Itoite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Itoite
Tei-Ichi Ito
Formula:
Pb3Ge4+(SO4)2O2(OH)2
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Specific Gravity:
6.67 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1960 by Clifford Frondel and Hugo Strunz in honor of Tei-Ichi Ito (27 September 1898, Osaka, Japan - 10 October 1980), professor of mineralogy and crystallography at Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan. He made significant advances in the area of X-ray diffraction and worked out the structures of a large number of minerals. He was awarded the Roebling Medal in 1968.
Isostructural with:
Frondel and Strunz noted a similarity in structure with itoite and the baryte group and a slight relationship to roeblingite and indexed the powder pattern on an orthorhombic cell. The identity of itoite was once questioned: "Itoit ist damit keine homogene Phase und als Mineral zu streichen. Itoit ist ein pseudomorphes Umwandlungsprodukt nach Fleischerit und enthält neben Anglesit mindestens eine weitere Phase." (Otto, 1975). However, itoite is supposed to be a fine-grained replacement of fleischerite, as described.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2056
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2056:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
f72b870c-aa42-4ac3-b986-13ba310e2335
IMA Classification of Itoite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb3GeO2(SO4)2(OH)2
First published:
1960
Classification of Itoite
7.BD.50
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
30.2.6.1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
25.7.10
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 |
|---|---|---|
| It | 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 Itoite
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
6.67 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Itoite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
n = 1.84 - 1.85
Birefringence:
0.010
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.000
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:
Very High
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Crystals are cloudy compared with transparent fleischerite. It is significant the the refractive indices of itoite are very very much higher than fleischerite. Type material from Harvard is supposedly a mixture of itoite and fleischerite (Carl Francis, pe
Chemistry of Itoite
Mindat Formula:
Pb3Ge4+(SO4)2O2(OH)2
Crystallography of Itoite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Setting:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.47 Å, b = 5.38 Å, c = 6.94 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.574 : 1 : 1.29
Unit Cell V:
316.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Acicular
Comment:
Analogous to anglesite
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.240 Å | (80) |
| 3.794 Å | (60) |
| 3.604 Å | (60) |
| 3.326 Å | (90) |
| 3.209 Å | (70) |
| 3.003 Å | (90) |
| 2.755 Å | (60) |
| 2.691 Å | (60) |
| 2.065 Å | (100) |
| 2.027 Å | (80) |
Comments:
The x-ray pattern of itoite is virtually indistinguishable from that of fleischerite that has been heated to 300°C suggesting a transformation of structure. Frondel and Strunz reported 7 minor d-values in the itoite pattern that were not present in the heated fleischerite d-value data set.
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] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Type Occurrence of Itoite
General Appearance of Type Material:
White acicular crystals
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation zone of a germanium-bearing Cu, and As-rich polymetallic ore deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Frondel, Clifford and Strunz, Hugo (1960) Fleischerit und Itoite, zwei neue Germanium-Mineralien von Tsumeb. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 1960: 132-142.
Other Language Names for Itoite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Itoite associated with Fleischerite | Pb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 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 | Caracolite | Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl |
| 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.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 |
Fluorescence of Itoite
Not fluorescent in UV; fluoresces rose-violet in x-rays
Other Information
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 Itoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2056.html
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References for Itoite
Reference List:
Localities for Itoite
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.
Namibia (TL) | |
| Frondel et al. (1960) |
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Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia