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Linarite

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Eaglebrook Mine (Nant-Y-Cagel Mine; Nantycagl Mine; Nantygagal Mine; Dolrhyddlan Mine), Nant-y-Moch Reservoir area, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire), Wales, UK
© Steve Rust

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Formula:
PbCu[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Deep azure blue; deep ...
Hardness:2½
Name:Named in 1839 for the type locality, Linares, Jaen, Spain.


Linarite-Chenite group.

Usually found as small to microscopic azure blue crystals, either tabular or elongated, in clusters or as crusts.

Classification of Linarite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/B.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.BC.65

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:30.2.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:30.2.3.1

30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.7.6

25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Linarite

Type Locality:Linares, Linares-La Carolina District, Jaén, Andalusia, Spain
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany 46.527
Year of Discovery:1822

Occurrences of Linarite

Geological Setting:An uncommon secondary mineral found in the oxidation zone of lead mineral deposits.

Physical Properties of Linarite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Deep azure blue; deep blue in transmitted light.
Comment:Similar to azurite but not as deep.
Streak:Pale blue.
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100}, perfect; on {001}, imperfect.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.35 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.33 g/cm3

Crystallography of Linarite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m (P1 1 21/m) [P21/m] {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.701(2) Å, b = 5.65Å, c = 4.69Å
β = 102.65°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.717 : 1 : 0.83
Unit Cell Volume:V 250.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals thin to thick tabular {101} and {001}, also elongated parallel to [010]; usually found as small to microscopic clusters or crusts.
Twinning:Twinning on {100} common; reported on {001}.
Crystal Atlas:
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Linarite no.6 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Linarite no.23 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Structure
  Reference
Effenberger H (1987) Crystal structure and chemical formula of schmiederite, Pb2Cu2(OH)4(SeO3)(SeO4), with a comparison to linarite PbCu(OH)2(SO4) Locality: Leadhills, Scotland. Mineralogy and Petrology 36:3-12.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.85(40)
4.52(60)
3.63(30)
3.56(60)
3.15(100)
3.11(40)
2.71(30)

Optical Data of Linarite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.809 nβ = 1.838 nγ = 1.859
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.050

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:Strong r < v
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X ^c~ -24° = Pale blue
Y = Clear blue
Z = b = Prussian-blue

Chemical Properties of Linarite

Formula:
PbCu[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, Pb, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, Pb, S

Relationship of Linarite to other Species

Related to:
  • Linarite-Chenite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    7.BC.05D'Ansite
    Na
     
    21
    		Mg(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    10
    		Cl
     
    3
    7.BC.10Alunite
    KAl
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Ammonioalunite
    (NH
     
    4
    		)Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Ammoniojarosite
    (NH
     
    4
    		)Fe
    3+
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Argentojarosite
    AgFe
    3+
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Beaverite
    Pb(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Cu,Al)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Dorallcharite
    (Tl,K)Fe
    3+
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Huangite
    CaAl
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4
    7.BC.10Hydroniumjarosite
    (H
     
    3
    		O)Fe
    3+
    3
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    6
    7.BC.10Jarosite
    KFe
    3+
     
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Minamiite
    (Na,Ca
     
    0.5
    		,K)Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Natroalunite
    (Na,K)Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Natrojarosite
    NaFe
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Osarizawaite
    Pb(Al,Cu)
     
    3
    		[(OH,H
     
    2
    		O)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.10Plumbojarosite
    PbFe
    3+
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4
    7.BC.10Schlossmacherite
    (H
     
    3
    		O,Ca)Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		,AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    7.BC.10Walthierite
    BaAl
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4
    7.BC.15Ye'elimite
    Ca
     
    4
    		Al
     
    6
    		[O
     
    12
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
    7.BC.20Atlasovite
    K(BiO)Cu
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		[Cl|O
     
    3
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    5
    		]
    7.BC.20Nabokoite
    KCu
     
    7
    		Te
    4+
     
    		[Cl|O
     
    4
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    5
    		]
    7.BC.25Chlorothionite
    K
     
    2
    		Cu[Cl
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
    7.BC.30Euchlorine
    KNaCu
     
    3
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    7.BC.30Fedotovite
    K
     
    2
    		Cu
     
    3
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    7.BC.35Kamchatkite
    KCu
     
    3
    		[O|Cl|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    7.BC.40Piypite
    K
     
    2
    		Cu
     
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    7.BC.45Klyuchevskite
    K
     
    3
    		Cu
     
    3
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.45Alumoklyuchevskite
    K
     
    3
    		Cu
     
    3
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.50Caledonite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Pb
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|CO
     
    3
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    7.BC.55Wherryite
    Pb
     
    7
    		Cu
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    2
    7.BC.60Mammothite
    Pb
     
    6
    		Cu
     
    4
    		AlSb[(OH)
     
    9
    		|Cl
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.65Schmiederite
    Pb
     
    2
    		Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|SeO
     
    3
    		|SeO
     
    4
    		]
    7.BC.65Munakataite
    Pb
     
    2
    		Cu
     
    2
    		(Se
    4+
     
    		O
     
    3
    		)(SO
     
    4
    		)(OH)
     
    4
    7.BC.70Chenite
    Pb
     
    4
    		Cu[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    7.BC.75Krivovichevite
    Pb
     
    3
    		[Al(OH)
     
    6
    		](SO
     
    4
    		)(OH)
    7.BC.80Anhydrokainite
    KMgClSO
     
    4
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    25.7.1Schaurteite
    Ca
     
    3
    		Ge[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    25.7.2Zircosulfate
    (Zr,Ti)(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    25.7.3Anglesite
    PbSO
     
    4
    25.7.4Lanarkite
    Pb
     
    2
    		[O|SO
     
    4
    		]
    25.7.5Palmierite
    (K,Na)
     
    2
    		Pb(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    25.7.7Elyite
    Pb
     
    4
    		Cu(SO
     
    4
    		)O
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    4
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    25.7.8Chenite
    Pb
     
    4
    		Cu[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    25.7.9Osarizawaite
    Pb(Al,Cu)
     
    3
    		[(OH,H
     
    2
    		O)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    25.7.10Itoite
    Pb
     
    3
    		Ge
    4+
     
    		[O|OH|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    25.7.11Fleischerite
    Pb
     
    3
    		Ge[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    25.7.12Beaverite
    Pb(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Cu,Al)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    25.7.13Plumbojarosite
    PbFe
    3+
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4

    Other Names for Linarite

    Synonyms:
    Crystallized Blue Carbonate of CopperCupreous AnglesiteCupreous sulphate of Lead
    Other Languages:
    Catalan:Linarita
    Dutch:Linariet
    French:Plomb sulfaté cuprifère
    German:Linarit
    Bleilasur
    Kupferbleispat
    Kupferbleivitriol
    Italian:Linarite
    Portuguese:Linarite
    Russian:Линарит
    Spanish:Linarita

    Other Information

    Other Information:Observed to alter to Antlerite and to cerussite with malachite.
    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 Linarite

    Reference List:Sowerby, J. (1809) British Mineralogy, or Coloured Figures Intended to Elucidate the Mineralogy of Great Britain. 5 volumes, London: 3: 5, fig. 203 (as Crystallized Blue Carbonate of Copper).

    Brooke (1822) Annals of Philosophy, London: 4: 117 (as Cupreous Sulfate of Lead).

    Breithaupt, A. (1823) Vollständige Characteristik etc., 1st. ed. (as Bleilasur)

    Lévy, A. (1837) Description d’une collection de minéraux formée par M. Henri Heuland, et appartenant à M. Ch. H. Turner, de Rooksnest, dans le comté de Surrey en Angleterre. 3 volumes and atlas of 85 plates, London: 2: 455 (as Plomb sulfaté cuprifère).

    Glocker, E.F. (1839) Handbuch der Mineralogie, 2nd. edition, Nürnberg: 618.

    Phillips, Wm., revised by Alger, F. (1844) Mineralogy, Fifth edition. 662pp., Boston: 552.

    Koksharov, N. von (1866) Materialien zur Mineralogie Russlands. 11 volumes with atlas: vol. 5: 206.

    Koksharov, N. von (1869) Bulletin de Académy imperial de sciences, St. Pétersburg: 13: 472.

    Brugnatelli (1897) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 28: 307.

    Wada, Tsunashiro (1904) Minerals of Japan. 144 pp., Tokyo: 78 (Tamura, cited in).

    Johnston (1910) Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report 260.

    Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 152.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 158.

    Shannon (1926) U.S. Natural History Museum Bulletin: 131: 455.

    Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 4205.

    Fenoglio (1932) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 3: 4.

    Chukhrov (1937) Comptes rendu de l’Académy des sciences de l'Union des Républiques Soviétiques Socialistes: 15: 95.

    Chukhrov (1939) Comptes rendu de l’Académy des sciences de l'Union des Républiques Soviétiques Socialistes: 22: 257.

    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.: 553-555.

    Rocks & Minerals: 81: 208-213.

    Acta Crystallographica: 14: 747-753.

    Mineralogy and Petrology (1987): 36: 3.

    Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 629.

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    Localities for Linarite

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