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Luddenite

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Artillery Peak area, Artillery Mts, Mohave Co., Arizona, USA
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Translucent nickel green
Hardness:4
Name:For Raymond W. Ludden the chief geologist for Western Exploration, Phelps Dodge Corp.
This page provides mineralogical data about Luddenite.

Classification of Luddenite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/D.21-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.HH.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
H : With Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:78.7.11.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
7 :
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.13.3

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
13 : Silicates of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Luddenite

Type Locality:Unnamed prospect, Artillery Peak, Artillery Mts, Mohave Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1982

Physical Properties of Luddenite

Colour:Translucent nickel green
Streak:Pale nickel green
Hardness (Mohs):4
Density (measured):4.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Luddenite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.85Å, b = 20.06Å, c = 14.72Å
β = 90.78°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.391 : 1 : 0.734
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,317.76 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Grains not exceeding 0.01 mm in size. They form in rosettes or fan-shaped aggregates closely packed together. Where individual grains can be discerned, they are scales or plates with wedge-shaped terminations.

Optical Data of Luddenite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 1.852 nγ = 1.867
2V:Measured: 40°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.015

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none
Comments:gamma=rich emerald green, alpha = beta = yellow green.

Chemical Properties of Luddenite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, Pb, Si
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, Pb, Si
Common Impurities:Ti

Relationship of Luddenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.HH.05Macquartite
Pb
 
3
Cu(CrO
 
4
)(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.HH.15Creaseyite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
17
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.HH.20Plumbotsumite
Pb
 
13
(CO
 
3
)
 
6
(Si
 
10
O
 
27
) · 3H
 
2
O
9.HH.25Molybdophyllite
Pb
 
2
Mg
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.13.1Alamosite
Pb
 
12
[Si
 
12
O
 
36
]
14.13.2Plumbotsumite
Pb
 
13
(CO
 
3
)
 
6
(Si
 
10
O
 
27
) · 3H
 
2
O
14.13.4Molybdophyllite
Pb
 
2
Mg
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
14.13.5Margarosanite
Pb(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.13.6Ganomalite
Pb
 
9
Ca
 
5
Mn(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)O
14.13.7Kentrolite
Pb
 
2
Mn
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
14.13.8Barysilite
Pb
 
8
Mn
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
3
14.13.9Melanotekite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
14.13.10Creaseyite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
17
 · 6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Luddenite

Synonyms:
IMA1981-032
Other Languages:
German:Luddenit
Spanish:Luddenita

Other Information

Other Information:Luddenite is not easily soluble in acids. Dissolution even in heated 50 % HNO3 was slow. It readily fuses to a runny lemon yellow slag in the closed tube.
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 Luddenite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Magazine (1982): 46: 363-364.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 643.

Internet Links for Luddenite

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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Habach valley
          • Nasenkopf Mt.
    		Brandstätter, F., Hirche, T., Niedermayr, G. & Walter, F. (2010): 1638) Azurit, Brochantit, Devillin, Linarit, Luddenit (?), Malachit, Mottramit und Wulfenit sowie andere Mineralien aus der Greinerrinne im Habachtal, Salzburg. Pp. 225-227 in Niedermayr et al. (2010): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich LIX. Carinthia II, 200./120., 199-260.
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Grafenwöhr
          • Freihung
    		http://www.mineralienatlas.de/forum/index.php/topic,16866.15.html
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Tonopah
              • Belmont Mountain
                • Tiger Wash
      • Mohave Co.
        • Artillery Mts
          • Artillery Peak
    		S. A. Williams (1982) Luddenite, a New Copper-Lead Silicate from Arizona Mineralogical Magazine 1982 46 : 363-364
          • Rawhide Wash
            • Rawhide Mine area
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 104, 369; Williams, S.A. (1982), Luddenite, a new copper-lead silicate mineral from AZ, Min.Mag.: 46:363-364.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 280.
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