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Ashburtonite

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Ashburton Downs, Ashburton Shire, Pilbara Region, Western Australia, Australia
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl|(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Blue
Lustre:Adamantine
This page provides mineralogical data about Ashburtonite.

Classification of Ashburtonite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.06-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CF.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
F : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
Dana 8th edition ID:78.4.2.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
4 :
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.4.13

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
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Type Occurrence of Ashburtonite

Type Locality:Cu deposit, Mineral Claim 84, Ashburton Downs, Ashburton Shire, Pilbara Region, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1991

Physical Properties of Ashburtonite

Lustre:Adamantine
Colour:Blue

Crystallography of Ashburtonite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 14.23Å, c = 6.1Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.429
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,235.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Ashburtonite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.786 nε = 1.800
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

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

Chemical Properties of Ashburtonite

Formula:
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl|(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb, Si
All elements listed in formula:C, Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb, Si

Relationship of Ashburtonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CF.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
9.CF.15Clinophosinaite
Na
 
12
(Ca,Sr)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
9.CF.15Phosinaite-(Ce)
Na
 
13
Ca
 
2
(Ce,La,Th,Nd,Pr)[(PO
 
4
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
9.CF.20Strakhovite
NaBa
 
3
(Mn,Mn)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
19
(OH)
 
3
9.CF.25Cerchiaraite
Ba
 
4
Mn
 
4
Si
 
6
(O,OH,Cl)
 
26
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.4.1Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.4.2Spurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.3Paraspurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.4Scawtite
Ca
 
7
Si
 
6
(CO
 
3
)O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
17.4.5Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.6Meionite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
)
 
3
]
17.4.7Cancrinite
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.4.8Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
17.4.9Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.4.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
17.4.11Caysichite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
Y
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
17.4.12Lepersonnite-(Gd)
Ca(Gd,Dy)
 
2
[(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)]
 
4
 ·48(H
 
2
O)
17.4.14Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
17.4.15Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
17.4.16Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Ashburtonite

Synonyms:
IMA1990-033
Other Languages:
German:Ashburtonit
Russian:Ашбуртонит
Spanish:Ashburtonita

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 Ashburtonite

Reference List:Grice, J. D., Nickel, E. H., Gault, R. A. (1991): Ashburtonite, a new bicarbonate-silicate mineral from Ashburton Downs, Western Australia: Description and structure determination: American Mineralogist: 76, 1701-1707.

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

Internet Links for Ashburtonite

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    Localities for Ashburtonite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Pilbara Region
        • Ashburton Shire
          • Ashburton Downs
    		Min. Record 24,203-218(1993)
            • Mineral Claim 84
    		Amer.Min.(1991) 76, 1701-1707
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 3rd Nov 2009 20:08:26