Barlowite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Barlowite
Formula:
Cu4BrF(OH)6
Colour:
Blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
4.21 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named in honor of William Barlow [8 August 1845 – 28 February 1934], an English amateur geologist and crystallographer; he independently enumerated the 230 space groups and proposed several crystal structures in the 1880's.
Isostructural with:
The Br analogue of claringbullite.
In the structure there is Cu(1)(OH)4Br2 polyhedron, that is a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedron. Each Cu(1) octahedron have four edges common with adjacent octahedra, thus forming a sheet within the (001) plane; and adjacent sheets link along [001] by Br-sharing. There are channels along [001], that host F anions in their centres.
In the structure there is Cu(1)(OH)4Br2 polyhedron, that is a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedron. Each Cu(1) octahedron have four edges common with adjacent octahedra, thus forming a sheet within the (001) plane; and adjacent sheets link along [001] by Br-sharing. There are channels along [001], that host F anions in their centres.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
40276
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:40276:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
13790ba9-6e26-4cdc-bf00-499132c2e1e4
IMA Classification of Barlowite
Approved
Approval year:
2010
Classification of Barlowite
3.DA.15
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
10.5.6.2
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
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 |
---|---|---|
Blw | 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 Barlowite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Blue
Streak:
Sky blue
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}
on {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.21 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Density could not be measured; the mineral sinks in the heaviest liquid available
Optical Data of Barlowite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.840 - 1.845 nε = 1.833 - 1.840
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.007
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
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Barlowite
Mindat Formula:
Cu4BrF(OH)6
Common Impurities:
Cl
Crystallography of Barlowite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.6786(2) Å, c = 9.2744(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.389
Unit Cell V:
358.251 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Thin platy, hexagonal crystals up to 0.5 mm wide.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0020634 | Barlowite | Elliott P, Cooper M A, Pring A (2014) Barlowite, Cu4FBr(OH)6, a new mineral isostructural with claringbullite: description and crystal structure Mineralogical Magazine 78 1755-1762 | 2014 | Great Australia mine, Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.790 Å | (100) |
3.338 Å | (15) |
2.889 Å | (40) |
2.759 Å | (15) |
2.707 Å | (55) |
2.452 Å | (40) |
1.778 Å | (20) |
1.668 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Barlowite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin blue, platy, hexagonal crystals up to 0.5 mm wide in a cuprite-quartz-goethite matrix.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, reg. no. G17449
Geological Setting of Type Material:
among secondary Cu minerals formed in cavities in cuprite-rich rocks, by oxidation of primary Cu mineralization under
low-temperature conditions
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Barlowite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
3.DA. | Centennialite | CaCu3Cl2(OH)6 · nH2O (n ~ 0.7) |
3.DA. | Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
3.DA. | Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA. | Bounahasite | Cu+Cu2+2(OH)3Cl2 |
3.DA.05 | Melanothallite | Cu2Cl2O |
3.DA.10a | Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10b | Botallackite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10b | Clinoatacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10a | Hibbingite | Fe2+2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10a | Kempite | Mn2+2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10c | Kuliginite | Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Paratacamite | Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10b | Belloite | Cu(OH)Cl |
3.DA.10c | Herbertsmithite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Kapellasite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Gillardite | Cu3Ni(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Haydeeite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Leverettite | Cu3Co(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Paratacamite-(Ni) | Cu3(Ni,Cu)(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Tondiite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Misakiite | Cu3Mn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10b | Iyoite | MnCuCl(OH)3 |
3.DA.10b | Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide) | CuZnCl(OH)3 |
3.DA.15 | Claringbullite | Cu4ClF(OH)6 |
3.DA.20 | Simonkolleite | Zn5Cl2(OH)8 · H2O |
3.DA.25 | Buttgenbachite | Cu19(NO3)2(OH)32Cl4 · 2H2O |
3.DA.25 | Connellite | Cu19(SO4)(OH)32Cl4 · 3H2O |
3.DA.30 | Abhurite | Sn21Cl16(OH)14O6 |
3.DA.35 | Ponomarevite | K4Cu4Cl10O |
3.DA.40 | Anthonyite | Cu(OH,Cl)2 · 3H2O |
3.DA.40 | Calumetite | CaCu4(OH)8Cl2 · 3.5H2O |
3.DA.45 | Khaidarkanite | Cu4Al3(OH)14F3 · 2H2O |
3.DA.50 | Bobkingite | Cu5Cl2(OH)8 · 2H2O |
3.DA.55 | Avdoninite | K2Cu5(OH)4Cl8 · H2O |
3.DA.60 | Droninoite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O |
3.DA.70 | Chrysothallite | K6Cu6Tl3+Cl17(OH)4 · H2O |
3.DA.70 | Dioskouriite | CaCu4Cl6(OH)4 · 4H2O |
3.DA.75 | Feodosiyite | Cu11Mg2Cl18(OH)8 · 16H2O |
3.DA.80 | Romanorlovite | K8Cu6Cl17(OH)3 |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in cold dilute HCl
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 Barlowite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-40276.html
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References for Barlowite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2010) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) CNMNC Newsletter No 4. Mineralogical Magazine, 74 (4) 797-800 doi:10.1180/s0026461x00038925
Elliott, Peter, Cooper, Mark A., Pring, Allan (2014) Barlowite, Cu4FBr(OH)6, a new mineral isotructural with claringbullite: description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (7) 1755-1762 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.17
Han, Tian-Heng, Singleton, John, Schlueter, John A. (2014) Barlowite: A Spin-1/2Antiferromagnet with a Geometrically Perfect Kagome Motif. Physical Review Letters, 113 (22). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.227203
Localities for Barlowite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Rosenblatt et al. (2024) |
Quick NavTopAbout BarlowiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Great Australia Mine, Cloncurry, Cloncurry Shire, Queensland, Australia