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Olsacherite

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El Dragón mine, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
© Brent Thorne

Show Olsacherite Photos (6)
Formula:
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
SeO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicHardness:3 - 3½
Name:For Argentine mineralogist Juan Augusto Olsacher (1903-64).


An alteration product of Penroseite.

Classification of Olsacherite

IMA status:Approved 1969
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/B.13-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AD.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:32.1.3.1

32 : COMPOUND SULFATES
1 : Anhydrous Compound Sulfates
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.2.1

28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
2 : Selenates
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Type Occurrence of Olsacherite

Type Locality:Virgen de Surumi mine (Pacajake mine; Pakajake mine), Pakajake Canyon (Pacajake Canyon), Chayanta Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Year of Discovery:1969

Physical Properties of Olsacherite

Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½

Crystallography of Olsacherite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.42Å, b = 10.96Å, c = 7Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.768 : 1 : 0.639
Unit Cell Volume:V 645.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Olsacherite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.945 nβ = 1.966 nγ = 1.983
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.038

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:relatively weak

Chemical Properties of Olsacherite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
SeO
 
4
Essential elements:O, Pb, S, Se
All elements listed in formula:O, Pb, S, Se

Relationship of Olsacherite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.AD.05Arcanite
K
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AD.05Mascagnite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
SO
 
4
7.AD.10Mercallite
KHSO
 
4
7.AD.15Misenite
K
 
8
H
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
7
7.AD.20Letovicite
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
H(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.25Glauberite
Na
 
2
Ca(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.30Anhydrite
CaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Anglesite
PbSO
 
4
7.AD.35Baryte
BaSO
 
4
7.AD.35Celestine
SrSO
 
4
7.AD.40Kalistrontite
K
 
2
Sr(SO
 
4
)
 
2
7.AD.40Palmierite
(K,Na)
 
2
Pb(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
28.2.2Schmiederite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SeO
 
3
|SeO
 
4
]

Other Names for Olsacherite

Synonyms:
IMA1969-009Selenolite
Other Languages:
French:Acide selenieux
German:Olsacherit
Selenolit
Spanish:Olsacherita
Selenolita

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 Olsacherite

Reference List:Bertrand (1882), Bull. soc. min.: 5: 92.

Dana (1892): 201.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 595.

American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 1519-1527.

Internet Links for Olsacherite

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    Localities for Olsacherite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • Mendoza
      • Sierra de Cacheuta
        • Cerro de Cacheuta
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Antonio Quijarro Province
    		[MinRec 21:133]
      • Chayanta Province
        • Pakajake Canyon (Pacajake Canyon)
    		[Amer.Min.(1969) 54, 1519-1527; MinRec 32:476]
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Cagliari Province
        • Villaputzu
    		Campostrini, I. & Gramaccioli, C. M. (2001): Selenium-rich secondary minerals from the Baccu Locci mine (Sardinia, Italy). Neues Jahrbuch fuer Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 177, 37-59.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Staffordshire
        • Ecton
          • Back of Ecton
    		UKJMM No25, pp33-34
    Mineral and/or Locality
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