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Richelsdorfite

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Triembach-au-Val, Villé Valley, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
5
Sb[Cl|(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Turquoise-blue
Hardness:2
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Wilhelm Mine (Wechselschacht), Bauhaus, Richelsdorf District, North Hesse, Hesse, Germany.


Several richelsdorfite-like, Sb- and/or Cl-free "varieties" also exist (e.g., Walenta, 2000). Some of them probably are new species or possibly polytypes.
A "carbonate-richelsdorfite" has been characterised by Drescher and Susse (1997) and was tentatively identified by Gröbner (2000).

Structurally related to the Lavendulan Group.

Classification of Richelsdorfite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Explanation of status:Several "richelsdorfite-like" minerals exist which show similar, but different chemical compositions and X-ray powder patterns.
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.54-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DK.

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
K : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 1:1 and < 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.7.15.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.2.6

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
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Type Occurrence of Richelsdorfite

Type Locality:Wilhelm Mine (Wechselschacht), Bauhaus, Richelsdorf District, North Hesse, Hesse, Germany
Year of Discovery:1983

Physical Properties of Richelsdorfite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Turquoise-blue
Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Richelsdorfite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.08Å, b = 14.21Å, c = 13.49Å
β = 101.06°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.991 : 1 : 0.949
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,648.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Comment:Space group C2/m

Optical Data of Richelsdorfite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.640 nβ = 1.692 nγ = 1.694
2V:Measured: 10° to 15°, Calculated: 20°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.054

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

Chemical Properties of Richelsdorfite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
5
Sb[Cl|(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, Ca, Cl, Cu, H, O, Sb
All elements listed in formula:As, Ca, Cl, Cu, H, O, Sb

Relationship of Richelsdorfite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DK.10Alumopharmacosiderite
KAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 6-7H
 
2
O
8.DK.10Bariopharmacosiderite
BaFe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
5
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DK.10Barium-Alumopharmacosiderite
Ba(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
5
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 7H
 
2
O (?)
8.DK.10Pharmacosiderite
KFe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 6-7H
 
2
O
8.DK.10Natropharmacosiderite
(Na,K)Fe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 6-7H
 
2
O
8.DK.10Barium-zinc-alumopharmacosiderite
(Ba,K)
 
0.5
(Zn,Cu)
 
0.5
(Al,Fe)
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
8.DK.15Burangaite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
5
[(OH,O)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DK.15Dufrénite
Ca
 
0.5
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DK.15Natrodufrénite
NaFe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DK.15Matioliite
NaMgAl
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DK.15IMA2008-056
NaMn
2+
 
Fe
3+
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
8.DK.20Kidwellite
NaFe
3+
9
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DK.25Bleasdaleite
(Ca,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
Cu
 
5
(Bi,Cu)[(H
 
2
O,OH,Cl)
 
13
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
8.DK.30Matulaite
CaAl
 
18
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
4
 · 28H
 
2
O
8.DK.35Krasnovite
Ba(Al,Mg)[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)] · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.2.1Sampleite
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.2Lavendulan
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.3Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.4Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.5Shubnikovite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
8
[Cl|OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.2.7Alforsite
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.8Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.9Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.10Mimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.11Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.12Sahlinite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.13Georgiadèsite
Pb
 
16
[(OH)
 
6
|Cl
 
14
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
]
22.2.14Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.15Kombatite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.16Leningradite
PbCu
 
3
[Cl|VO
 
4
]
 
2
22.2.17Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.18Nealite
Pb
 
4
Fe
2+
 
[Cl
 
2
|AsO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Richelsdorfite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-019
Other Languages:
German:Richelsdorfit
Russian:Рихельсдорфит
Spanish:Richelsdorfita

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 Richelsdorfite

Reference List:Süsse, P. & Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1983): Richelsdorfit, Ca2Cu5Sb[Cl(OH)6(AsO4)4]•6H2O, ein neues Mineral. - Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1983): 145-150.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 211.

Süsse, P. & Tillmann, B. (1987): The crystal structure of the new mineral richelsdorfite, Ca2Cu5Sb(Cl/(OH)6/(AsO4)4)•6H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 179: 323-334.

Sarp, H., Dominik, B. and Chiappero, P.-J. (1994): Nouveau gisement (Triembach-Le Val, Vosges, France): nouvelles propriétés optiques et diagramme de poudre de la richelsdorfite, Ca2Cu5Sb[Cl(OH)6(AsO4)4]•6H2O. Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen 74: 273-277. (in French).

Drescher, I. and Susse, P. (1997): Crystal structural investigation of a carbonate richelsdorfite. European Journal of Mineralogy 9, Beih. No. 1: 81.

Walenta, K. (2000): Richelsdorfitähnliche Mineralien aus dem Schwarzwald. Der Erzgräber 14, 1-9. (in German)

Gröbner, J. (2000): Neue Mineralienfunde aus Österreich (2). Mineralien-Welt, 11 (5), 49-51.

Internet Links for Richelsdorfite

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    Localities for Richelsdorfite

    Show Locality List (37 Items)
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