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Diaboleite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
System:TetragonalColour:Blue
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:
Name:From Greek διά, "Dia", apart or distinct from, in allusion to its difference from boleite.


A secondary mineral.

Classification of Diaboleite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.12-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DB.05

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
B : With Pb, Cu, etc.
Dana 7th edition ID:10.6.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:10.6.1.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : AmBn(O,OH)pXq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.13

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Diaboleite

Type Locality:Higher Pitts Mine, Priddy, Somerset, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1923
Geological Setting of type material:Oxidized iron and manganese ores.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MendipiteHydrocerussiteChloroxiphiteCerussite

Physical Properties of Diaboleite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Blue
Streak:Blue
Hardness (Mohs):
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}, not easy.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.41 - 5.43 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.48 g/cm3

Crystallography of Diaboleite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4mm - Ditetragonal Pyramidal
Space Group:P4mm
Cell Parameters:a = 5.86Å, c = 5.49Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.937
Unit Cell Volume:V 188.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals tabular {001}, with a square outline. The large base is negative; the positive pedion is lacking or is very small with a somewhat curved surface. Subparallel groups of thin plates.

Optical Data of Diaboleite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.980 nε = 1.850
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.130

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High

Chemical Properties of Diaboleite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb

Relationship of Diaboleite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
3.DB.10Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
3.DB.15Boleite
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
3.DB.20Cumengeite
3.DB.20Cumengeite
Pb
 
21
Cu
 
20
Cl
 
42
(OH)
 
40
·6H
 
2
O
3.DB.25Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
Ag[(F,OH)
 
2
|Cl
 
3
]
3.DB.30Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
O
 
2
3.DB.35Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)
3.DB.40Asisite
Pb
 
7
[O
 
4
|SiO
 
4
|Cl
 
2
]
3.DB.40Parkinsonite
(Pb,Mo,[])
 
8
O
 
8
Cl
 
2
3.DB.45Murdochite
PbCu
 
6
O
 
8-x
(Cl,Br)
 
2x
x<=0.5
3.DB.50Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
(Cl,OH)
 
6
Cr
3+
 
(OH,O)
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
8.8.1Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
8.8.2Matlockite
PbFCl
8.8.3Laurelite
Pb(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
8.8.4Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
8.8.5Mendipite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
]
8.8.6Damaraite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|OH|Cl]
8.8.7Laurionite
PbClOH
8.8.8Paralaurionite
PbClOH
8.8.9Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
[OH|Cl
 
3
]
8.8.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
4
F(OH)·H
 
2
O
8.8.11Blixite
Pb
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Cl]
8.8.12Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
8.8.14Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
8.8.15Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
O
 
2
8.8.17Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
Ag[(F,OH)
 
2
|Cl
 
3
]
8.8.18Boleite
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
8.8.19Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
[F
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.8.20Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
(Cl,OH)
 
6
Cr
3+
 
(OH,O)
 
8
8.8.21Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
8.8.22Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)

Other Names for Diaboleite

German names:
Diaboleit
Russian names:
Диаболеит
Spanish names:
Diaboleita

Other Information

Other Information:Completely soluble in nitric acid.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Diaboleite

Reference List:Spencer and Mountain (1923) Mineralogical Magazine: 20: 78.

American Mineralogist (1924): 9: 97.

Palache, C. (1941) American Mineralogist: 26: 605.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 82-83.

Rouse, R. C. (1971): The crystal chemistry of diaboleite. Zeitschrift fuer Kristallographie 134, 69-80.

Cooper, M. A. and Hawthorne, F. C. (1995): Diaboleite, Pb2Cu(OH)(4)Cl2, a defect perovskite structure with stereoactive lone-pair behavior of Pb2+. Canadian Mineralogist: 33, 1125-1129.

Internet Links for Diaboleite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Diaboleite on Google
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  • External Links:
  • Look for Diaboleite on Webmineral
  • Look for Diaboleite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Diaboleite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Diaboleite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Diaboleite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Find Diaboleite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
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  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Search for Diaboleite on minvision.com
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Search for Diaboleite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
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    Localities for Diaboleite

    The 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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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Mt Lofty Ranges
        • South Mt Lofty Ranges
          • Clarendon
    Kolitsch, U. and Elliott, P. (1999): Mineralogy of the Mount Malvern Mine near Clarendon, South Australia. Australian J. Mineral. 5, 3-17.
    • Western Australia
      • Pilbara Region
        • Ashburton Shire
    [Mandarino, 1997]
    Min. Record 24,203-218(1993)
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Tocopilla Province
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    V. Sapienza collection
    V. Sapienza collection
    M. Dini specimens
    • Atacama Region
      • Copiapó Province
        • Cachiyuyo de Llampos district
    Robert Jenkins collections; material analysed by Mr. Jenkins
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Var
        • Pradet
    http://www.mine-capgaronne.fr/site/Mineraux/ListeMineraux.html
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • North Hesse
        • Richelsdorf District
          • Süss
            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    No reference listed
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Ruhr Coal Mining area
        • Essen
    Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    Greece
     
    No reference listed
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    No reference listed
          • Sounion area
            • Sounion Mines
    Lapis, 24, 7/8 (1999)
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Passa Limani area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals of the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Sounion area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Thorikos area
    No reference listed
          • Vrissaki area
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Iran
     
    • Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province)
      • Anarak District
    S. Weiß: Lapis 29(12):38-39 (2004)
    P. Bariand and P. Herpin, Bull. Soc. Franç. Minér. Crist. , 1963, LXXXVI, pp. 133-135.
    • Khorasan (Khorassan; Khorasan va Sistan; Khurasan; Khorass; Khoras) Province
    Encyclopedia of Minerals, 2nd. edition: 224.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Campiglia Marittima
    Int. Assoc. of Collectors of Slag Minerals, 10 (2), 4-6.
        • Piombino
    Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
    Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Wadebridge District
          • Area West of Wadebridge
            • Padstow
    No reference listed
    No reference listed
      • Somerset
        • Cranmore
    Turner, R.W., (2006) A Mechanism for the formation of the Mineralised Mn Deposits at Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England. Min. Mag. vol. 70, no. 6, pp 629 - 653
        • Holwell
    BMS Database
        • Mendip Hills
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 57.
        • Priddy
    Mineralogical Magazine (1923): 20, 67-92 (the mineral 78-80); Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 83; Clark, 1993, "Hey's Mineral Index"] [MinRec 27:253]
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Painted Rock Mts
          • Painted Rock District
            • Theba
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 121, 202, 278, 425; Wilson, W.E. & D.K. Miller (1974), Minerals of the Rowley Mine, Min.Rec.: 5: 10-30.
      • Pinal Co.
    [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
          • Tiger
            • St. Anthony deposit
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 104, 141; Fahey, J.J., et al (1950), Wherryite, a new mineral from the Mammoth mine, AZ, Am.Min.: 35: 93-98; Bideaux, R.A. (1980), Tiger, AZ, Min.Rec.: 11: 155-181; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 67.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 202, 327; Palache, C. (1941b), Diaboleite from Mammoth mine, Tiger, AZ, Am.Min.: 26: 605-612; Fahey, J.J., et al (1950), Wherryite, a new mineral from the Mammoth mine, AZ, Am.Min.: 35: 93-98; Bideaux, R.A. (1980), Tiger, Arizona, Min.Rec.: 11: 155-181; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 55.
      • Santa Cruz Co.
        • Santa Rita Mts
          • Patagonia
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 202.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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