Luddenite, a New Copper-Lead Silicate from Arizona

S. A. Williams
Phelps Dodge Corporation, Douglas, Arizona USA

Abstract: Found at a small prospect in the Artillery Peaks area, Arizona. Luddcnite occurs in oxidized Cu-Zn ores with fluorite, alamosite, and cerussite. Colour nickel green, H = 4, G meas. 4.45.

Strongest X-ray lines are 7.361(10), 3.173(10), 2.918(8), 5.218(7), 4.226(5), 3.411(5), 2.888(5), 3.650(4). A possible cell found by Ito method is a = 7.85, b = 20.06, c = 14.72 Å, β = 90.78° (monoclinic). Optically (+), α = 1.852, γ = 1.867.

Chemical analysis by wet methods gave CuO 13.2%, PbO 35.1, SiO2 25.7, H2O 20.5, TiO2 (leucoxene impurity) 4.7. Not all water need be essential, hence Cu2Pb2Si5 O14·nH2O. The new mineral and name have been approved in advance of publication by the Commission on New Minerals and New Mineral Names, IMA.

Mineralogical Magazine; September 1982 v. 46; no. 340; p. 363-364; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1982.046.340.11
© 1982, The Mineralogical Society
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