Packratite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Ca11(As3+V5+10V4+2As5+6O51)2 · 83H2O
Colour:
Very dark greenish blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.36
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named for the Packrat mine, the type locality.
New structure type.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46228
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46228:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a8edb3cc-728c-4bf5-ba61-94e3fef4e7f2
IMA Classification of Packratite
Approved
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2016
Type description reference:
Classification of Packratite
8.FD.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pkt | 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 Packratite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Very dark greenish blue
Streak:
Grayish blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
{001}, {110}, and {1–10} fair
{001}, {110}, and {1–10} fair
Density:
2.36(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.351 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Packratite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.625 nβ = 1.628(2) nγ = 1.629(2)
2V:
Measured: 60.7° (4)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
non-pleochroic dark blue
Chemistry of Packratite
Mindat Formula:
Ca11(As3+V5+10V4+2As5+6O51)2 · 83H2O
Crystallography of Packratite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.0572(4) Å, b = 19.4126(4) Å, c = 24.0586(17) Å
α = 87.364(6)°, β = 86.266(6)°, γ = 79.267(6)°
α = 87.364(6)°, β = 86.266(6)°, γ = 79.267(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.93 : 1 : 1.239
Unit Cell V:
8263.4 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Flattened on {110} and elongated on [001]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 14.50 Å | (49) |
| 12.13 Å | (49) |
| 10.53 Å | (100) |
| 7.45 Å | (20) |
| 6.61 Å | (16) |
| 2.939 Å | (22) |
| 2.846 Å | (19) |
| 2.732 Å | (22) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] |
Type Occurrence of Packratite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very dark blue to greenish-blue blades up to about 1 mm long, striated lengthwise, and grow in sub-parallel and divergent intergrowths. Also as pearly green, botryoidal aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California, USA, catalogue numbers 64513 and 64514
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Nash, B.P., Marty, J. (2016) Vanarsite, Packratite, Morrisonite, and Gatewayite: Four New Minerals Containing the [As3+V4+,5+12As5+6O51] Heteropolyanion, A Novel Polyoxometalate Cluster. The Canadian Mineralogist: 54(1): 145-162.
Synonyms of Packratite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.FD.05 | Volborthite | Cu3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.05 | Martyite | Zn3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.05 | Karpenkoite | Co3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Vanarsite | NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Morrisonite | Ca11(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Gatewayite | Ca6(As3+V4+3 V5+9As5+6O51) · 31H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Kegginite | Pb3Ca3[AsV12O40(VO)] · 20H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Bicapite | [KNa2Mg2(H2O)25][H2PV5+12O40(V5+O)2] |
| 8.FD.10 | Lumsdenite | NaCa3Mg2(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51) · 45H2O |
| 8.FD.15 | Chinchorroite | Na2Mg5(As2O7)2(AsO3OH)2(H2O)10 |
Fluorescence of Packratite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in room-temperature H2O; easily soluble in room-temperature dilute HCl.
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 Packratite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46228.html
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References for Packratite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC), CNMNC Newsletter No. 22. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (5) 1241-1248 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.5.10
Localities for Packratite
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.
USA (TL) | |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles ... +2 other references |
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