Eleomelanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Eleomelanite
Formula:
(K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Specific Gravity:
3.790 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
The name is derived from the Greek ελαιν (eleon), oil, and μλας (melas), black, due to its black color and oleaginous luster on crystal faces that are uncommon for sulfate minerals.
Unique combination of elements. Related to wulffite and parawulffite (e.g., in stoichiometry). Compare palmierite.
Novel structure type but has common structural features with klyuchevskite, alumoklyuchevskite, wulffite, parawulffite, and piypite.
Novel structure type but has common structural features with klyuchevskite, alumoklyuchevskite, wulffite, parawulffite, and piypite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
47609
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:47609:6
IMA Classification of Eleomelanite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(K2Pb2+)Cu2+4O2(S6+O4)4
Approval year:
2016
First published:
2020
Type description reference:
Pekov, Igor V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Britvin, Sergey N., Turchkova, Anna G., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu. (2020) Eleomelanite, (K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4, a new mineral species from the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (5) 625-636 doi:10.3749/canmin.2000032
Classification of Eleomelanite
7.BC.52
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elm | 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 Eleomelanite
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
Oleaginous on crystal faces and vitreous on a cleavage surfaces
Colour:
Black
Density:
3.790 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Eleomelanite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.646(3) nβ = 1.715(6) nγ = 1.734(6)
2V:
Measured: 60° (15)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.088
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.
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Eleomelanite
Mindat Formula:
(K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Eleomelanite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.3986(3) Å, b = 4.8911(1) Å, c = 18.2293(5) Å
β = 104.409(3)°
β = 104.409(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.922 : 1 : 3.727
Unit Cell V:
811.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
P21/n
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.07 Å | (63) |
| 7.38 Å | (44) |
| 3.699 Å | (78) |
| 3.658 Å | (100) |
| 3.173 Å | (40) |
| 2.915 Å | (35) |
| 2.683 Å | (36) |
| 2.576 Å | (51) |
Reference:
Pekov, Igor V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Britvin, Sergey N., Turchkova, Anna G., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu. (2020) Eleomelanite, (K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4, a new mineral species from the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (5) 625-636 doi:10.3749/canmin.2000032
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Type Occurrence of Eleomelanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Interrupted crusts up to 6 mm across and up to 0.3 mm thick consisting of equant, prismatic, or tabular crystals or grains up to 0.3 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia, number 95347.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumarole
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Pekov, Igor V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Britvin, Sergey N., Turchkova, Anna G., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu. (2020) Eleomelanite, (K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4, a new mineral species from the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (5) 625-636 doi:10.3749/canmin.2000032
Synonyms of Eleomelanite
Other Language Names for Eleomelanite
Dutch:Eleomelaniet
German:Eleomelanit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Eleomelanite associated with Euchlorine | KNaCu3(SO4)3O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.BC. | Viskontite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6 |
| 7.BC. | Zincochenite | Pb4Zn(OH)6(SO4)2 |
| 7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Mn) | Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
| 7.BC. | D'Ansite-(Fe) | Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3 |
| 7.BC. | Acmonidesite | (NH4,K,Pb)8NaFe2+4(SO4)5Cl8 |
| 7.BC. | Adranosite | (NH4)4NaAl2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
| 7.BC. | Chromviskontite | Pb5Cu2(CrO4)3(SeO3)(OH)6 |
| 7.BC. | Backite | Pb2AlTeO6Cl |
| 7.BC. | Adranosite-(Fe) | (NH4)4NaFe3+2(SO4)4Cl(OH)2 |
| 7.BC. | Agaite | Pb3CuTeO5(OH)2(CO3) |
| 7.BC. | Wildcatite | CaFe3+Te6+O5(OH) |
| 7.BC. | Hagstromite | Pb8Cu2+(Te6+O6)2(CO3)Cl4 |
| 7.BC.05 | D'Ansite | Na21Mg(SO4)10Cl3 |
| 7.BC.07 | 'Apatelite' | Fe3(SO4)2(OH)5 · 0.5H2O |
| 7.BC.07 | 'Unnamed (Ba-Fe Vanadate)' | Ba, Fe, V, O, H |
| 7.BC.10 | Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Dorallcharite | TlFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Argentojarosite | AgFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Natroalunite | NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Natrojarosite | NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Cu) | Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Beaverite-(Zn) | Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Walthierite | Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Huangite | Ca0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | 'Natroalunite-2c' | (Na,Ca0.5,K)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Plumbojarosite | Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Karlseifertite | Pb(Ga2Ge)(AsO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Ammonioalunite | (NH4)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Ammoniojarosite | (NH4)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Osarizawaite | Pb(Al2Cu2+)(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.10 | Schlossmacherite | (H3O)Al3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.15 | Ye'elimite | Ca4Al6(SO4)O12 |
| 7.BC.20 | Nabokoite | KCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OCl |
| 7.BC.20 | Puninite | Na2Cu3O(SO4)3 |
| 7.BC.20 | Atlasovite | K(BiO)Cu6Fe3+(SO4)5O3Cl |
| 7.BC.25 | Chlorothionite | K2Cu(SO4)Cl2 |
| 7.BC.30 | Euchlorine | KNaCu3(SO4)3O |
| 7.BC.30 | Fedotovite | K2Cu3(SO4)3O |
| 7.BC.35 | Kamchatkite | KCu3(SO4)2OCl |
| 7.BC.40 | Piypite | K4Cu4O2(SO4)4 · (Na,Cu)Cl |
| 7.BC.45 | Alumoklyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)4O2 |
| 7.BC.45 | Belousovite | KZn(SO4)Cl |
| 7.BC.45 | Klyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2 |
| 7.BC.47 | Müllerite | Pb2Fe3+(Te6+O6)Cl |
| 7.BC.50 | Caledonite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.50 | Elasmochloite | Na3Cu6BiO4(SO4)5 |
| 7.BC.55 | Falgarite | K4(VO)3(SO4)5 |
| 7.BC.55 | Wherryite | Pb7Cu2(SO4)4(SiO4)2(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.57 | Krasheninnikovite | KNa2CaMg(SO4)3F |
| 7.BC.60 | Wulffite | K3NaCu4O2(SO4)4 |
| 7.BC.60 | Parawulffite | K5Na3Cu8O4(SO4)8 |
| 7.BC.60 | Mammothite | Pb6Cu4AlSb5+O2(OH)16Cl4(SO4)2 |
| 7.BC.62 | Shuvalovite | K2(Ca2Na)(SO4)3F |
| 7.BC.65 | Saccoite | Ca2Mn3+2F(OH)8 · 0.5(SO4) |
| 7.BC.65 | Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.65 | Therasiaite | (NH4)3KNa2Fe2+Fe3+(SO4)3Cl5 |
| 7.BC.65 | Franksousaite | PbCu(Se6+O4)(OH)2 |
| 7.BC.65 | Munakataite | Pb2Cu2(Se4+O3)(SO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.BC.65 | Schmiederite | Pb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4 |
| 7.BC.70 | Chenite | Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.BC.75 | Krivovichevite | Pb3Al(OH)6(SO4)(OH) |
| 7.BC.80 | Anhydrokainite | KMg(SO4)Cl |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 8.1810% | 2,536 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
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 Eleomelanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-47609.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Eleomelanite
Reference List:
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S.J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter no 30. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (2) 407-413 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.081
Pekov, Igor V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Agakhanov, Atali A., Chukanov, Nikita V., Belakovskiy, Dmitry I., Sidorov, Evgeny G., Britvin, Sergey N., Turchkova, Anna G., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu. (2020) Eleomelanite, (K2Pb)Cu4O2(SO4)4, a new mineral species from the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 58 (5) 625-636 doi:10.3749/canmin.2000032
Localities for Eleomelanite
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.
Italy | |
| Pellino et al. (2025) |
Russia (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout EleomelaniteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatRadioactivityOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia