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Boleite

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Santa Rosalía (El Boleo), Boleo District, Mun. de Mulegé, Baja California Sur (BC Sur), Mexico
© Tony Peterson

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Formula:
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
System:IsometricColour:Deep prussian blue to ...
Lustre:Vitreous, PearlyHardness:3 - 3½
Name:For the type locality, Boleo, near Santa Rosalia, Baja California.


Closely related to pseudoboleite.

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Classification of Boleite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DB.15

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
B : With Pb, Cu, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:10.6.6.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : AmBn(O,OH)pXq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.8.18

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

Type Locality:Santa Rosalía (El Boleo), Boleo District, Mun. de Mulegé, Baja California Sur (BC Sur), Mexico
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National School of Mines, Paris, France
Year of Discovery:1891
Geological Setting of type material:In the oxidized zone of a Pb-Cu deposit, formed through reaction of chloride with primary sulphides
Associated Minerals at type locality:
PhosgeniteGypsumCumengeiteCerussiteAtacamite
Anglesite

Occurrences of Boleite

Geological Setting:In the oxidized zone of Pb-Cu deposits; in smelter slags immersed in and leached by sea water

Physical Properties of Boleite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Deep prussian blue to indigo; bluish green in transmitted light
Streak:Blue, with greenish tint
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}; good on {101}; poor on {100}.
Density (measured):5.054 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.062 g/cm3

Crystallography of Boleite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Pm3m {P4/m 3 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 15.29Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,574.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals cubic, to 2 cm, rarely modified by {111} and {011}.

Epitaxial Relationships of Boleite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
Cumengeite
Pb
 
21
Cu
 
20
Cl
 
42
(OH)
 
40
 · 6H
 
2
O
Epitaxi Comments:commonly surficially layered with or overgrown by cumengite or pseudoboléite, mutually parallel to {001}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.415 (100)
3.821 (80)
3.505 (35)
2.702 (60)
2.547 (40)
2.330 (35)
1.990 (35)
Comments:Recorded on a sample from Boleo, Mexico (ICDD 27-1206). The pattern may be totally obscured by the pattern of intergrown pseudoboléite.

Optical Data of Boleite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 2.05
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Boleite

Formula:
KPb
 
26
Ag
 
9
Cu
 
24
(OH)
 
48
Cl
 
62
Essential elements:Ag, Cl, Cu, H, K, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Cl, Cu, H, K, O, Pb
Analytical Data:Chemical analysis of a sample from Boleó, Mexico
AgCl   (12.03)
Pb     (49.16)
CuO    (17.17)
Cl     (17.04)
K2O      n.d.
H2O     (4.35)
insol.  (0.21)

sum     99.96 wt.-%
Empirical Formula:
Pb
 
25.88
Ag
 
9.16
Cu
 
23.54
Cl
 
61.58
O
 
49.87
H
 
52.65

Relationship of Boleite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DB.Rickturnerite
Pb
 
7
O
 
4
[Mg(OH)
 
4
](OH)Cl
 
3
3.DB.05Diaboleite
Pb
 
2
CuCl
 
2
(OH)
 
4
3.DB.10Pseudoboleite
Pb
 
31
Cu
 
24
Cl
 
62
(OH)
 
48
3.DB.20Cumengeite
Pb
 
21
Cu
 
20
Cl
 
42
(OH)
 
40
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.DB.25Bideauxite
Pb
 
2
AgCl
 
3
(F,OH)
 
2
3.DB.30Chloroxiphite
Pb
 
3
CuO
 
2
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
3.DB.35Hematophanite
Pb
 
4
Fe
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,Cl)
3.DB.40Asisite
Pb
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)O
 
4
Cl
 
2
3.DB.40Parkinsonite
(Pb,Mo,◻)
 
8
O
 
8
Cl
 
2
3.DB.45Murdochite
PbCu
 
6
O
 
8-x
(Cl,Br)
 
2x
 where x<=0.5
3.DB.50Yedlinite
Pb
 
6
Cr
3+
 
Cl
 
6
(O,OH,H
 
2
O)
 
8
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
8.8.11Blixite
Pb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
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
8.8.19Aravaipaite
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 Boleite

Synonyms:
Argentopercylite
Other Languages:
German:Argentopercylit
Boleit
Russian:Болеит
Spanish:Argentopercylita
Boleita

Other Information

Other Information:Inert in water. Soluble in HNO3.
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 Boleite

Reference List:

- +
Mallard and Cumenge (1891) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 113: 519.

Schultze (1892) Chemiker-Zeitung Cöthen: 16: 1953 (as Argentopercylite).

Carmichael and Armstrong in Liversidge (1894) Journal of the Royal Society of New South Wales: 94: 98.

Friedel (1894) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 17: 6.

Friedel (1906) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 29: 14.

Hadding (1919) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 41: 175.

Gossner and Arm (1929) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 72: 202.

Friedel (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 73: 147.

Gossner (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 75: 365.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 78-79.

Rouse, R. C. (1973): The crystal structure of boleite - a mineral containing silver atom clusters. Journal of Solid State Chemistry 6, 86-92.

Winchell, R. E. and Rouse, R. C. (1974): The mineralogy of the boleite group. Mineralogical Record 5, 280-287.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume III. Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 628pp.: 72.

Cooper, M. A. and Hawthorne, F. C. (2000): Boleite: revision of the formula, KPb26Ag9Cu24Cl62(OH)48. Canadian Mineralogist 38, 801-808.

Internet Links for Boleite

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    • Localities for Boleite

    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
      • Yancowinna Co.
        • Broken Hill
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 79.
    Australian Mineralogist (1997): 3: 1.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
    		Econ Geol (1991) 86:1222-1237
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 72
        • Santa Catalina
          • Guanaco (Huanaco)
    		Vincent Bourgoin collection
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		V. Sapienza collection
    Paar, W. H. & Burgstaller, J. (1980): Osarizawaite-beaverite intergrowths from Sierra Gorda, Chile. Mineralogical Record 1980, 101-104
    (M. Dini specimens)
    Mr. Terry Szenics.
            • Sierra Deseada
    		Jasun McAvoy specimen
    M.Dini & A.Molina collection
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 79.
        • Iquique
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 55
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 72
        • Santa Rosa-Huantajaya District
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 22 & 79.
    France
     
    • Brittany
      • Finistère
        • Poullaouen
    		Germain C., Leydet J-C., Saget Ph. (1990), Les minéraux de néoformation de Huelgoat (Finistère), Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°3, 3-16
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Var
        • Le Pradet
    		http://www.mine-capgaronne.fr/site/Mineraux/ListeMineraux.html
    trouvaille et collection personnelle
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Richelsdorf District
        • Süss
          • Richelsdorf Smelter
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1991): Mineralogische Notizen V. Aufschluss 42, 155-171.
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    		van den Berg, W. & van Loon, C. (1990): Slag Minerals from the Rammelsberg, Harz Mountains, Germany. UK Journal of Mines & Minerals, 8, 18-23.
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
    		No reference listed
          • Sounion area
            • Sounion Mines
    		Lapis, 24, 7/8 (1999)
    Grolig, H. & Grolig, E. (1978): Lavrion in Attika. Lapis, 3 (5), 16-25; 40 (in German).
          • 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
    		Fritz Schreiber Collection
    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
    Iran
     
    • Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province)
      • Nain County (Nayin County)
        • Anarak District
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Campiglia Marittima
    		http://www.comune.pisa.it/apsn/Articoli/Scorie/Capattoli.htm
        • Piombino
    		Muenchener Micromounter-Lithothek
    Mexico
     
    • Baja California Sur (BC Sur)
      • Mun. de Mulegé
        • Boleo District
    		Bull. Soc. fr. Min. Crist. (1891): 14, 283; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 79.
    [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]; 2009 New Mexico Mineral Symposium abstracts
    Panczner(1987):117.
    Panczner(1987):92-350.
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Arizpe
        • Arizpe
    		Panczner(1987):83-359.
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Almería
        • Níjar
          • Rodalquilar
            • Cerro de los Guardias
    		Georges FAVREAU collection; Christiane & Jean-Robert EYTIER collection
    UK
     
    • England
      • Co. Durham
        • North Pennines
          • Derwent Valley
            • Castleside
    		R. S. W. Braithwaite, R. P. H. Lamb & A. L. Nattrass (2006): Heavy metals and their weathering products in residues from Castleside Smelting Mill, County Durham, including a new slag mineral, copper antimonate. Journal of the Russell Society, 9, 54-61.
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Porthleven
    		George Eric Stanley Curtis discovery
    G.Curtis collection
        • St Agnes District
          • Crantock
    		BMS Newsletter 79, March 2010 (http://britishmicromountsociety.homestead.com/Gannell-Smelter.html)
          • Newquay
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 72
        • Wadebridge District
          • Padstow
            • Gunver Head
    		No reference listed
          • St Minver
            • Rock
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 72
        • Wendron & Falmouth District
          • Helford - Falmouth Area
            • Falmouth
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 72
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Globe-Miami District
          • Globe Hills District
            • Globe Hills
              • Burch area
                • Radium
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 141, 146, 291; Bideaux, R.A., et al (1960), Some new occurrences of minerals of Arizona, AZ Geol. Soc. Digest: 3: 53-56.
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Tonopah
              • Belmont Mountain
    		American Mineralogist: 81: 244-248.
        • Painted Rock Mts
          • Painted Rock District
            • Theba
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 141, 425; Wilson, W.E. & D.K. Miller (1974), Minerals of the Rowley Mine, Min.Rec.: 5: 10-30.
      • Pinal Co.
        • Mammoth District
          • Tiger
            • St. Anthony deposit
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 141; Fahey, J.J., et al (1950), Wherryite, a new mineral from the Mammoth mine, AZ, Am.Min.: 35: 93-98; Bideaux, R.A. (1980), Tiger, AZ, Min.Rec.: 11: 155-181.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 141, 202; Palache, C. (1941b), Diaboleite from Mammoth mine, Tiger, AZ, Am.Min.: 26: 605-612; Fahey, J.J., et al (1950), Wherryite, a new mineral from the Mammoth mine, AZ, Am.Min.: 35: 93-98; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 45.
        • Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation
          • Vekol Mts
            • Vekol District
              • Kohatk
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 141.
    • California
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Baker
    		Robert housley collection (ID by PXRD and SEM-EDS by Anthony Kampf at Los Angeles County Natural History Museum)
    Joe Marty specimens; Confirmed by XRD.
    Rocks & Minerals 86:132-142
        • Soda Lake Mts
          • Baker
    		Collected by Brent Thorne and EDS analyzed by Bob Housley; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1198–1204, 2009
    • Montana
      • Granite Co.
    		Encycolpedia of minerals, Roberts,Rapp,Weber, 1974
          • Philipsburg
    		Brent Thorne; Domenico Preite collection
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
        • Rock Hill District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • Washington
      • Pierce Co.
        • Tacoma
          • Ruston
    		Washington Geology, vol.25, no. 3, September 1997.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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