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Ajoite

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New Cornelia Mine (Ajo Mine), Ajo, Little Ajo Mts, Ajo District, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
© C.Thomson 2003

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Formula:
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Bluish green
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the New Cornelia mine, Ajo, USA.
This page provides mineralogical data about Ajoite.

Classification of Ajoite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/D.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EA.70

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:78.5.1.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
5 :
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.5.6

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
5 : Aluminosilicates of Cs, NH4 and Cu
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Type Occurrence of Ajoite

Type Locality:New Cornelia Mine (Ajo Mine), Ajo, Little Ajo Mts, Ajo District, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1958

Occurrences of Ajoite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zone of copper deposits

Physical Properties of Ajoite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Bluish green
Streak:Greenish white
Cleavage:Perfect
on {010}
Density (measured):2.96 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.951 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ajoite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.63Å, b = 14.5Å, c = 13.62Å
α = 107.16°, β = 105.45°, γ = 110.57°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.94 : 1 : 0.939
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,192.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Sprays of bladed prismatic crystals.

Optical Data of Ajoite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.583 nγ = 1.641
2V:Measured: 68° to 80°, Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.091

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= very light bluish green
Y=Z= brilliant bluish green

Chemical Properties of Ajoite

Formula:
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Cu, H, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cu, H, K, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Ca

Relationship of Ajoite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EA.05Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Effenbergerite
BaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Wesselsite
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.10Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
[(F,OH)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
[(OH,F)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
[F|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.20Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.25Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.25Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ce[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(La)
Na
 
3
La[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.35Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
]·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.40Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.45Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
9.EA.50Cavansite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.55Pentagonite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Tumchaite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
4
O
 
11
)·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.65Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 * 4 H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Cs
 
4
Na
 
2
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
](H
 
2
O)
 
2
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.5.1Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.5.2Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.5.3Buddingtonite
(NH
 
4
)[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.5.4Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
16.5.5Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.5.7Papagoite
CaCu[H
 
3
AlSi
 
2
O
 
9
]

Other Names for Ajoite

Other Languages:
German:Ajoit
Italian:Ajoite
Latvian:Adžoīts
Romanian:Ajoit
Spanish:Ajoita

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 Ajoite

Reference List:Schaller, W.T. & A.C. Vlisidis (1958): Ajoite, a new hydrous aluminum copper silicate, Am.Min.: 43: 1107-1111.

American Mineralogist: 66: 201-203.

Pluth, J. J. & Smith, J. V. (2002): Arizona porphyry copper/hydrothermal deposits II: Crystal structure of ajoite, (K + Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16~8H2O. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 99, 11002-11005.

U. Kolitsch (unpublished structure refinement, 2002)

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    Localities for Ajoite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Vorarlberg
      • Montafon
        • Verwall group
          • Rinder valley (Gafluna valley)
    		Niedermayr, G. et al. (1996): Carinthia II, 186./106., 111-151.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Meschede
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G., (1990): Ramsbeck - Neue Minerale aus dem ehemaligen Blei-Zink-Erzrevier des Sauerlandes, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 41 (4), 211-218
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto region
        • Tochigi Prefecture
          • Ashio
    		Numao et al (2005) Chigaku Kenkyu, 53, 213-220.
    Namibia
     
    • Kunene Region
      • Damaraland District
        • Khorixas
          • Copper Valley
    		Gerhard Niedermayr: Mesopotamia 504 - die Typlokalität des Namibit
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Messina District
    		Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Hummingbird Spring
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 103; Williams, S.A. (1968), Wickenburgite, a new mineral from Arizona, Am.Min.: 53: 1433-1438.
        • Vulture Mts
          • Vulture District
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 103, 192; Williams, S.A. (1968), Wickenburgite, a new mineral from AZ, Am.Min.: 53: 1433-1438; Williams, S.A. & R.A. Bideaux (1975), Creaseyite, Cu2Pb2(Fe,Al)2Si5O17·6H2O, a new mineral from Arizona and Sonora, Min.Mag.: 40: 227-231.
      • Pima Co.
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 193; Sun, M.S. (1961), Differential thermal analysis of shattuckite, Am.Min.: 46: 67-77.
          • Little Ajo Mts
            • Ajo
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 316, 319-320; Schaller, W.T. & A.C. Vlisidis (1958), Ajoite, a new hydrous aluminum copper silicate, Am.Min.: 43: 1107-1111; Hutton, C.O. & A.C. Vlisidis (1960), Papagoite, a new copper-bearing mineral from Ajo, AZ, Am.Min.: 45: 599-611; Sun, M.S. (1961), Differential analysis of shattuckite, Am.Min.: 46: 67-77; Newberg, D.W. (1964), X-ray study of shattuckite, Am.Min.: 49: 1234-1239; Thomas, W.J. & R.B. Gibbs (1983), Famous mineral localities: The New Cornelia mine, Ajo, AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 283-298; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 111.
        • Galiuro Mts
          • Bunker Hill District (Copper Creek District)
            • Copper Creek (Copper Creek Canyon)
    		Mr. Joe Ruiz.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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