Caracolite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Caracolite
Mining town of Caracoles
Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile
Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile
Formula:
Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl
Colour:
Colourless, grayish, greenish stained; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
5.1
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
After Caracoles, a town near the type locality of the Beatriz Mine, Sierra Gorda, Atacama, Chile.
This page provides mineralogical data about Caracolite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
890
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:890:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
686a7b3f-00fa-4b3a-a862-92346840e517
IMA Classification of Caracolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na2(Pb2Na)(SO4)3Cl
First published:
1886
Classification of Caracolite
7.BD.20
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
30.3.2.1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq
26.25
26 : Sulphates with Halide
26 : Sulphates with Halide
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cco | 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 Caracolite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, grayish, greenish stained; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
5.1 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.5 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured density approximate.
Optical Data of Caracolite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.743(5) nβ = 1.754(5) nγ = 1.764(5)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.021
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
r > v moderate
Comments:
2V(meas.) = Very large.
Chemistry of Caracolite
Mindat Formula:
Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl
Crystallography of Caracolite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Setting:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 19.62 Å, b = 7.14 Å, c = 9.81 Å
β = 120°
β = 120°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.748 : 1 : 1.374
Unit Cell V:
1,190.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Occurs as crystalline incrustations. Imperfect crystals to 1 mm apparently hexagonal with a hexagonal pyramid and prism plus a large base.
Twinning:
Pseudo-hexagonal trillings, analogous to aragonite. Exhibits complex polysynthetic twinning with rather large extinction angles.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014733 | Caracolite | Schneider W (1967) Caracolit, das Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl mit apatitstruktur Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1967 284-289 | 1967 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0014735 | Caracolite | Schneider W (1969) Bestimmung einer uberstruktur am caracolit Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1969 58-64 | 1969 | Caracoles, Chile | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.45 Å | (31) |
| 4.03 Å | (31) |
| 3.55 Å | (55) |
| 2.927 Å | (100) |
| 2.876 Å | (45) |
| 2.132 Å | (35) |
| 1.906 Å | (56) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
In Ash from lead smelters.
Type Occurrence of Caracolite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystalline incrustations with pseudohexagonal crystals to 1mm.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Websky, M. (1886) Über caracolite und percylit. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin: 48: 1045-1050.
Other Language Names for Caracolite
Relationship of Caracolite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Aiolosite | Na4Bi(SO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Cesanite | Na3Ca2(SO4)3(OH) | Hex. 6 : P6 |
| Fluorphosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Fluorsigaiite | Ca2Sr3(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Hedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Hydroxylhedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3(OH) | Trig. 3 : P3 |
| Miyahisaite | (Sr,Ca)2Ba3(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Morelandite | Ca2Ba3(AsO4)3Cl | Hex. |
| Parafiniukite | Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Phosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| UM2002-53-PO:CaHPb | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3(OH,Cl,F) |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Caracolite associated with Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 5 photos of Caracolite associated with Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 3 photos of Caracolite associated with Glauberite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 |
| 2 photos of Caracolite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Caracolite associated with Mahnertite | NaCu3(AsO4)2Cl · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Caracolite associated with Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Caracolite associated with Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 1 photo of Caracolite associated with Herbertsmithite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Caracolite associated with Metavoltine | K2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
| 1 photo of Caracolite associated with Bonattite | CuSO4 · 3H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.BD. | Adanite | Pb2(Te4+O3)(SO4) |
| 7.BD. | Hasanovite | KNa(MoO2)(SO4)2 |
| 7.BD. | Evanichite | Pb6Cr3+(Cr6+O4)2(SO4)(OH)7FCl |
| 7.BD. | Kennygayite | [Pb4O2(OH)2](SO4) |
| 7.BD.05 | Sulphohalite | Na6(SO4)2FCl |
| 7.BD.10 | Galeite | Na15(SO4)5F4Cl |
| 7.BD.10 | Schairerite | Na21(SO4)7ClF6 |
| 7.BD.15 | Kogarkoite | Na3(SO4)F |
| 7.BD.20 | Cesanite | Na3Ca2(SO4)3(OH) |
| 7.BD.20 | Aiolosite | Na4Bi(SO4)3Cl |
| 7.BD.25 | Burkeite | Na6(CO3)(SO4)2 |
| 7.BD.30 | Hanksite | Na22K(SO4)9(CO3)2Cl |
| 7.BD.35 | Cannonite | Bi2(SO4)O(OH)2 |
| 7.BD.40 | Lanarkite | Pb2(SO4)O |
| 7.BD.45 | Grandreefite | Pb2(SO4)F2 |
| 7.BD.50 | Itoite | Pb3Ge4+(SO4)2O2(OH)2 |
| 7.BD.55 | Chiluite | Bi3Te6+Mo6+O10.5 |
| 7.BD.60 | Hectorfloresite | Na9(SO4)4(IO3) |
| 7.BD.65 | Pseudograndreefite | Pb6(SO4)F10 |
| 7.BD.70 | Sundiusite | Pb10(SO4)O8Cl2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Decomposes in H2O, leaving PbSO4.
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 Caracolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-890.html
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References for Caracolite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.52
Localities for Caracolite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Belgium | |
| Ottenburgs et al. (1998) |
Chile | |
| Smith et al. (1906) |
| Brugger et al. (2012) |
| Fletcher (1889) +1 other reference |
| Smith et al. (1906) +1 other reference | |
| Smith et al. (1906) +1 other reference | |
| Maurizio Dini | |
| Uwe Kolitsch collection. +1 other reference | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Collection U. Kolitsch (gift from Arturo Molina) | |
| SEM-EDS and Raman Spectroscopy by Joy ... |
| S. Rust collection. Dealers label |
| Tim Jokela Jr |
| Schluter et al. (2005) | |
China | |
| Kaiyin Bai and Zhaoxin Han (2007) |
France | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
Germany | |
| Dietrich (2003) |
| Weiß (1990) |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2018) |
| - (n.d.) |
| Sotiropoulou et al. (2010) |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2019) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) | |
Ukraine | |
| Lyckberg et al. (2009) |
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Lolón Main Mine, Cerro Challacollo, Pozo Almonte, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá, Chile