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Blixite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Blixite
Formula:
Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4
Originally assumed to be Pb2(O,OH)2Cl.
Krivovichev & Burns (2006) later suggested the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
Krivovichev & Burns (2006) later suggested the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
Colour:
Pale yellow, yellow-orange to greyish yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
7.35
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For Dr. Ragnar Blix (1898-1985), chemist at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, who performed analyses of many Långban minerals.
This page provides mineralogical data about Blixite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
696
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:696:7
IMA Classification of Blixite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+8O5(OH)2Cl4
First published:
1958
Classification of Blixite
3.DC.50
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
10.2.4.1
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
8.8.11
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blx | 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 Blixite
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale yellow, yellow-orange to greyish yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
in one direction
in one direction
Density:
7.35 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.53 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculated on synthetic material
Optical Data of Blixite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.05 nγ = 2.20
2V:
Measured: 80°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.150
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
Chemistry of Blixite
Mindat Formula:
Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4
Originally assumed to be Pb2(O,OH)2Cl.
Krivovichev & Burns (2006) later suggested the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
Originally assumed to be Pb2(O,OH)2Cl.
Krivovichev & Burns (2006) later suggested the formula to be Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4.
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ca,Cu,Fe,Zn
Crystallography of Blixite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.832 Å, b = 5.694 Å, c = 25.47 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.024 : 1 : 4.473
Unit Cell V:
845.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Massive, in films
Twinning:
On (100), synthetic.
Comment:
Orthorhombic or monoclinic. Point Group: 2/m (synthetic). ; Space Group: C2/c (synthetic).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0006092 | Blixite | Krivovichev S V, Burns P C (2006) The crystal structure of Pb8O5(OH)2Cl4, a synthetic analogue of blixite? The Canadian Mineralogist 44 515-522 |  | 2006 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.93 Å | (10) |
| 3.88 Å | (8) |
| 1.660 Å | (8) |
| 2.83 Å | (6) |
| 2.12 Å | (6) |
| 2.04 Å | (6) |
| 3.18 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Recorded on material from Långban, Sweden
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Reaction product of slags immersed in sea water
Type Occurrence of Blixite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden (No. 251539)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 114720)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 114720)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In hausmannite-rich dolomite and manganophyllite skarn in a metamorphosed Fe-Mn orebody
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Blixite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Blixite associated with Thorikosite | Pb3Cl2(OH)(SbO3,AsO3) |
| 4 photos of Blixite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 3 photos of Blixite associated with 'Manganophyllite' | K(Fe,Mg,Mn)3AlSi3O10(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Blixite associated with Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 2 photos of Blixite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 2 photos of Blixite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Blixite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Blixite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 1 photo of Blixite associated with Sundiusite | Pb10(SO4)O8Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Blixite associated with Perite | PbBiClO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DC. | Gajardoite | KCa0.5As3+4O6Cl2 · 5H2O |
| 3.DC. | Lucabindiite | (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br) |
| 3.DC. | Dmitrievite | Sb4Cl2O5 |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(NH4) | (NH4)3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Cuatrocapaite-(K) | K3(NaMg◻)(As2O3)6Cl6 · 16H2O |
| 3.DC. | Napoliite | Pb2OFCl |
| 3.DC. | Torrecillasite | Na(As,Sb)3+4O6Cl |
| 3.DC.05 | Paralaurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3.DC.05 | Laurionite | PbCl(OH) |
| 3.DC.05 | Mauriziodiniite | (NH4)(As2O3)2I |
| 3.DC.05 | Russoite | (NH4)ClAs2O3(H2O)0.5 |
| 3.DC.10 | Fiedlerite | Pb3FCl4(OH) · H2O |
| 3.DC.15 | Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
| 3.DC.15 | Telluroperite | Pb3TeO4Cl2 |
| 3.DC.20 | Laurelite | Pb7F12Cl2 |
| 3.DC.25 | Zhangpeishanite | BaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Matlockite | PbFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Zavaritskite | (BiO)F |
| 3.DC.25 | Rorisite | CaFCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Bismoclite | BiOCl |
| 3.DC.25 | Vegrandisite | BaCl2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Nadorite | PbSbClO2 |
| 3.DC.30 | Perite | PbBiClO2 |
| 3.DC.40 | Thorikosite | Pb3Cl2(OH)(SbO3,AsO3) |
| 3.DC.45 | Mereheadite | Pb47Cl25(OH)13O24(CO3)(BO3)2 |
| 3.DC.52 | Rumseyite | Pb2OClF |
| 3.DC.55 | Vladkrivovichevite | [Pb32O18][Pb4Mn2O]Cl14(BO3)8 · 2H2O |
| 3.DC.55 | Pinalite | Pb3WO5Cl2 |
| 3.DC.57 | Yeomanite | Pb2O(OH)Cl |
| 3.DC.60 | Symesite | Pb10(SO4)O7Cl4 · H2O |
| 3.DC.60 | 'Lorettoite' | Pb7O6Cl2 |
| 3.DC.62 | 'Sarawakite (of Frenzel)' | Sb, O, Cl (?) |
| 3.DC.65 | Ecdemite | Pb6As3+2O7Cl4 |
| 3.DC.70 | Mendipite | Pb3Cl2O2 |
| 3.DC.75 | Damaraite | Pb3Cl(OH)O2 |
| 3.DC.80 | Onoratoite | Sb8Cl2O11 |
| 3.DC.95 | Barstowite | Pb4Cl6(CO3) · H2O |
Other Information
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 Blixite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-696.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Blixite
Reference List:
Scott, K. M. (1994) Lead oxychlorides at Elura, western NSW, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 58 (391) 336-338 doi:10.1180/minmag.1994.058.391.17
symbol to view information about a locality.
The
Långban Mine, Långban Ore District, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden