Alamosite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Alamosite
Formula:
PbSiO3
Also given as Pb12(Si12O36).
Colour:
Colorless to white, cream, or light gray
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
6.488
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality at Alamos, Mun. de Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Alamosite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
93
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:93:8
Similar Names
| Almbosite | A discredited species name | Fe52+Fe43+V46+Si3O27 |
| Lamosite | A synonym of 'Lamalginite' |
IMA Classification of Alamosite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+SiO3
First published:
1909
Classification of Alamosite
9.DO.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
65.7.1.1
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
7 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P > 7
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
7 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P > 7
14.13.1
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
13 : Silicates of Pb
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
13 : Silicates of Pb
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aam | 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 Alamosite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless to white, cream, or light gray
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{010}
{010}
Density:
6.488(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 6.30 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Alamosite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.947 nβ = 1.961 nγ = 1.968
2V:
Measured: 65° , Calculated: 70°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.021
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
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Alamosite
Mindat Formula:
PbSiO3
Also given as Pb12(Si12O36).
Also given as Pb12(Si12O36).
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Al,Fe,Mn,Ca
Crystallography of Alamosite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/m
Setting:
P2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.247 Å, b = 7.059 Å, c = 11.236 Å
β = 113.12°
β = 113.12°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.735 : 1 : 1.592
Unit Cell V:
893.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
12
Morphology:
Crystals fibrous parallel [010]; as radiating aggregates and balls, to 7.5 cm.
Comment:
P2/n
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010657 | Alamosite | Boucher M L, Peacor D R (1968) The crystal structure of alamosite, PbSiO3 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 126 98-111 |  | 1968 | Alamos, Sonora, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.34 Å | (100) |
| 3.56 Å | (95) |
| 3.53 Å | (75) |
| 2.300 Å | (75) |
| 3.23 Å | (70) |
| 2.987 Å | (70) |
| 3.25 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Tsumeb, Namibia.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Geological Setting:
As a rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of lead-bearing base metal deposits.
Type Occurrence of Alamosite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Radiating fibrous spheres.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 84859, 85509.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Alamosite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 23 photos of Alamosite associated with Melanotekite | Pb2Fe3+2(Si2O7)O2 |
| 10 photos of Alamosite associated with Kegelite | Pb8Al4(Si8O20)(SO4)2(CO3)4(OH)8 |
| 4 photos of Alamosite associated with Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with Ganomalite | Pb9Ca5Mn(Si2O7)4(SiO4)O |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with 'Calcium-bearing Queitite' | (Pb,Ca)4Zn2(SO4)(SiO4)(Si2O7) |
| 2 photos of Alamosite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 1 photo of Alamosite associated with Plumbotsumite | Pb13(CO3)6(Si10O27) · 3H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DO. | Braccoite | NaMn2+5[Si5As5+O17(OH)](OH) |
| 9.DO. | Illoqite-(Ce) | Na2NaBaCeZnSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.05 | Pyroxferroite | (Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO3 |
| 9.DO.05 | Pyroxmangite | Mn2+SiO3 |
| 9.DO.10 | Pellyite | Ba2CaFe2+2Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Manganonordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeMn2+Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeFe2+Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Nordite-(Ce) | (Ce,La)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Nordite-(La) | (La,Ce)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(La) | Na3Sr(La,Ce)FeSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.15 | Meieranite | Na2Sr3MgSi6O17 |
| 9.DO.25 | Liebauite | Ca3Cu5Si9O26 |
| 9.DO.30 | Vladykinite | Na3Sr4(Fe2+Fe3+)Si8O24 |
| 9.DO.30 | Rundqvistite-(Ce) | Na3(Sr3Ce)[Zn2Si8O24] |
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 Alamosite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-93.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Alamosite
Reference List:
Palache, C., Merwin, Η. E. (1909) Alamosit, ein neues Bleisilicat aus Mexico. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 46 (1). 513-515 doi:10.1524/zkri.1909.46.1.513
Mackay, A. L. (1952) The unit cell and space-group of alamosite (PbSiO3) Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 29 (218) 933-935 doi:10.1180/minmag.1952.029.218.05
Boucher, M. L., Peacor, Donald R. (1968) The crystal structure of alamosite, PbSiO3. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 126 (1). 98-111 doi:10.1524/zkri.1968.126.1-3.98
Cunha, T.R., Sampaio, D.V., Pena, R.B., Moulton, B.J.A., Lancelotti, R.F., Alabarse, F.G., Rodrigues, A.D., Pizani, P.S. (2022) Thermal expansion and compressibility of alamosite (PbSiO3) determined by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Ceramics International, 48 (23) 34350-34354 doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.08.012
Pena, R. B., Cunha, T. R., Gomes, E. O., Sampaio, D. V., Rodrigues, A. D., Andrés, J., Pizani, P. S. (2023) Vibrational Raman modes of alamosite (PbSiO3): Combining density functional theory calculations and in situ temperature experiments. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 54 (12) 1484-1489 doi:10.1002/jrs.6605
Localities for Alamosite
Showing 19 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.
Canada | |
| Caplette et al. (2015) |
Chile | |
| Zori et al. (2013) |
Germany | |
| Dill (2008) |
Mexico | |
| Smith et al. (1953) +1 other reference |
| [Amer.J.Sci. (1909) +1 other reference |
Namibia | |
| Medenbach et al. (1975) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Folvik (2013) |
Poland | |
| Tyszka et al. (2018) |
Sweden | |
| Holtstam et al. (1999) +2 other references |
| Nysten (2003) +1 other reference |
| Nysten (1995) +1 other reference |
Tajikistan | |
| Agakhanov et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Raman analyzed at the University of ... +1 other reference |
| Williams (1982) |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) |
| Williams (1982) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1995) | |
| Analyzed at the University of Western ... |
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Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia