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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
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Bluish green
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the New Cornelia mine, Ajo, USA.
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
Year of Discovery:1958

Occurrences of Ajoite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zone of copper 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:Sprays of bladed prismatic crystals.

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
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 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

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
[(F,OH)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
[(OH,F)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
[F|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 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
 * 4 H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Cs
 
4
Na
 
2
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
](H
 
2
O)
 
2
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
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
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
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.5.7Papagoite
CaCu[H
 
3
AlSi
 
2
O
 
9
]

Other Names for Ajoite

Other Languages:
German:Ajoit
Italian:Ajoite
Latvian:Adžoīts
Romanian:Ajoit
Spanish:Ajoita

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)

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    Localities for Ajoite

    Show Locality List (11 Items)
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 5th Nov 2009 20:42:20