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Lautenthalite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Lautenthalite
Formula:
PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Colour:
Green, bright blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
3.84 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by O. Medenbach and W. Gebert in 1993 for the type occurrence at Lautenthal, Germany, site of an ancient smelter.
Devilline Group.
The lead analogue of devilline and campigliaite.
Difficult to distinguish from both without analytical methods.
Found at several slag localities, and in mine waste dumps
The lead analogue of devilline and campigliaite.
Difficult to distinguish from both without analytical methods.
Found at several slag localities, and in mine waste dumps
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2347
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2347:0
IMA Classification of Lautenthalite
Classification of Lautenthalite
7.DF.70
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
31.6.1.2
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Lth | 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 Lautenthalite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Green, bright blue
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Good on {001} and {010}
Good on {001} and {010}
Density:
3.84 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lautenthalite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.659(2) nβ = 1.703(2) nγ = 1.732(2)
2V:
Measured: 78° to 79°, Calculated: 78°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.073
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
Z = b; Y ∧ c = 4(1)°.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = pale blue; Y = Z = blue.
Chemistry of Lautenthalite
Mindat Formula:
PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Lautenthalite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 21.642(8) Å, b = 6.040(2) Å, c = 22.544(8) Å
β = 108.2(1)°
β = 108.2(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.583 : 1 : 3.732
Unit Cell V:
2,799.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Tabular crystals, sheaflike or irregular aggregates.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic on {100}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.14 Å | (100) |
| 4.53 Å | (60) |
| 3.40 Å | (80) |
| 2.821 Å | (30) |
| 2.631 Å | (50) |
| 2.531 Å | (40) |
| 2.421 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Lautenthal, Germany. The data are from the type description.
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] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Oxidation zone of Pb-Cu deposits.
Type Occurrence of Lautenthalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bright blue crystals up to 0.5 x 0.3 x 0.03 mm, and as sheaflike aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institut fur Mineralogie, Ruhr-Universitat, Bochum, Germany.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Smelter slag.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Lautenthalite
Other Language Names for Lautenthalite
Relationship of Lautenthalite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Devilline Group:
| Aldridgeite | (Cd2+,Ca)(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O | Mon. 2 : B2 |
| Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
| Serpierite | Ca(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| 'Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline)' | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 29 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 27 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 14 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 14 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Wroewolfeite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 12 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 11 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O |
| 11 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 6 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Susannite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Lautenthalite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DF. | Siligiite | [Pb(H2O)5(SO4)][Zn9(OH)18] |
| 7.DF. | Alcaparrosaite | K3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2 |
| 7.DF. | Flaggite | Pb4Cu2+4Te6+2(SO4)2O11(OH)2(H2O) |
| 7.DF. | Bairdite | Pb2Cu2+4Te6+2O10(OH)2(SO4) · H2O |
| 7.DF. | Tzeferisite | CaZn8(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2(H2O)9 |
| 7.DF. | Cherokeeite | [Pb2Zn(OH)4](SO4) · H2O |
| 7.DF. | Ammoniomathesiusite | (NH4)5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2O |
| 7.DF. | Sigogglinite | [Pb6Zn(OH)8]2(SO4)6 · (H2O)8-x |
| 7.DF.X | Blueridgeite | [Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)2(S2O3)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF. | Erssonite | Mg7Fe3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 7.DF. | Poellmannite | Ca6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DF. | Carlsonite | (NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 7H2O |
| 7.DF. | Cuprocherokeeite | [Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.DF. | Haywoodite | [Pb(H2O)10][Zn12(OH)20(H2O)(SO4)3] |
| 7.DF. | Chromschieffelinite | Pb10Te6+6O20(OH)14(CrO4)(H2O)5 |
| 7.DF.05 | Uklonskovite | NaMg(SO4)F · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.10 | Kainite | KMg(SO4)Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.10 | Kaliochalcite | KCu2(SO4)2[(OH)(H2O)] |
| 7.DF.15 | Natrochalcite | NaCu2(SO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.17 | Genplesite | Ca3Sn(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.17 | 'Unnamed (Ba-Sb Silicate-Sulphate-Hydroxide-Hydrate)' | Ba3Sb5+[(Si,S)O3(OH)]2(OH,O)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.20 | Sideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.20 | Metasideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Fleischerite | Pb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Mallestigite | Pb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Schaurteite | Ca3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DF.25 | Despujolsite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.30 | Slavíkite | (H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O |
| 7.DF.35 | Metavoltine | K2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 7.DF.40 | Lannonite | Mg2Ca4Al4(SO4)8F8 · 24H2O |
| 7.DF.40 | Vlodavetsite | AlCa2(SO4)2F2Cl · 4H2O |
| 7.DF.45 | Peretaite | Ca(SbO)4(SO4)2(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.50 | Gordaite | NaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
| 7.DF.50 | Calamaite | Na2TiO(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.DF.52 | Huizingite-(Al) | [(NH4)9(SO4)2][(Al,Fe3+)3(OH)2(H2O)4(SO4)6] |
| 7.DF.52 | Scordariite | K8(Fe3+0.67◻0.33)[Fe3+3O(SO4)6]2 · 14H2O |
| 7.DF.55 | Clairite | (NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.DF.55 | Giacovazzoite | K5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 10H2O |
| 7.DF.57 | Magnanelliite | K3Fe3+2(SO4)4(OH)(H2O)2 |
| 7.DF.60 | Arzrunite | Cu4Pb2(SO4)(OH)4Cl6 · 2H2O (?) |
| 7.DF.60 | Evdokimovite | Tl4(VO)3(SO4)5(H2O)5 |
| 7.DF.62 | Bridgesite-(Ce) | CaCe2Cu6(SO4)4(OH)12 · 8H2O |
| 7.DF.65 | Elyite | Pb4Cu(SO4)O2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 7.DF.70 | Yecoraite | Fe3+3Bi5(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)O9 · 9H2O |
| 7.DF.75 | Riomarinaite | Bi(SO4)(OH) · H2O |
| 7.DF.80 | Dukeite | Bi3+24Cr6+8O57(OH)6 · 3H2O |
Fluorescence of Lautenthalite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Reacts readily with HCl to form a residue of PbS04.
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 Lautenthalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2347.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Meadowfoot Smelter slag locality, Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK