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Gilalite

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Christmas Mine (Red Bird shafts; Inspiration Mine; Hackberry shafts), Christmas, Christmas area, Banner District, Dripping Spring Mts, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
© Elmar Lackner

Show Gilalite Photos (12)
Formula:
Cu
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
17
·7H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Translucent green, ...
Hardness:2
This page provides mineralogical data about Gilalite.

Classification of Gilalite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/D.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.HE.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
E : With Cu, Zn
Dana 8th edition ID:78.4.4.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
4 :
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.2.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Gilalite

Type Locality:Christmas Mine (Red Bird shafts; Inspiration Mine; Hackberry shafts), Christmas, Christmas area, Banner District, Dripping Spring Mts, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1980

Physical Properties of Gilalite

Colour:Translucent green, blue-green
Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Gilalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.38Å, b = 19.16Å, c = 9.02Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.698 : 1 : 0.471
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,312.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Gilalite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.560 nβ = 1.635 nγ = 1.635
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.075

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Gilalite

Formula:
Cu
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
17
·7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mn,Mg,Ca

Relationship of Gilalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.HE.10Apachite
Cu
 
9
Si
 
10
O
 
29
·11H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.2.1Dioptase
CuSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.2.2Shattuckite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
3
)
 
4
]
14.2.3Plancheite
Cu
 
8
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
] · H
 
2
O
14.2.5Chrysocolla
(Cu,Al)
 
2
H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·nH
 
2
O
14.2.6Litidionite
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
14.2.7Reinhardbraunsite
Ca
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
14.2.8Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.2.9Kinoite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
14.2.10Stringhamite
CaCu[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.2.11Apachite
Cu
 
9
Si
 
10
O
 
29
·11H
 
2
O

Other Names for Gilalite

Synonyms:
IMA1979-021
German names:
Gilalit
Spanish names:
Gilalita

Other Information

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 Gilalite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 65: 1065.

Articles/Blogs about Gilalite

Internet Links for Gilalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Gilalite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Gilalite

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    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.
    Brazil
     
    • Northeast Region
    		Rob Lavinsky
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Thorikos area
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Dripping Spring Mts
          • Banner District
            • Christmas area
              • Christmas
    		Cesbron, F.P. & S.A. Williams (1980), Apachite and gilalite, two new copper silicates from Christmas, AZ, Min.Mag.: 43: 639-641; Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 231, 428.
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Goodsprings District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
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