Pinalite

Pinalite is a rare lead tungstatechloride mineral with formula: Pb3WO5Cl2.

Pinalite
General
CategoryTungstate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Pb3WO5Cl2
Strunz classification3.DC.55
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDypyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupOrthorhombic
Space group: Amam
Unit cella = 11.07 Å, b = 13.08 Å,
c = 5.62 Å; Z = 4
Identification
ColorBright to pale yellow, golden, orange
Crystal habitAcicular - occurs as needle-like crystals. Bladed - aggregates of thin lath-like crystals (e.g. kyanite)
TwinningPenetration twins on {010}
CleavageNone
TenacityBrittle
LusterAdamantine
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity7.78 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 2.490 nβ = 2.495 nγ = 2.505
Birefringenceδ = 0.015
2V angleMeasured: 70° to 70.5°, calculated: 72°
Ultraviolet fluorescenceNon-fluorescent
References[1][2][3]

Pinalite crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.[4] The orthorhombic system is described as having three crystallographic axes of unequal lengths, normally referred to as c (the longest axes), b (the second longest axes), and a (the smallest axes). These axes all have corresponding angles of 90 degrees.[5] Pinalite belongs to the biaxial optical class, and is negative.[2] The main difference between biaxial and axial crystals is that biaxial crystals have two optic axes.[5]

Pinalite's structure is significant in that it is one of a kind. It is therefore important in seeing how the structures in new lead oxyhalides (containing square pyramids incorporated into sheets) are arranged. Its structure contains an extra oxygen, which therefore has a very small amount of free space and consequently protrudes into neighboring layers. The oxygen then pushes aside the chlorine atoms, leaving almost no room for the lead to occupy. This is of interest to geologists for it is such a rare occurrence of structure seen only in pinalite and its barium analog. Therefore, it could be of use to structuralists to see how this mineral was formed. Experiments have been done, using lead oxyhalides, to see the reason and sequence of events in which this mineral is executed.[6]

Discovery and occurrence

Pinalite was first discovered in 1989 in the St. Anthony deposit, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal Co., Arizona, US, and was named for the location county.[2] Pinalite has otherwise only been seen in the Grand Reef mine, near Klondyke in the Santa Teresa Mountains in Graham County, Arizona, so is therefore found around orogenic activity.[2]

References

  1. Webmineral data
  2. Mindat.org
  3. Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Clark, A.M. (1993) Hey's Mineral Index (Third edition). 548 p. The Natural History Museum, London, UK.
  5. Klein, Cornelis and Dutrow, Barbara. (2007) The Manual of Mineral Science (Twenty-third edition) 187-188 p. United States of America.
  6. Charkin, Dmitri and Lightfoot, Phillip. "Synthesis of novel lead–molybdenum and lead–tungsten oxyhalides with the pinalite structure, Pb3MoO5Cl2 and Pb3WO5Br2." American Mineralogist; November 2006; v. 91; no. 11-12; p. 1918-1921. Mineralogical Society of America. 2006.
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