Bluebellite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Bluebellite
Formula:
Cu6[(I5+O3)(OH)3](OH)7Cl
Colour:
Bright bluish-green
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
4.746 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by S.J. Mills, A.R. Kampf, A.G. Christy, R.M. Housley, G.R. Rossman, R.E. Reynolds, and J. Marty in 2014 for the type locality of the Blue Bell claims/mine. The exact type locality is the D shaft at the Blue Bell claims.
Structurally related to mojaveite (IMA2013-120). Unique combination of elements. One of three currently known copper iodate minerals beside bellingerite and salesite.
The structure is based on Cu6MX14 brucite-like layers, with M and X in bluebellite being I and (O,OH,Cl), respectively.
The structure is based on Cu6MX14 brucite-like layers, with M and X in bluebellite being I and (O,OH,Cl), respectively.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46071
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46071:2
IMA Classification of Bluebellite
Classification of Bluebellite
4.KB.
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
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bbl | 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 Bluebellite
Adamantine
Comment:
appears often dull because of surface roughness
Colour:
Bright bluish-green
Streak:
Pale bluish green
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Comment:
very soft, ~1
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}
on {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.746 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
couldn't be measured
Optical Data of Bluebellite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
n = 1.96
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
Dispersion:
n value is average and estimated (couldn't be measured directly)
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
O (bluish green) >> E (nearly colourless)
Chemistry of Bluebellite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6[(I5+O3)(OH)3](OH)7Cl
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Bluebellite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.3017(5) Å, c = 13.259(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.597
Unit Cell V:
791.4 ų
Z:
3
Morphology:
Plates or flakes up to ~20 × 20 × 5 μm in size, usually curved.
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
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020533 | Bluebellite | Mills S J, Kampf A R, Christy A G, Housley R M, Rossman G R, Reynolds R E, Marty J (2014) Bluebellite and mojaveite, two new minerals from the central Mojave Desert, California, USA Mineralogical Magazine 78 1325-1340 | 2014 | Blue Bell claims, San Bernardino County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.427 Å | (99) |
| 2.664 Å | (35) |
| 2.516 Å | (100) |
| 2.213 Å | (9) |
| 2.103 Å | (29) |
| 1.8990 Å | (47) |
| 1.5663 Å | (48) |
| 1.4788 Å | (29) |
Comments:
very similar to mojaveite
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 Bluebellite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotype material is deposited in the collections of the mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue numbers 64083 to 64090
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a highly siliceous hornfels
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bluebellite
Other Language Names for Bluebellite
Dutch:Bluebelliet
German:Bluebellit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Bluebellite associated with Murdochite | Cu12Pb2O15Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Bluebellite associated with Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| 1 photo of Bluebellite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 1 photo of Bluebellite associated with Dioptase | CuSiO3 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.KB. | Pohlite | Pb7(IO3)(OH)4Cl9 |
| 4.KB.05 | Salesite | Cu(IO3)(OH) |
| 4.KB.10 | Schwartzembergite | Pb5H2(IO2)O4Cl3 |
| 4.KB.15 | Seeligerite | Pb3(IO3)OCl3 |
Fluorescence of Bluebellite
Non-fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
Raman bands [cm-1]: iodate-related bands at 680, 611, 254 (all strong)
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 Bluebellite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46071.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Bluebellite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014, CNMNC Newsletter No 20. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (3) 549-558 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.3.05
Mills, S. J., Kampf, A. R., Christy, A. G., Housley, R. M., Rossman, G. R., Reynolds, R. E., Marty, J. (2014) Bluebellite and mojaveite, two new minerals from the central Mojave Desert, California, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (5) 1325-1340 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.5.15
Localities for Bluebellite
Showing 1 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.
USA (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2014) +3 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout BluebelliteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Blue Bell Mine, Zzyzx, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA