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Mimetite

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Pingtouling Mine (Dashuihu Mine), Liannan Co., Qingyuan Prefecture, Guangdong Province, China
© Peter Haas

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Formula:
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
System:HexagonalColour:Pale-yellow, ...
Lustre:Sub-Adamantine, ResinousHardness:3½ - 4
Name:Named in 1835 from the Greek μϊμητής for "imitator," in allusion to its resemblance to pyromorphite.
Dimorph of:Clinomimetite
Isostructural with:Pyromorphite, Vanadinite


Apatite Group. Pyromorphite Subgroup.
Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series. The arsenate analogue of Pyromorphite and Vanadinite. The Pb5 analogue of Hedyphane. The hexagonal polymorph of Clinomimetite.

A secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of lead deposits. Usually found as small hexagonal prisms, often plain but may be modified, sprinkled on the matrix thinly to thickly. Its colour is quite variable, ranging from pale yellow to yellowish-brown to orange-yellow to orange-red, brownish, greenish, white and colorless.

Classification of Mimetite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.39-160
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BN.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
Dana 7th edition ID:41.8.4.2
Dana 8th edition ID:41.8.4.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.2.10

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
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Type Occurrence of Mimetite

Type Locality:Treue Freundschaft Mine, Johanngeorgenstadt, Johanngeorgenstadt District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1832

Occurrences of Mimetite

Geological Setting:It is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of lead mineral deposits, and in other settings where lead and arsenic occur together.

Physical Properties of Mimetite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Pale-yellow, yellowish-brown, orangish-yellow, orangish-red, white, colorless; colourless or faintly tinted in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
In traces on {1011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):7.24 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.26 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mimetite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.250(2) Å, c = 7.454(1) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.727
Unit Cell Volume:V 678.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Typically in simple prisms [0001], barrel-shaped, showing {1010} and {1000}; also equant, rarely tabular {0001}, or pyramidal. Frequently as rounded, barrel-shaped forms; spindle-shaped, or with cavernous basal terminations; globular, stalactic, reniform and granular. Branching groups of prismatic crystals in sub-parallel position, tapering down to a point. Acicular at times.
Twinning:Very rarely on {1122}.
Comment:On synthetic material.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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
4.44(20)
3.36(40)
3.06(100)
3.01(90)
2.96(70)
2.11(30)
1.994(20)
Comments:Data given are for synthetic material.

Optical Data of Mimetite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.147 nε = 2.128
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.019

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Visible in tinted material in transmitted light.
Comments:May be anomalously biaxial - . Sectored

Chemical Properties of Mimetite

Formula:
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
Essential elements:As, Cl, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:As, Cl, O, Pb
Common Impurities:Ca,F,Cr,V

Relationship of Mimetite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Pyromorphite (see here)
Member of Group:
Apatite Supergroup:
A
 
5
(XO
 
4
)
 
3
Z
 
q
Pyromorphite Subgroup:
Common Associates:
WulfeniteVanadiniteSmithsoniteMottramiteMalachite
LimoniteLeadhilliteHemimorphiteDescloiziteCerussite
CaledoniteBayldoniteAnglesite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BN.05Alforsite
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Belovite-(Ce)
NaSr
 
3
(Ce,La)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaF)
Ca
 
5
[(F,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[(OH,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Fermorite
(Ca,Sr)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaF)
Ca
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Johnbaumite
Ca
 
5
[OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(SrOH)
(Sr,Ca)
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
8.BN.05Svabite
Ca
 
5
[(F,Cl,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Belovite-(La)
NaSr
 
3
(La,Ce)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Deloneite-(Ce)
NaCa
 
2
SrCe(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Fluorcaphite
(Ca,Sr,Ce,Na)
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Kuannersuite-(Ce)
NaBa
 
3
(Ce,Nd,La)[(F,Cl)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)-M
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Ca
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Phosphohedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05IMA2008-009
Sr
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05IMA2008-068
Ca
 
2
Pb
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.10Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.2.1Sampleite
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.2Lavendulan
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.3Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.4Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.5Shubnikovite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
8
[Cl|OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.2.6Richelsdorfite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
5
Sb[Cl|(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
22.2.7Alforsite
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.8Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.9Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.11Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.12Sahlinite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.13Georgiadèsite
Pb
 
16
[(OH)
 
6
|Cl
 
14
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
]
22.2.14Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.15Kombatite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.16Leningradite
PbCu
 
3
[Cl|VO
 
4
]
 
2
22.2.17Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.18Nealite
Pb
 
4
Fe
2+
 
[Cl
 
2
|AsO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
41.8.4.1Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]

Other Names for Mimetite

Synonyms:
Arsenate of LeadGorlanditeMimeteneMimetesiteMimtesite
Petterdite (of Twelvetrees)
Other Languages:
Basque:Mimetita
Catalan:Mimetita
Dutch:Mimetiet
French:Mimetèse
Plomb arseniaté
Plomb vert arsenical
German:Mimetesit
Arsenikalisches Bleyerz
Arsenikbleispath
Arsensaures Blei
Bleiarsenapatit
Flockenerz
Gorlandit
Mimetit
Mimtesit
Traubenblei
Italian:Mimetite
Latin:Minera plumbi Viridis (of Wallerius)
Plumbum arsenico mineralisatum
Polish:Mimetezyt
Portuguese:Mimetita
Russian:Миметит
Spanish:Mimetita
Gorlandita
Mimetesita
Mimtesita
Ukrainian:Міметезит
Varieties:
BelliteCalcian MimetiteCampyliteChromian MimetitePrixite
Vanadian Mimetite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:May fluoresce reddish yellow under SW and LW
Electrical:Piezioelectric.
Other Information:Soluble in HNO3 and KOH.

Forms pseudomorphs after an unknown mineral (Anglesite ?)(Durango, Mexico). Also alters to Bayldonite (Tsmeb).
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 Mimetite

Reference List:Wallerius, J.G (1748) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm: 296 (as Plumbum arsenico mineralisatum).

Proust (1787) Le Journal de physique et le radium, Paris: 30: 394 (as Plomb vert arsenical).

Fourcroy (1789) Mem. Ac. Sc., Paris (as Plomb vert arsenical).

Lenz, D.G. (1794) Versuch einer vollständigen Anleitung zur Kenntniss der Mineralien. 2 volumes, Leipzig: 2: 224 (as Arsenikalisches Bleyerz).

Haidinger, Wm. (1825) Treatise on Mineralogy, by F. Mohs; translation with considerable additions. 3 volumes, Edinburg: 2: 135.

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 594 (as Mimetèse).

Shepard C.U. (1835) Treatise on Mineralogy. First edition (as Mimetene).

Breithaupt, A. (1841) Vollständige Handbuch der Mineralogie. Vol. 2: 289 (as Mimetesit).

Haidinger, Wm. (1845) (as Mimetit).

Glocker, E.F. (1847) Generum et specierum mineralien secundum ordines naturals digestorum synopsis. Halle: 254 (as Mimetit).

Igelström (1865) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 22: 229.

Baumhauer (1876) Jb. Min.: 411.

Bertrand (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 35.

Jannettaz (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 39.

Jannettaz and Michel (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 196.

Smith (1885) American Journal of Science: 20: 248.

Genth and vom Rath (1887) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 24: 33.

Klein (1902) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 748.

Bowman (1903) Mineralogical Magazine: 13: 324.

Serra (1909) Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome: 18: 361.

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 407 (Bertrand analysis).

Goldschmidt and Schroeder (1912) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 51: 362.

Amadori (1916) 1st. Lombardo, Rend.: [2], 49, 137.

Wherry (1918) Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 54: 373.

Anderson (1920) Rec. Australian Museum: 13: 1.

Goldschmidt, V. (1920) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 6: 45.

Hintze, Carl (1924) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4A]: 590, 595, 603.

Carobbi (1926) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: [3], 32, 54.

Drescher (1926) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 257.

Aminoff and Parsons (1927) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 49: 438.

Zambonini and Ferrari (1928) Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Atti.: [6], 7, 283.

Lietz (1931) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 77: 437.

Mehmel (1931) Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Leipzig, Berlin: 15A: 223.

Ahlfeld (1932) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 66: 41.

Hendricks, Jefferson, and Mosley (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 81: 352.

Schouten (1934) Economic Geology: 29: 611.

Chirva (1935) Trav. inst. Lomonossov, ac. Sc. U.R.S.S., no.: 5: 86.

Mélon (1943) Société géologique de Belgique, Liége, Annales: 66: B56.

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.: 889-895.

Baker, W. E. (1966): An X-ray diffraction study of synthetic members of the pyromorphite series. American Mineralogist 51, 1712-1721.

American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 993.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1990): 191: 125-129.

Canadian Mineralogist (1991): 29: 369-376.

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: 866.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 376.

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    Localities for Mimetite

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