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Salesite

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Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Cu[OH|IO
 
3
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Bluish-green; bluish ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:3
Name:Named after Reno H. Sales (1876-1969), Chief Geologist, Anaconda Copper Company, Chile.
This page provides mineralogical data about Salesite.

Classification of Salesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/L.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.KB.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
K : Iodates: Trigonal [IO3] pyramids (mostly).
B : Iodates with additional anions, without H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:22.1.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:22.1.1.1

22 : IODATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:29.1

29 : Iodates
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Type Occurrence of Salesite

Co-type Localities:Cachinal, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1939
Geological Setting of type material:Oxidized zone of copper deposit in an arid climate.

Physical Properties of Salesite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Bluish-green; bluish green in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Perfect
on {101}
Density (measured):4.72 - 4.82 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.888 g/cm3

Crystallography of Salesite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.794Å, b = 6.708Å, c = 4.781Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.609 : 1 : 0.713
Unit Cell Volume:V 346.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals stout prismatic [001] with pyramidal terminations.
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 Salesite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.786 nβ = 2.070 nγ = 2.075
2V:Calculated: 12°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.289

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:extreme
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Colourless
Y = Light bluish green
Z = Bluish green

Chemical Properties of Salesite

Formula:
Cu[OH|IO
 
3
]
Essential elements:Cu, H, I, O
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, I, O

Relationship of Salesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.KB.10Schwartzembergite
Pb
2+
5
I
3+
 
O
 
6
H
 
2
Cl
 
3
4.KB.15Seeligerite
Pb
 
3
IO
 
4
Cl
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
29.2Bellingerite
Cu
 
3
(IO
 
3
)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
29.3Lautarite
Ca(IO
 
3
)
 
2
29.4Brüggenite
Ca(IO
 
3
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
29.5Dietzeite
Ca
 
2
[CrO
 
4
|(IO
 
3
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
29.6Seeligerite
Pb
 
3
IO
 
4
Cl
 
3
29.7Schwartzembergite
Pb
2+
5
I
3+
 
O
 
6
H
 
2
Cl
 
3
29.8Hectorfloresite
Na
 
9
[IO
 
3
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
]

Other Names for Salesite

Other Languages:
German:Salesit
Russian:Салезит
Spanish:Salesita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
Other Information:Insoluble in water. Readily soluble in HNO3.
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 Salesite

Reference List:Palache, C. and Jarrell (1939) American Mineralogist: 24: 388-392.

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: 315-316.

American Mineralogist (1978): 63: 172-179.

Internet Links for Salesite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Salesite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Salesite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Salesite

    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.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
    		American Mineralogist (1939): 24: 388-392.
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
    		American Mineralogist (1939): 24: 388-392; 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: 316; O'Donoghue, 1976 -
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