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Brontesite

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
PbCl
 
5
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to white
Name:The name is for Brontes, one of the Cyclopes, and a son of Uranus.
This page provides mineralogical data about Brontesite.

Classification of Brontesite

IMA status:Approved 2008
Dana 8th edition ID:11.4.3.

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
4 : AmBX5·xH2O
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Type Occurrence of Brontesite

Type Locality:La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:Aggregates of pseudotetragonal tabular crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Reference Collection of Dipartimento di Chimica Strutturale e Stereochimica Inorganica of Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Geological Setting of type material:In an active medium-temperature (~250°C) intracrater fumarole on a pyroclastic breccia.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Demicheleite-(Cl)GodovikoviteBismuthiniteDemicheleite-(I)Adranosite-(Al)
AluniteDemicheleite-(Br)

Physical Properties of Brontesite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless to white
Streak:White
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:None observed
Density (measured):2.72(1) g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.728 g/cm3

Crystallography of Brontesite

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 = 8.4351(9) Å, b = 15.7732(17) Å, c = 8.4446(9) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.535 : 1 : 0.535
Unit Cell Volume:V 1123.5 ų
Z:4
Morphology:The habit is pseudotetragonal, tabular on {010}; the other most common forms are {110}, {011}, and {121}.
Twinning:None observed.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.067 (100)
2.710 (78)
2.421 (75)
2.211 (60)
2.020 (80)
1.910 (78)
1.491 (75)
1.457 (65)

Optical Data of Brontesite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: n = 1.70(3)
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

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

Chemical Properties of Brontesite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
3
PbCl
 
5
Essential elements:Cl, H, N, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, N, Pb
Analytical Data:Average of EDS analyses; ammonium content from crystal-structure analysis. Sample from the type locality.
K (1.1)
Pb (47.8)
Cl (36.1)
Br (3.7)
NH4 (11.3)
Total (100.0)
Empirical Formula:
[(NH
 
4
)
 
2.87
K
 
0.13
]Pb
 
1.09
(Cl
 
4.79
Br
 
0.21
)
Common Impurities:K,Br

Other Names for Brontesite

Synonyms:
IMA2008-039
Other Languages:

Other Information

Other Information:The mineral is not hygroscopic and is stable in the open air.
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 Brontesite

Reference List:

- +
IMA website - approvals for Dec. 2008

Ciriotti, M.E., Fascio, L. & Pasero, M. (2009): Italian Type Minerals. Edizioni Plus, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy, 357 pp.

Demartin, F., Gramaccioli, C.M. & Campostrini, I. (2009): Brontesite, (NH4)3PbCl5, a new product of fumarolic activity from La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Canadian Mineralogist, 47, 1237-1243.

Internet Links for Brontesite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Brontesite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Brontesite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    • Localities for Brontesite

    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.
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
    		IMA website - Approvals Dec. 2008
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