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Prosopite

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Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Prosopite Photos (20)
Formula:
CaAl
 
2
(F,OH)
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:Greyish, white; ...
Lustre:Vitreous, DullHardness:4½
Name:From the Greek προσωπείον, a mask, in allusion to the deceptive character of the mineral (as pseudomorphs).


Prosopite can form as an alteration product of Topaz in Topaz-rich greissens (as in Altenberg, Saxony and Schlaggenwald, Bohemia), and in Cryolite-bearing pegmatites, either as a primary mineral or as an alteration product of Cryolite.

Classification of Prosopite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/C.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CD.10

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
D : Ino-aluminofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.6.9.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.6.13

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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Type Occurrence of Prosopite

Type Locality:Tin mine, Altenberg, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1853
Geological Setting of type material:Topaz-bearing greisen.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
HematiteFluoriteSideriteKaolinite

Occurrences of Prosopite

Geological Setting:Topaz-bearing greisens, porphyry, and in cryolite pegmatites.

Physical Properties of Prosopite

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Greyish, white; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {111}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.88 - 2.894 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.898 g/cm3

Crystallography of Prosopite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/b (B1 1 2/b) [C2/c] {C1 2/c 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 6.68Å, b = 11.19Å, c = 7.38Å
β = 94.93°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.597 : 1 : 0.66
Unit Cell Volume:V 549.61 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals somewhat tabular {010}. Massive, granular to powdery.
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 Prosopite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.501 nβ = 1.503 nγ = 1.510
2V:Measured: 62° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.009

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Prosopite

Formula:
CaAl
 
2
(F,OH)
 
8
Essential elements:Al, Ca, F
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, F, H, O

Relationship of Prosopite to other Species

Common Associates:
ApatiteFluoriteKaoliniteQuartz
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CD.05Rosenbergite
AlF
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.6.1Zharchikhite
AlF(OH)
 
2
8.6.2Chloraluminite
AlCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.6.3Cadwaladerite
Al(OH)
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
8.6.4Cryolithionite
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
8.6.5Cryolite
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.6Chiolite
Na
 
3
Al
 
3
F
 
14
8.6.7Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.8Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
8.6.9Ralstonite
NaMgAl(F,OH)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.10Koenenite
Na
 
4
Mg
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
12
(OH)
 
22
8.6.11 Chlor-manasseite
Mg
 
x
Al(OH)
 
2x+2
Cl·(x-0.8)H
 
2
O x about 1.75
8.6.12Gearksutite
Ca[Al(F,OH)
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.6.14Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.6.15Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.6.16Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.17Thomsenolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.18Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.19Zirklerite
(Fe,Mg,Ca)
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
18
(OH)
 
12
·14H
 
2
O (?)

Other Names for Prosopite

Other Languages:
German:Prosopit
Speckstein (of Charpentier)
Russian:Прозопит
Spanish:Prosopita

Other Information

Other Information:Decomposed by H2SO4.
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 Prosopite

Reference List:Charpentier (1799) Beob. über die Lagerst. der Erze, Leipzig: 32 (as Speckstein).

Breithaupt (1815) Über die Aechtheit der Kryst., Freiberg: 29.

Scheerer, T. (1853) Ueber Pseudomorphosen, nebst Beiträgen zur Charakteristik einiger Arten derselben.- Poggendorffs Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 90: 315-323 (as Prosopit).

Scheerer, T. (1854) Poggendorffs Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 92: 612 (as Prosopit).

Scheerer, T. (1857) Poggendorffs Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 101: 361 (as Prosopit).

Groth (1883) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 7: 487.

Cross and Hillebrand (1885) USGS Bull. 20: 62.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 178.

Hillebrand (1899) American Journal of Science: 7: 54.

Goldschmidt, V. (1920) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 6: 176.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 123.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 121-122.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1986): 7: 329-335.

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    Localities for Prosopite

    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.
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    (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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Waratah district
        • Waratah
    		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: 122; Bottrill
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
    		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: 122.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German); KOLITSCH, U. (1997): Ianthinit und weitere Neufunde aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald. - Erzgräber 11 (2), 76-88.
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Altenberg
    		T. Scheerer (1853): Ueber Pseudomorphosen, nebst Beiträgen zur Charakteristik einiger Arten derselben.- Poggendorffs Annalen der Physik und Chemie 90, 315-323; 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: 122.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Arsuk
        • Arsuk Firth
          • Ivittuut (Ivigtut)
    		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: 112; www.hedegaard.com.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Semipalatinsk Oblysy (Semipalatinsk [Semipalatinskaya] Oblast')
      • Tarbagatai Range
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Mexico
     
    • Zacatecas
      • Mun. de Mazapil
        • Noche Buena
    		Rob Lavinsky
        • Santa Rosa
    		Panczner (1987): 143-398.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Keller, P. & Innes, J. (1986): "Neue Minerale von Tsumeb." Lapis, 11 (9), 28-32.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
    		Ripp, G. S., Bulnaev, K. B. & Zyablishchev, A. Yu. (1996): Alumofluorides of Zharchikhinskoe molybdenum deposit (western Transbaikalia). Zap. Vseross. Mineral. O-va. 125, 72-79. (in Russian)
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Ilmen Mts
            • Ilmen Natural Reserve
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Kromdraai 209 JR farm
    		Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • England
      • North Yorkshire
        • North Pennines
          • Pateley Bridge District
            • Greenhow
    		Young, B.; Ryback, G.; Braithwaite, R. S. W.; Francis, J. G. (1997): Prosopite, doyleite and otavite from Coldstones quarry, Pateley bridge, North Yorkshire. Mineral. Mag. 61, 895-897.
    Ukraine
     
    • Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast')
    		Yurk Yu.Yu., Gurov E.P., Gurova E.P. (1973) Pecularities of fluorin mineralogy of Ukrainian crystalline shield, - Naukova Dumka, Kiev, pp.184 (in Russian).
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Graham Co.
        • Santa Teresa Mts
          • Aravaipa District
            • Klondyke
              • Grand Reef area
                • Laurel Canyon
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 335.
      • La Paz Co.
        • Bouse area
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 335.
    • Colorado
      • El Paso Co.
        • Cheyenne District (St. Peters Dome District)
    		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: 122; Kearns, 1995 - "Alumino-Fluorides from the Morefield Pegmatite", Mineralogical Record 26 551-557.
    Am Min 51:299-323
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.; Am Min 51:299-323
      • Fremont Co.
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 16, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
        • Fitting District
          • Gillis Range
    		Mineralogical Record: 31: 204.
    • New Mexico
      • Doña Ana Co.
        • Northern Franklin Mountains
    		New Mexico Geology v. 25
    • Utah
      • Tooele Co.
        • Dugway Range
          • Dugway Mountains District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Wild Cat Mts
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    • Virginia
      • Amelia Co.
        • Winterham
    		[Kearns, 1995 - "Alumino-Fluorides from the Morefield Pegmatite", Mineralogical Record 26 551-557]
    Mineral and/or Locality
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