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Szenicsite

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Jardinera No. 1 Mine, Inca de Oro, Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, Chile
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Dark green
Lustre:Adamantine, PearlyHardness:3½ - 4
Name:
Named after Terry (b. 1947) and Marissa (b. 1950) Szenics, American mineral collectors.
Dimorph of:Markascherite


The szenicsite occurrence was an isolated area, approximately 1 cubic meter in size, wherein the szenicsite occurred in cavities in a matrix rich in molydenite and Cu-bearing powellite. The cavities were filled with a clay-like material. Outside of the szenicsite zone the mineralization changed from szenicsite to lindgrenite, with decreasing copper. Thereafter, moving further out, the mineralization was lacking visible copper content and consisted of powellite blebs in the ore. (pers. comm. Terry Szenics to Chet Lemanski, 2006).
Note: the type locality was originally erroneously given as "Tierra Amarilla".

Classification of Szenicsite

IMA status:Approved 1993
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/G.02-15
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.GB.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
Dana 8th edition ID:48.3.5.1

48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
3 : Basic Anhydrous Molybdates and Tungstates
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Type Occurrence of Szenicsite

Type Locality:Jardinera No. 1 Mine, Inca de Oro, Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1994

Physical Properties of Szenicsite

Lustre:Adamantine, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Dark green
Streak:Green
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4

Crystallography of Szenicsite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.44Å, b = 12.52Å, c = 6.06Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.674 : 1 : 0.484
Unit Cell Volume:V 640.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Szenicsite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.886 nβ = 1.892 nγ = 1.903
2V:Measured: 74° , Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.017

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

Chemical Properties of Szenicsite

Formula:
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Cu, H, Mo, O
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, Mo, O

Relationship of Szenicsite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.GB.05Lindgrenite
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
7.GB.15Cuprotungstite
Cu
 
2
(WO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
7.GB.15UM1999-38-WO:CrV
(V, Cr, W, O, H) [V:Cr:W ratio about 2:1:3]
7.GB.20Phyllotungstite
(H
 
2
O,M)
 
x
(W,Fe)(O,OH)
 
3
 · yH
 
2
O (M = Ca, Cs, Pb or K)
7.GB.25Rankachite
Ca
 
0.5
(V
4+
 
,V
5+
 
)(W
6+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
8
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.GB.30Ferrimolybdite
Fe
 
2
(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O
7.GB.35Anthoinite
AlWO
 
3
(OH)
 
3
7.GB.35Mpororoite
Al
 
2
(WO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 6H
 
2
O
7.GB.40Obradovicite
H
 
4
(K,Na)CuFe
 
2
(MoO
 
4
)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
) · 12H
 
2
O
7.GB.45Mendozavilite
Na(Ca,Mg)
 
2
Fe
3+
6
(PMo
 
11
O
 
39
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,Cl)
 
10
 · 33H
 
2
O
7.GB.45Paramendozavilite
NaAl
 
4
Fe
3+
7
(PMo
 
12
O
 
40
)(PO
 
4
)
 
5
(OH)
 
16
 · 56H
 
2
O
7.GB.50Tancaite-(Ce)
FeCe(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Szenicsite

Synonyms:
IMA1993-011
Other Languages:
German:Szenicsit
Russian:Ссеничит
Spanish:Szenicsita

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 Szenicsite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Record (1994), 25(1), 76.

Francis, C. A.; Pitman, L. C. & Lange, D. E. (1997): Szenicsite, a new copper molybdate from Inca de Oro, Atacama, Chile. Mineralogical Record: 28: 387-394.

New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

Internet Links for Szenicsite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Szenicsite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Szenicsite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Chañaral Province
        • Inca de Oro
    		Mineral.Rec.(1994) 25(1), 76
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Globe-Miami District
          • Miami-Inspiration District
            • Top of the World
    		Confirmed by Raman spectroscopy at the University of Arizona.
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