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Blixite

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Passa Limani Cove slag locality (Pacha Limani Cove slag locality), Passa Limani area, Lavrion District slag localities, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece
© 2009, JGW

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Formula:
Pb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
Krivovichev & Burns (2006) suggest the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale yellow, ...
Hardness:3
Name:For Dr. Ragnar Blix (1898-1985), chemist at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, who performed analyses of many Långban minerals.
This page provides mineralogical data about Blixite.

Classification of Blixite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.10-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DC.50

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:10.2.4.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.11

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Blixite

Type Locality:Långban, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
General Appearance of Type Material:Massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden (No. 251539)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 114720)
Geological Setting of type material:In hausmannite-rich dolomite and manganophyllite skarn in a metamorphosed Fe-Mn orebody
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ManganophylliteHausmanniteDolomiteCopper

Occurrences of Blixite

Geological Setting:Reaction product of slags immersed in sea water

Physical Properties of Blixite

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Pale yellow, yellow-orange to greyish yellow
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
in one direction
Density (measured):7.35 g/cm3

Crystallography of Blixite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.832Å, b = 5.694Å, c = 25.47Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.024 : 1 : 4.473
Unit Cell Volume:V 845.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Massive, in films
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.93 (10)
3.88 (8)
1.660 (8)
2.83 (6)
2.12 (6)
2.04 (6)
3.18 (5)
Comments:Recorded on material from Långban, Sweden

Optical Data of Blixite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.050 nγ = 2.200
2V:Measured: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.150

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

Chemical Properties of Blixite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl


Krivovichev & Burns (2006) suggest the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
Essential elements:Cl, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, O, Pb
Analytical Data:Chemical analysis of material from Långban, Sweden
PbO    (69.50)
CaO     (0.30)
PbCl2  (30.16)
H2O     (0.79)

sum    100.75 wt.-%
Empirical Formula:
(Pb
 
1.95
Ca
 
0.02
)
 
=1.97
Cl
 
1.02
[O
 
1.27
(OH)
 
0.41
]
 
=1.68
Common Impurities:Ca,Cu,Fe,Zn

Relationship of Blixite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DC.05Laurionite
PbCl(OH)
3.DC.05Paralaurionite
PbCl(OH)
3.DC.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
FCl
 
4
(OH) · H
 
2
O
3.DC.15Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
Cl
 
3
(OH)
3.DC.20Laurelite
Pb
 
7
F
 
12
Cl
 
2
3.DC.25Bismoclite
(BiO)Cl
3.DC.25Daubréeite
(BiO)(OH,Cl)
3.DC.25Matlockite
PbFCl
3.DC.25Rorisite
CaFCl
3.DC.25Zavaritskite
(BiO)F
3.DC.25Zhangpeishanite
BaFCl
3.DC.30Nadorite
PbSbClO
 
2
3.DC.30Perite
PbBiClO
 
2
3.DC.35Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
F
 
3
[AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.37Calcioaravaipaite
PbCa
 
2
AlF
 
9
3.DC.40Thorikosite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
2
(OH)(SbO
 
3
,AsO
 
3
)
3.DC.45Mereheadite
Pb
 
47
Cl
 
25
(OH)
 
13
O
 
24
(CO
 
3
)(BO
 
3
)
 
2
3.DC.55Pinalite
Pb
 
3
WO
 
5
Cl
 
2
3.DC.60Symesite
Pb
 
10
(SO
 
4
)O
 
7
Cl
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
3.DC.65Ecdemite
Pb
 
6
Cl
 
4
(As
 
2
O
 
7
)
3.DC.65Heliophyllite
Pb
 
6
Cl
 
4
(As
 
2
O
 
7
)
3.DC.70Mendipite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
2
O
 
2
3.DC.75Damaraite
Pb
 
3
Cl(OH)O
 
2
3.DC.80Onoratoite
Sb
 
8
Cl
 
2
O
 
11
3.DC.85Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
3.DC.90Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
3.DC.95Barstowite
Pb
 
4
Cl
 
6
(CO
 
3
) · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.8.1Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
8.8.2Matlockite
PbFCl
8.8.3Laurelite
Pb
 
7
F
 
12
Cl
 
2
8.8.4Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
8.8.5Mendipite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
2
O
 
2
8.8.6Damaraite
Pb
 
3
Cl(OH)O
 
2
8.8.7Laurionite
PbCl(OH)
8.8.8Paralaurionite
PbCl(OH)
8.8.9Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
Cl
 
3
(OH)
8.8.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
FCl
 
4
(OH) · H
 
2
O
8.8.12Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
8.8.13Diaboleite
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
8.8.14Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
8.8.15Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuO
 
2
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.8.17Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
AgCl
 
3
(F,OH)
 
2
8.8.18Boleite
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
8.8.19Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
F
 
3
[AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.8.20Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
Cr
3+
 
Cl
 
6
(O,OH,H
 
2
O)
 
8
8.8.21Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
8.8.22Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)

Other Names for Blixite

Other Languages:
German:Blixit
Spanish:Blixita

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 Blixite

Reference List:

- +
Gabrielson, O., Parwel, A. and Wickman, F. E. (1958): Blixite, a new lead-oxyhalide mineral from Långban. Arkiv Mineral. Geol. 2(32), 411-415. - American Mineralogist (1960), 45, 908 (abstract).

Scott, K. M. (1994): Lead oxychlorides at Elura, western NSW, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine 58, 336-338.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 67.

Krivovichev, S. V.; Burns, P. C. (2006): The crystal structure of Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4, a synthetic analogue of blixite? Canadian Mineralogist 44, 515-522.

Internet Links for Blixite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Blixite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Blixite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Robinson Co.
        • Cobar
    		Scott, K. M. (1994): Lead oxychlorides at Elura, western NSW, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine 58, 336-338.; Chapman, J. & Scott, K. (2005): Supergene minerals from the oxidised zone of the Elura (Endeavor) lead-zinc-silver deposit. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 11, 83-90.
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Passa Limani area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals of the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Sounion area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Thorikos area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
          • Vrissaki area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    		Arkiv Min.Geol.(1958) 2, 411-415; Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183.
    Adolfsson, S. G. (1979): Notes on Recent Underground Collecting at Långban. Mineralogical Record. 10: 215-217
    UK
     
    • England
      • Somerset
        • Cranmore
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 67; Turner, R.W., (2006) A Mechanism for the formation of the Mineralised Mn Deposits at Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England. Min. Mag. vol. 70, no. 6, pp 629 - 653; Mineralogical Magazine 1977 41 : 406-408; Turner, R.W. and Rumsey, M.S. (2010): Mineral Relationships in the Mendip Hills. Journal of the Russell Society, vol 13, pp 3-46.
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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. 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. 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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