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Chenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Chenite
Formula:
Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6
Colour:
Sky blue, pale blue
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
5.98
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Tzong Tzy Chen (b. 1942), mineralogist with the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for his contributions to mineralogy.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
987
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:987:6
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Chenite
Classification of Chenite
7.BC.70
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
30.1.16.1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
25.7.8
25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates of Pb
25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Che | 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 Chenite
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Sky blue, pale blue
Streak:
Pale blue
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {100}; traces of another cleavage on {001}.
On {100}; traces of another cleavage on {001}.
Density:
5.98(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 6.044 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chenite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.871 nβ = 1.909 nγ = 1.927
2V:
Measured: 67° (1), Calculated: 66°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.056
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:
Very strong, r >> v.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Chenite
Mindat Formula:
Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Chenite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.791(1) Å, b = 7.940(1) Å, c = 7.976(1) Å
α = 112.02(1)°, β = 97.73(1)°, γ = 100.45(1)°
α = 112.02(1)°, β = 97.73(1)°, γ = 100.45(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.729 : 1 : 1.005
Unit Cell V:
326.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Tabular, pointed, rich in faces. Forms include dominant {132} and {221}, less dominant {100}. Also {253}, {154}, {110}, {010}, {001}, {101}, {111}, {112}.
Twinning:
Twinning observed.
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
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015326 | Chenite | Mereiter K (2009) Chenite, Pb4Cu(SO4)2(OH)6, from Susanna mine, Leadhills, Scotland. Private communication 0 0-0 | 2009 | Susanna mine, Leadhills, Scotland | 0 | 293 | |
| 0014826 | Chenite | Hess H, Keller P, Riffel H (1988) The crystal structure of chenite, Pb4Cu(OH)6(SO4)2 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1988 259-264 | 1988 | Leadhills, Scotland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.55 Å | (70) |
| 4.32 Å | (60) |
| 3.97 Å | (30) |
| 3.60 Å | (100) |
| 3.41 Å | (90) |
| 3.30 Å | (50) |
| 3.00 Å | (50) |
| 2.87 Å | (40) |
| 2.80 Å | (70) |
| 2.71 Å | (40) |
| 2.53 Å | (30) |
| 2.21 Å | (40) |
| 2.07 Å | (60) |
| 1.949 Å | (40) |
| 1.914 Å | (30) |
| 1.838 Å | (40) |
| 1.778 Å | (50) |
| 1.750 Å | (30) |
| 1.704 Å | (30) |
| 1.582 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Data from 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] |
Type Occurrence of Chenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals to 1 x 0.5 x 0.2 mm in size, and a twinned crystal 1.5 mm in length.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallchemie, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, number NM 14 (holotype).
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 160384 (cotype).
Archiv der Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, number TM-83.69 (part of the holotype).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Institut fUr Mineralogie, Kristallographie und Strukturchemie der Technischen Universitat Wien, Wien, Austria.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 160384 (cotype).
Archiv der Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, number TM-83.69 (part of the holotype).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Institut fUr Mineralogie, Kristallographie und Strukturchemie der Technischen Universitat Wien, Wien, Austria.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary mineral in a lead-copper deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Meadowfoot Smelter slag locality, Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK