Macphersonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Macphersonite
Harry G. Macpherson
Formula:
Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
Colour:
Colorless, white, very pale amber
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.50 - 6.55
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by A. Livingstone and H. Sarp in 1984 in honor of Harry Gordon Macpherson (1925 – 2001), Keeper of Minerals, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Co-Type Localities:
Polymorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2513
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2513:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
63b0d271-5cbd-4a50-a809-7639f72c0684
IMA Classification of Macphersonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb4(SO4)(CO3)2(OH)2
First published:
1984
Classification of Macphersonite
5.BF.40
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
F : With (Cl), SO4, PO4, TeO3
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
F : With (Cl), SO4, PO4, TeO3
17.1.4.1
17 : COMPOUND CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
17 : COMPOUND CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
12.2.12
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mps | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Macphersonite
Adamantine, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, white, very pale amber
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{010}
{010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.50 - 6.55 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.67(3) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Data from two localities; calculated from empirical formulas
Optical Data of Macphersonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.870 nβ = 2.000 nγ = 2.010
2V:
Measured: 35° to 36°, Calculated: 28°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.140
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemistry of Macphersonite
Mindat Formula:
Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
Crystallography of Macphersonite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.383(2) Å, b = 23.050(5) Å, c = 9.242(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.45 : 1 : 0.401
Unit Cell V:
2211.87 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Pseudo-hexagonal, tabular to micaceous crystals.
Twinning:
Common. Lamellar and contact, composition plane {102}.
Comment:
Space Group: P cab
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014534 | Macphersonite | Steele I M, Pluth J J, Livingstone A (1998) Crystal structure of macphersonite (Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2): comparison with leadhillite Mineralogical Magazine 62 451-459 |  | 1998 | Leadhills-Wanlockhead orefield, Scotland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.234 Å | (100) |
| 2.654 Å | (90) |
| 3.274 Å | (50) |
| 2.598 Å | (30) |
| 2.310 Å | (30) |
| 2.182 Å | (30) |
| 2.033 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Argentolle Mine, Saint-Prix, France. The data are from the type description. The pattern for the Leadhills sample is somewhat different.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Macphersonite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
A composite crystal (2 x 3 x 7 mm) displaying interpenetrant growth (Leadhills). Abundant pseudo hexagonal, tabular to micaceous crystals, 2-5 mm (Argentolle Mine).
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland, 721.34.
Museum of Natural History, Geneva, Switzerland, 435/80.
Museum of Natural History, Geneva, Switzerland, 435/80.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation zone of lead deposits.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Livingstone, A., Sarp, H. (1984) Macphersonite, a new mineral from Leadhills, Scotland, and Saint Prix, France; a polymorph of leadhillite and susannite. Mineralogical Magazine: 48: 227-282.
Synonyms of Macphersonite
Other Language Names for Macphersonite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.BF.05 | Ferrotychite | Na6(Fe,Mn,Mg)2(CO3)4(SO4) |
| 5.BF.05 | Manganotychite | Na6Mn2(CO3)4(SO4) |
| 5.BF.05 | Northupite | Na3Mg(CO3)2Cl |
| 5.BF.05 | Tychite | Na6Mg2(CO3)4(SO4) |
| 5.BF.10 | Bonshtedtite | Na3Fe2+(CO3)(PO4) |
| 5.BF.10 | Bradleyite | Na3Mg(CO3)(PO4) |
| 5.BF.10 | Crawfordite | Na3Sr(CO3)(PO4) |
| 5.BF.10 | Sidorenkite | Na3Mn2+(CO3)(PO4) |
| 5.BF.15 | Daqingshanite-(Ce) | (Sr,Ca,Ba)3(Ce,La)(CO3)3-x(PO4)(OH,F)2x |
| 5.BF.20 | Reederite-(Y) | (Na,Mn)15Y2(CO3)9(FSO3)Cl |
| 5.BF.25 | Mineevite-(Y) | Na25Ba(Y,Gd,Dy)2(CO3)11(HCO3)4(SO4)2F2Cl |
| 5.BF.30 | Brianyoungite | Zn3(CO3,SO4)(OH)4 |
| 5.BF.35 | Philolithite | Pb12Mn2+(Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn2+,Mg)4(CO3)4(SO4)O6(OH)12Cl4 |
| 5.BF.40 | Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 5.BF.40 | Susannite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 5.BF.45 | Peatite-(Y) | Li4Na12Y12(PO4)12(CO3)4(F,OH)8 |
| 5.BF.50 | Ramikite-(Y) | Li4(Na,Ca)12Y6Zr6(PO4)12(CO3)4O4[(OH),F]4 |
Fluorescence of Macphersonite
May exhibit a bright yellow fluorescence under SW UV and LW UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in dilute hydrochloric and nitric acids with effervescence. In nitric acid, a curdy, white precipitate of PbSO4 is formed.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Macphersonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2513.html
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References for Macphersonite
Reference List:
Livingstone, A., Sarp, H. (1984) Macphersonite, a new mineral from Leadhills, Scotland, and Saint-Prix, France— a polymorph of leadhillite and susannite. Mineralogical Magazine, 48 (347) 277-282 doi:10.1180/minmag.1984.048.347.14
Dunn, Pete J., Fleischer, Michael, Langley, Richard H., Shigley, James E., Zilczer, Janet A. (1985) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 70 (7-8) 871-881
Localities for Macphersonite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
France (TL) | |
| Livingstone et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
| Gol (2014) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Lapis (2) |
Greece | |
| 50. +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Maida (2002) |
| Stara et al. (1996) |
Namibia | |
| Gebhard (1999) |
UK | |
| Cooper et al. (1988) +3 other references |
| Stanley et al. (1991) | |
| Scottish J. Geol. 23 (1987) |
| Livingstone et al. (1984) | |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
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Pinn'e Perda Stope, Tiny-Arenas Mine, Fluminimaggiore, South Sardinia Province, Sardinia, Italy