheet within the (001) plane; and adjacent sheets link along [001] by Br-sharing. There are channels along [001], that host F anions in their centres.
In the structure there is Cu(1)(OH)4Br2 polyhedron, that is a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedron. Each Cu(1) octahedron have four edges common with adjacent octahedra, thus forming a sheet within the (001) plane; and adjacent sheets link along [001] by Br-sharing. There are channels along [001], that host F anions in their centres.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
40276
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:40276:3
IMA Classification of Barlowite
Classification of Barlowite
3.DA.15
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
10.5.6.2
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blw | 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 Barlowite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Blue
Streak:
Sky blue
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}
on {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.21 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Density could not be measured; the mineral sinks in the heaviest liquid available
Optical Data of Barlowite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.840 - 1.845 nε = 1.833 - 1.840
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.005 - 0.007
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.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Barlowite
Mindat Formula:
Cu4BrF(OH)6
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Cl
Crystallography of Barlowite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.6786(2) Å, c = 9.2744(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.389
Unit Cell V:
358.251 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Thin platy, hexagonal crystals up to 0.5 mm wide.
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
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020634 | Barlowite | Elliott P, Cooper M A, Pring A (2014) Barlowite, Cu4FBr(OH)6, a new mineral isostructural with claringbullite: description and crystal structure Mineralogical Magazine 78 1755-1762 | 2014 | Great Australia mine, Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.790 Å | (100) |
| 3.338 Å | (15) |
| 2.889 Å | (40) |
| 2.759 Å | (15) |
| 2.707 Å | (55) |
| 2.452 Å | (40) |
| 1.778 Å | (20) |
| 1.668 Å | (30) |
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] |
Type Occurrence of Barlowite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin blue, platy, hexagonal crystals up to 0.5 mm wide in a cuprite-quartz-goethite matrix.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, reg. no. G17449
Geological Setting of Type Material:
among secondary Cu minerals formed in cavities in cuprite-rich rocks, by oxidation of primary Cu mineralization under
low-temperature conditions
low-temperature conditions
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Barlowite
Other Language Names for Barlowite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DA. | Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA. | Centennialite | CaCu3Cl2(OH)6 · nH2O (n ~ 0.7) |
| 3.DA. | Bounahasite | Cu+Cu2+2(OH)3Cl2 |
| 3.DA. | Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| 3.DA.05 | Melanothallite | Cu2Cl2O |
| 3.DA.10c | Haydeeite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10b | Clinoatacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA.10c | Paratacamite | Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10c | Kapellasite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10c | Leverettite | Cu3Co(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10a | Hibbingite | Fe2+2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA.10c | Paratacamite-(Ni) | Cu3(Ni,Cu)(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10a | Kempite | Mn2+2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA.10c | Tondiite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10a | Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA.10b | Belloite | Cu(OH)Cl |
| 3.DA.10c | Misakiite | Cu3Mn(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10b | Iyoite | MnCuCl(OH)3 |
| 3.DA.10c | Kuliginite | Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10c | Gillardite | Cu3Ni(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.10b | 'Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide)' | CuZnCl(OH)3 |
| 3.DA.10b | Botallackite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 3.DA.10c | Herbertsmithite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
| 3.DA.15 | Claringbullite | Cu4ClF(OH)6 |
| 3.DA.20 | Simonkolleite | Zn5Cl2(OH)8 · H2O |
| 3.DA.25 | Buttgenbachite | Cu19(NO3)2(OH)32Cl4 · 2H2O |
| 3.DA.25 | Connellite | Cu19(SO4)(OH)32Cl4 · 3H2O |
| 3.DA.30 | Abhurite | Sn21Cl16(OH)14O6 |
| 3.DA.35 | Ponomarevite | K4Cu4Cl10O |
| 3.DA.40 | Calumetite | CaCu4(OH)8Cl2 · 3.5H2O |
| 3.DA.40 | Anthonyite | Cu(OH,Cl)2 · 3H2O |
| 3.DA.45 | Khaidarkanite | Cu4Al3(OH)14F3 · 2H2O |
| 3.DA.50 | Bobkingite | Cu5Cl2(OH)8 · 2H2O |
| 3.DA.55 | Avdoninite | K2Cu5(OH)4Cl8 · H2O |
| 3.DA.60 | Droninoite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O |
| 3.DA.70 | Chrysothallite | K6Cu6Tl3+Cl17(OH)4 · H2O |
| 3.DA.70 | Dioskouriite | CaCu4Cl6(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 3.DA.75 | Feodosiyite | Cu11Mg2Cl18(OH)8 · 16H2O |
| 3.DA.80 | Romanorlovite | K8Cu6Cl17(OH)3 |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in cold dilute 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 Barlowite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-40276.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Barlowite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2010) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) CNMNC Newsletter No 4. Mineralogical Magazine, 74 (4) 797-800 doi:10.1180/s0026461x00038925
Elliott, Peter, Cooper, Mark A., Pring, Allan (2014) Barlowite, Cu4FBr(OH)6, a new mineral isotructural with claringbullite: description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (7) 1755-1762 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.17
Han, Tian-Heng, Singleton, John, Schlueter, John A. (2014) Barlowite: A Spin-1/2Antiferromagnet with a Geometrically Perfect Kagome Motif. Physical Review Letters, 113 (22). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.227203
Localities for Barlowite
Showing 2 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 (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Rosenblatt et al. (2024) |
Quick NavTopAbout BarlowiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Great Australia Mine, Cloncurry, Cloncurry Shire, Queensland, Australia