Theisite, a New Mineral from Colorado

S. A. Williams
Phelps Dodge Corp., Douglas, AZ 85607, USA

Abstract: Found by N. Theis at a uranium prospect near Durango, Colorado. Occurs with uraninite, galena, malachite, azurite, etc. Colour pale blue-green, H = 1½, G = 4.25. Optically 2Vα ≈ 0°, α = 1.755, β = γ = 1.785; non-pleochroic. Chemical analysis on 1034 µg gave CuO 33.3 %, ZnO 33.1, CaO 0.3, As2O5 14.8, Sb2O5 7.0, H2O 10.5 leading to Cu5Zn5{(As,Sb)O4}2(OH)14. The cell indexes as orthorhombic a = 8.225Å, b = 7.123, c = 14.97. Strongest lines are 14.97 (9), 7.483 (5), 4.112 (4), 3.741 (10), 2.996 (4), 2.534 (9), 1.830 (5), 1.553 (3). The mineral and name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names, IMA.

Mineralogical Magazine; March 1982 v. 46; no. 338; p. 49-50; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1982.046.338.08
© 1982, The Mineralogical Society
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