New Minerals from the Redmond Mine, North Carolina, USA: I. Redmondite, Hydroredmondite, and Sulfatoredmondite, Three Minerals Containing the Novel [Pb8O2Zn(OH)6]8+ Structural Unit

Abstract

AbstractThe new minerals redmondite (IMA2021–072), [Pb8O2Zn(OH)6](S2O3)4, hydroredmondite (IMA2021–073), [Pb8O2Zn(OH)6](S2O3)4·2H2O, and sulfatoredmondite (IMA2021–089), [Pb8O2Zn(OH)6](SO4)4·6H2O, were found in the Redmond mine, Haywood County, North Carolina, USA, where they occur together in a highly unusual secondary assemblage that comprises a variety of rare Pb-Zn-Cu sulfates, thiosulfates, and carbonates. The properties of redmondite are as follows: colorless to shades of brown, transparent equant rhombs to about 1 mm; white streak; adamantine luster; brittle; Mohs hardness 2; conchoidal fracture; no cleavage; 5.757 g/cm3 calculated density; biaxial with α = 1.96–1.97, β = 1.97–1.98, γ = 1.97–1.98; extreme dispersion. The properties of hydroredmondite are as follows: colorless, transparent prisms, blades, and tablets up to about 1 mm; white streak; adamantine luster; brittle; Mohs hardness 2; curved and stepped fracture; good cleavages on {101} and ; 5.124 g/cm3 calculated density; biaxial (+) with α = 1.830(5), β = 1.880(calc), γ = 1.950(calc), 2Vmeas = 83(1)°. The properties of sulfatoredmondite are as follows: colorless, transparent wedge-shaped crystals to about 2 mm; white streak; adamantine luster; brittle; Mohs hardness 2; curved, irregular fracture; no cleavage; 5.173 g/cm3 calculated density; biaxial (+), α = 1.780(5), β = 1.850(calc), γ = 1.860(calc), 2Vmeas = 40(3)°; moderate r > v dispersion. Electron probe microanalyses provided the empirical formulae: Pb8.16Zn1.00S6+3.97S2−3.97O20H5.79, Pb8.00Zn1.00S6+4.00S2−4.00O22H9.98, and Pb8.00Zn0.99S6+4.00S2−0.89O29.11H17.98 for redmondite, hydroredmondite, and sulfatoredmondite, respectively. Redmondite is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 9.1672(4), b = 10.6576(4), c = 14.0620(10) Å, β = 101.173(7)°, V = 1347.83(12) Å3, and Z = 2. Hydroredmondite is monoclinic, P21/n, a = 12.5991(9), b = 9.2819(4), c = 12.9774(9) Å, β = 90.443(6)°, V = 1517.57(16) Å3, and Z = 2. Sulfatoredmondite is monoclinic, C2/m, a = 17.294(2), b = 7.3668(9), c = 12.7271(18) Å, β = 110.622(9)°, V = 1517.5(4) Å3, and Z = 2. The crystal structures of redmondite (R1 = 0.0346 for 2061 I > 2σI), hydroredmondite (R1 = 0.0346 for 3022 I > 2σI), and sulfatoredmondite (R1 = 0.0344 for 1661 I > 2σI) are all based on the same [Pb8O2Zn(OH)6]8+ structural unit.