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Guildite

Formula:
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Brown, yellow
Lustre:VitreousHardness:
Name:After Frank Nelson Guild (1870-1939), University of Arizona, USA


This mineral was formed under anthropogenic conditions (mine fire) and would not be approved as a mineral species under current international rules.

Classification of Guildite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.10-100
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DC.30

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:31.9.7.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.23

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
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Type Occurrence of Guildite

Type Locality:United Verde Mine (The Big Hole; Big Hole property; Hull Mine; Hopewell tunnel; Patented claim 3480; Patented claim 2812; Patented claims 3348), Jerome, Verde District, Black Hills (Black Hill Range), Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1928
Geological Setting of type material:Burning pyritic ore body.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Coquimbite

Physical Properties of Guildite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Brown, yellow
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001} and {100}, perfect.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Guildite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.78Å, b = 7.13Å, c = 7.26Å
β = 105.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.372 : 1 : 1.018
Unit Cell Volume:V 488.31 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic, pseudo-cubic to .5 cm diameter.

Optical Data of Guildite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.622 - 1.623 nβ = 1.628 - 1.630 nγ = 1.681 - 1.684
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.059 - 0.061

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:relatively weak
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Light yellow Y = Light yellow Z = Greenish yellow
Comments:2V small.

Chemical Properties of Guildite

Formula:
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, H, O, S

Relationship of Guildite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DC.05Aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.05Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Butlerite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.15Fibroferrite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.20Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
[Cl|SO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Zincobotryogen
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Chaidamuite
ZnFe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)·4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.2.1Chalcocyanite
CuSO
 
4
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.2.4Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.2.5Dolerophanite
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.12Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.18Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Guildite

Other Languages:
German:Guildit
Russian:Гильдит
Spanish:Guildita

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 Guildite

Reference List:Lausen (1928) American Mineralogist: 13: 203.

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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 619.

American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 501.

American Mineralogist (1978): 63: 478-483.

Articles/Blogs about Guildite

Internet Links for Guildite

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

    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.
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Western Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Poniky
    Pauliš,P.,Ďuďa,R.,2002: Nejzajímavejší mineralogická naletište Slovenska. Kuttna,K.Hora, 136p
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Black Hills (Black Hill Range)
          • Verde District
            • Jerome
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 240; Lausen, C. (1928), Hydrous sulphates formed under fumerolic conditions at the United Verde mine, American Mineralogist: 13: 203-229; Laughon, R.B. (1970), New data on guildite, American Mineralogist: 55: 502-505; Galbraith, F.W. & Brennan (1959), Minerals of Arizona: 66.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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