Mendipite
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Formula:
Pb3Cl2O2
Colour:
Colourless, white, grey, often tinged yellow, blue, red; nearly colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous, Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
7.24
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
After the type locality at the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England, UK.
Type Locality:
Classification of Mendipite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
3/D.10-30
3.DC.70
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
10.3.1.1
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
3 : A3(O,OH)2Xq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
3 : A3(O,OH)2Xq
8.8.5
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
Physical Properties of Mendipite
Adamantine, Resinous, Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, grey, often tinged yellow, blue, red; nearly colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {110} perfect; {100} and {010} less perfect.
On {110} perfect; {100} and {010} less perfect.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
7.24 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mendipite
Type:
Biaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nα = 2.240 nβ = 2.270 nγ = 2.310
2V:
Measured: 90° , Calculated: 84°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.070

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:
relatively strong
Chemical Properties of Mendipite
Formula:
Pb3Cl2O2
IMA Formula:
Pb3O2Cl2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Mendipite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
2 2 2 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P21 21 21
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.52 Å, b = 11.87 Å, c = 5.87 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.802 : 1 : 0.495
Unit Cell V:
663.32 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Fibrous or columnar masses, often radiated.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.40 | (6) |
3.78 | (6) |
3.51 | (7) |
3.08 | (6) |
3.04 | (8) |
2.78 | (10) |
2.64 | (9) |
Type Occurrence of Mendipite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Mendipite
Other Language Names for Mendipite
French:Plomb chloruré
Russian:Мендипит
Simplified Chinese:白氯铅矿
Spanish:Churchillita
Mendipita
Mendipita
Swedish:Saltsyradt Bly
Traditional Chinese:白氯鉛礦
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Chloroxiphite | 33 photos of Mendipite associated with Chloroxiphite on mindat.org. |
Mereheadite | 15 photos of Mendipite associated with Mereheadite on mindat.org. |
Diaboleite | 12 photos of Mendipite associated with Diaboleite on mindat.org. |
Crednerite | 11 photos of Mendipite associated with Crednerite on mindat.org. |
Parkinsonite | 9 photos of Mendipite associated with Parkinsonite on mindat.org. |
Paralaurionite | 7 photos of Mendipite associated with Paralaurionite on mindat.org. |
Plumboan Aragonite | 4 photos of Mendipite associated with Plumboan Aragonite on mindat.org. |
Calcite | 4 photos of Mendipite associated with Calcite on mindat.org. |
Cerussite | 4 photos of Mendipite associated with Cerussite on mindat.org. |
Hydrocerussite | 2 photos of Mendipite associated with Hydrocerussite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
3.DC.05 | Laurionite | PbCl(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
3.DC.05 | Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
3.DC.10 | Fiedlerite | Pb3FCl4(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m |
3.DC.15 | Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) | Hex. 6 : P6 |
3.DC.20 | Laurelite | Pb7F12Cl2 | Hex. 6 : P6 |
3.DC.25 | Bismoclite | (BiO)Cl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
3.DC.25 | Daubréeite | (BiO)(OH,Cl) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
3.DC.25 | Matlockite | PbFCl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
3.DC.25 | Rorisite | CaFCl | Tet. |
3.DC.25 | Zavaritskite | (BiO)F | Tet. |
3.DC.25 | Zhangpeishanite | BaFCl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
3.DC.30 | Nadorite | PbSbClO2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
3.DC.30 | Perite | PbBiClO2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
3.DC.35 | Aravaipaite | Pb3AlF9 · H2O | Tric. |
3.DC.37 | Calcioaravaipaite | PbCa2AlF9 | Tric. 1 |
3.DC.40 | Thorikosite | Pb3Cl2(OH)(SbO3,AsO3) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
3.DC.45 | Mereheadite | Pb47Cl25(OH)13O24(CO3)(BO3)2 | Mon. m |
3.DC.50 | Blixite | Pb2(O,OH)2Cl | Orth. |
3.DC.55 | Pinalite | Pb3WO5Cl2 | Orth. |
3.DC.60 | Symesite | Pb10(SO4)O7Cl4 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
3.DC.65 | Ecdemite | Pb6Cl4(As2O7) | Tet. |
3.DC.65 | Heliophyllite | Pb6Cl4(As2O7) | Orth. |
3.DC.75 | Damaraite | Pb3Cl(OH)O2 | Orth. mm2 : Pmc21 |
3.DC.80 | Onoratoite | Sb8Cl2O11 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
3.DC.85 | Cotunnite | PbCl2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
3.DC.90 | Pseudocotunnite | K2PbCl4 | Orth. |
3.DC.95 | Barstowite | Pb4Cl6(CO3) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
8.8.1 | Abhurite | Sn21Cl16(OH)14O6 | Trig. |
8.8.2 | Matlockite | PbFCl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
8.8.3 | Laurelite | Pb7F12Cl2 | Hex. 6 : P6 |
8.8.4 | Cotunnite | PbCl2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
8.8.6 | Damaraite | Pb3Cl(OH)O2 | Orth. mm2 : Pmc21 |
8.8.7 | Laurionite | PbCl(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
8.8.8 | Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.8.9 | Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) | Hex. 6 : P6 |
8.8.10 | Fiedlerite | Pb3FCl4(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m |
8.8.11 | Blixite | Pb2(O,OH)2Cl | Orth. |
8.8.12 | Pseudocotunnite | K2PbCl4 | Orth. |
8.8.13 | Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 | Tet. 4mm : P4mm |
8.8.14 | Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
8.8.15 | Chloroxiphite | Pb3CuO2Cl2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
8.8.17 | Bideauxite | Pb2AgCl3(F,OH)2 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
8.8.18 | Boleite | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m |
8.8.19 | Aravaipaite | Pb3AlF9 · H2O | Tric. |
8.8.20 | Yedlinite | Pb6Cr3+Cl6(O,OH,H2O)8 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
8.8.21 | Kolarite | PbTeCl2 | Orth. |
8.8.22 | Hematophanite | Pb4Fe3O8(OH,Cl) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in dilute nitric acid.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Mendipite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Berzelius (1823) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Handlingar: 184.
Berzelius (1824) Edinburgh Journal of Science: 1: 379.
Haidinger (1825) Mohs: 2: 151.
Beudant, F.S. (1832) Traité élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 502.
Breithaupt, A. (1832) Vollständige Characteristik etc. 2nd. Ed.: 61 (as Chlor-Spath).
Lévy, A. (1837) Description d’une collection de minéraux formée par M. Henri Heuland, et appartenant à M. Ch. H. Turner, de Rooksnest, dans le comté de Surrey en Angleterre. 3 volumes and atlas of 85 plates, London: 2: 448 (as Berzélite).
Glocker, E.F. (1839) Handbuch der Mineralogie, 2nd. edition, Nürnberg.: 604.
Dufrénoy (1856) 3: 280.
Rimann (1918) Anal. soc. quim. argentina: 6: 326 (as Pseudomendipite).
Spencer (1923) Mineralogical Magazine: 20: 67.
Bannister (1934) Mineralogical Magazine: 23: 596.
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: 56-58.
Gabrielson, O. (1958) The crystal structure of mendipite, Pb3O2Cl2. Arkiv Mineral. Geol., 2(16), 299–304.
Arkiv för Mineralogi och Geologi (1969) 4: 523.
Vincent, H. and Perrault, G. (1971) Structure cristalline de l’oxychlorure de plomb synthétique Pb3O2Cl2. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie 94, 323–331.
Symes, R.F. and Embrey, P.G. (1977) Mendipite and other rare oxychloride minerals from the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. Mineral. Record, 8, 298–303.
Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (2000) 563-569.
Krivovichev, Sergey V.; Burns, Peter C. (2001) Crystal chemistry of lead oxide chlorides. I. Crystal structures of synthetic mendipite, Pb3O2Cl2, and synthetic damaraite, Pb3O2(OH)Cl. Eur. J. Mineral. 13, 801-809.
Internet Links for Mendipite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2641.html
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Localities for Mendipite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Scott, K. M. (1994): Lead oxychlorides at Elura, western NSW, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine 58, 336-338.; Chapman, J. & Scott, K. (2005): Supergene minerals from the oxidised zone of the Elura (Endeavor) lead-zinc-silver deposit. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 11, 83-90. ; Loidl, Gernot C. (2012) The Elura Orebody: a multidisciplinary study investigating geochemical mineralogical & geometallurgical ore characteristics. PhD thesis Adelaide University; Leverett, P., McKinnon, A. R., & Williams, P. A. (2005). Supergene geochemistry of the Endeavor ore body, Cobar, NSW, and relationships to other deposits in the Cobar basin. Regolith 2005–Ten Years of CRC LEME, 191-194. |
| Bywater, S. (1987): Minerals from the Mount Malvern mine. Mineralogical News (Journal of the Mineralogical Society of South Australia), 7 (1), 41.; Kolitsch, U. and Elliott, P. (1999): Mineralogy of the Mount Malvern Mine near Clarendon, South Australia. Australian J. Mineral. 5, 3-17. |
Germany | |
| Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990 |
| Rhodius, R. (1847): Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 62, 373, Naumann, Zirkel: "Elemente der Mineralogie", 13th Ed., Engelmann (Leipzig), 1898; 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: 57. |
Greece | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1980): Mendipit Pb3Cl2O2 - Neufund für Lavrion, Griechenland. Der Aufschluss, 31 (5), 153-155. |
| Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet, and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals of the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands |
| Laurion The mineralsin the ancient slags by Piet Gelaude etc. |
| Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pilipenko, P. P. (1915): Mineralogy of the Western Altai. Bull. Imp. Tomsk University, Tomsk, no. 63. |
Sweden | |
| 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. |
UK | |
| BMS Database |
| BMS Newsletter 79, March 2010 (http://britishmicromountsociety.homestead.com/Gannell-Smelter.html) |
| Symes, R.F. (1977) Datolite and apophyllite from the Mendips. Mineralogical Magazine: 41 (319): 410-411.; Jambor, J.L., Pertsev, N.N., and Roberts, A.C. (1999) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 84: 1195-1198.; Turner, R.W. (2006) A mechanism for the formation of the mineralised Mn deposits at Merehead Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England. Mineralogical Magazine: 70(6): 629-653.; Turner, R.W. and Rumsey, M.S. (2010) Mineral relationships in the Mendip Hills. Journal of the Russell Society: 13: 3-46. |
| BMS Database |
| Hall, T.M. (1868): The Mineralogist's Directory. Edward Stanford (London), 168 pp.; 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: 57. |
| 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: 57; Mineralogical Record: 27: 253. |
USA | |
| Gleba, 1978. Massachusetts Mineral & Fossil Localities |
| MinRec 20:369-386 |
Torr Works Quarry, Cranmore, Somerset, England, UK