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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
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Bluish green
Name:Named after the type locality, the New Cornelia mine in Ajo, Arizona, USA (http://www.mindat.org/loc-3370.html)
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
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 113220.
Year of Discovery:1958
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ShattuckiteQuartzPyriteMuscoviteConichalcite

Occurrences of Ajoite

Geological Setting:In oxidised copper-rich base-metal 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:As sprays of bladed prismatic crystals, to 0.4 mm; commonly fibrous.

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
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 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

Common Associates:
SilléniteQuartzPapagoiteDuhameliteCreaseyite
Creaseyite
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
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(F,OH) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH,F) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)F · 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
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Na
 
2
Cs
 
4
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
]*2H
 
2
O
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
9.EA.85Plumbophyllite
Pb
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · H
 
2
O
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
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
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
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
16.5.7Papagoite
CaCu[H
 
3
AlSi
 
2
O
 
9
]

Other Names for Ajoite

Other Languages:
German:Ajoit
Italian:Ajoite
Latvian:Adžoīts
Romanian:Ajoit
Simplified Chinese:斜矽铝铜矿
斜硅铝铜矿
Spanish:Ajoita
Traditional Chinese:斜矽鋁銅礦
斜硅鋁銅礦

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)

Best Localities for Ajoite

Best of Species:Ajoite

Internet Links for Ajoite

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    • Specimens:The following Ajoite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
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    • Localities for Ajoite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Karawanken
        • Finkenstein
          • Mallestiger Mittagskogel
    		G.Blaß
    • 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
      • Khorixas District
        • Mesopotamia Copper Valley
    		Gerhard Niedermayr: Mesopotamia 504 - die Typlokalität des Namibit
    Romania
     
    • Suceava Co.
      • Suceava district
        • Iacobeni (Jakobeny; Jacobeny; Jakabfalva)
    		http://minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu
    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)
    		In the collection of Brent Thorne.
    Mr. Joe Ruiz.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. 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 thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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