Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Penfieldite

Big Photo

Sierra Gorda District, Tocopilla Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© C.Thorsten

Show Penfieldite Photos (18)
Formula:
Pb
 
2
[OH|Cl
 
3
]
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless, white, ...
Hardness:3 - 4
Name:For US mineralogist, Samuel Lewis Penfield (1856-1906), Yale University.
This page provides mineralogical data about Penfieldite.

Classification of Penfieldite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.10-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DC.15

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:10.4.1.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
4 : A2(O,OH)Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.9

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3146.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Penfieldite

Type Locality:Lavrion District slag localities, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece
Year of Discovery:1892

Physical Properties of Penfieldite

Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white, yellowish or bluish tints
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {0001}.

Crystallography of Penfieldite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 - Trigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P6
Cell Parameters:a = 11.28Å, c = 48.65Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 4.313
Unit Cell Volume:V 5,360.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals usually prismatic [0001] with {10_10} or steeply pyramidal; also tabular {0001}. Crystals tiny and commonly grouped in parallel position.
Twinning:1. Twin axis [21_30] with (0001) as composition face. Twinned crystals having [0001] in common but turned 21°47' to each other. 2. Twin plane {41_54} with the twinned crystals having c and c' almost at right angles.
Comment:Strongly pronounced subcell: a = 11.393, c = 4.024 A (Merlino et al., 1995)
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Penfieldite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
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.

Optical Data of Penfieldite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 2.130 nε = 2.210
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.080

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

Chemical Properties of Penfieldite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
[OH|Cl
 
3
]
Essential elements:Cl, H, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, O, Pb

Relationship of Penfieldite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DC.05Laurionite
PbClOH
3.DC.05Paralaurionite
PbClOH
3.DC.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
4
F(OH)·H
 
2
O
3.DC.20Laurelite
Pb(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
3.DC.25Bismoclite
BiOCl
3.DC.25Daubréeite
BiO(OH,Cl)
3.DC.25Matlockite
PbFCl
3.DC.25Rorisite
CaFCl
3.DC.25Zavaritskite
BiOF
3.DC.25Zhangpeishanite
BaFCl
3.DC.30Nadorite
PbSb[O
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.30Perite
PbBi[O
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.35Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
[F
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.37Calcioaravaipaite
PbCa
 
2
[(F,OH)
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.40Thorikosite
Pb
 
3
[OH|(SbO
 
3
,AsO
 
3
)|Cl
 
2
]
3.DC.45Mereheadite
Pb
 
2
[O|OH|Cl]
3.DC.50Blixite
Pb
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Cl]
3.DC.55Pinalite
Pb
 
3
WO
 
3
Cl
 
2
3.DC.60Symesite
Pb
 
10
[O
 
7
|SO
 
4
|Cl
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.65Ecdemite
Pb
 
6
[As
 
2
O
 
7
|Cl
 
4
]
3.DC.65Heliophyllite
Pb
 
3
AsO
 
4-n
Cl
 
2n+1
3.DC.70Mendipite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
]
3.DC.75Damaraite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|OH|Cl]
3.DC.80Onoratoite
Sb
 
8
O
 
11
Cl
 
2
3.DC.85Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
3.DC.90Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
3.DC.95Barstowite
Pb
 
4
[Cl
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.8.1Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
8.8.2Matlockite
PbFCl
8.8.3Laurelite
Pb(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
8.8.4Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
8.8.5Mendipite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
]
8.8.6Damaraite
Pb
 
3
[O
 
2
|OH|Cl]
8.8.7Laurionite
PbClOH
8.8.8Paralaurionite
PbClOH
8.8.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
4
F(OH)·H
 
2
O
8.8.11Blixite
Pb
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Cl]
8.8.12Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
8.8.13Diaboleite
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
8.8.14Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
8.8.15Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
O
 
2
8.8.17Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
Ag[(F,OH)
 
2
|Cl
 
3
]
8.8.18Boleite
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
8.8.19Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
[F
 
3
|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.8.20Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
(Cl,OH)
 
6
Cr
3+
 
(OH,O)
 
8
8.8.21Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
8.8.22Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)

Other Names for Penfieldite

Other Languages:
German:Penfieldit
Russian:Пенфильдит
Spanish:Penfieldita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in dilute HNO3. Decomposed by water, rendering a yellow-white precipitate of lead oxychloride.
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 Penfieldite

Reference List:Genth (1892) American Journal of Science: 44: 260.

Penfield (1894) American Journal of Science: 48: 114.

Goldschmidt (1897): 260.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 118.

American Mineralogist (1941): 26: 293.

Gordon (1941) Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, Not. Nat., no. 69.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 66-67.

Merlino, S., M. Pasero, N. Perchiazzi, and A. Gianfagna (1995): X-ray and electron diffraction study of penfieldite: average structure and multiple cells. Mineral. Mag., 59, 341-347.

Articles/Blogs about Penfieldite

Internet Links for Penfieldite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Penfieldite on Google
  • Look for Penfieldite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Penfieldite on Webmineral
  • Look for Penfieldite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Penfieldite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Penfieldite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Penfieldite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Penfieldite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Find Penfieldite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Search for - Penfieldite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Search for Penfieldite on minvision.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Penfieldite specimens
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Penfieldite

    (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.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Tocopilla Province
    		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: 67.
          • Caracoles
    		maurizio dini collection - analysed material
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
    		American Mineralogist (1941): 26: 293; 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: 67; Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie (1968): 91: 407; Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags
          • Passa Limani area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals of the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Sounion area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Thorikos area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Vrissaki area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    		Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    USA
     
    • Idaho
      • Shoshone Co.
        • Coeur d'Alene District
          • Mullan
    		R&M 70:4 pp 242-263
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.