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Alamosite

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Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Pb
 
12
[Si
 
12
O
 
36
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white
Hardness:4½
Name:Named after its discovery locality at Alamos, Mun. de Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.
This page provides mineralogical data about Alamosite.

Classification of Alamosite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.32-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DO.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
Dana 8th edition ID:65.7.1.1

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
7 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P > 7
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.13.1

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
13 : Silicates of Pb
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Type Occurrence of Alamosite

Type Locality:Alamos, Mun. de Alamos, Sonora, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1909

Physical Properties of Alamosite

Colour:Colourless, white
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Cleavage:Perfect

Crystallography of Alamosite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 12.24Å, b = 7.05Å, c = 11.23Å
β = 113.12°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.736 : 1 : 1.593
Unit Cell Volume:V 891.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Alamosite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.947 nβ = 1.961 nγ = 1.968
2V:Measured: 65° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.021

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

Chemical Properties of Alamosite

Formula:
Pb
 
12
[Si
 
12
O
 
36
]
Essential elements:O, Pb, Si
All elements listed in formula:O, Pb, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mn,Ca

Relationship of Alamosite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DO.05Pyroxferroite
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO
 
3
9.DO.05Pyroxmangite
MnSiO
 
3
9.DO.10Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Nordite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Sr,Ca)Na
 
2
(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Nordite-(La)
(La,Ce)(Sr,Ca)Na
 
2
(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Ferronordite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
SrCeFe
2+
 
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Manganonordite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
SrCeMn
2+
 
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Ferronordite-(La)
Na
 
3
Sr(La,Ce)FeSi
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.25Liebauite
Ca
 
3
Cu
 
5
Si
 
9
O
 
26
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.13.2Plumbotsumite
Pb
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
10
14.13.3Luddenite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
·4H
 
2
O
14.13.4Molybdophyllite
Pb
 
2
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.13.5Margarosanite
Pb(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.13.6Ganomalite
Pb
 
9
Ca
 
5
Mn[O|SiO
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
]
14.13.7Kentrolite
Pb
 
2
Mn
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.13.8Barysilite
Pb
 
8
Mn
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
3
14.13.9Melanotekite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.13.10Creaseyite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
17
·6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Alamosite

German names:
Alamosit
Russian names:
Аламозит
Spanish names:
Alamosita

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 Alamosite

Reference List:Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 126: 98-111.

Internet Links for Alamosite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Alamosite

    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.
    Mexico
     
    • Hidalgo
      • Mun. de Zimapán
        • Zimapán
    		Panczner (1987): 87.
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Alamos
    		[Amer.J.Sci., ser. 4 (1909) 27, 399; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		No reference listed
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    		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.
        • Pajsberg
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone District
          • Tombstone
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 104, 242.
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Tonopah
              • Belmont Mountain
                • Tiger Wash
      • Mohave Co.
        • Artillery Mts
          • Rawhide Wash
            • Rawhide Mine area
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 104, 369; Williams, S.A. (1982), Luddenite, a new copper-lead silicate mineral from AZ, Min.Mag.: 46:363-364.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 280.
      • Pinal Co.
        • Mammoth District
          • Tiger
            • St. Anthony deposit
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 104.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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