Packratite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Ca11(As3+V5+10V4+2As5+6O51)2 · 83H2O
Colour:
Very dark greenish blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.36
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named for the Packrat mine, the type locality.
New structure type.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46228
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46228:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a8edb3cc-728c-4bf5-ba61-94e3fef4e7f2
IMA Classification of Packratite
Approved
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2016
Type description reference:
Classification of Packratite
8.FD.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
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 |
---|---|---|
Pkt | 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 Packratite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Very dark greenish blue
Streak:
Grayish blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
{001}, {110}, and {1–10} fair
{001}, {110}, and {1–10} fair
Density:
2.36(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.351 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Packratite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.625 nβ = 1.628(2) nγ = 1.629(2)
2V:
Measured: 60.7° (4)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
non-pleochroic dark blue
Chemistry of Packratite
Mindat Formula:
Ca11(As3+V5+10V4+2As5+6O51)2 · 83H2O
Crystallography of Packratite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.0572(4) Å, b = 19.4126(4) Å, c = 24.0586(17) Å
α = 87.364(6)°, β = 86.266(6)°, γ = 79.267(6)°
α = 87.364(6)°, β = 86.266(6)°, γ = 79.267(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.93 : 1 : 1.239
Unit Cell V:
8263.4 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Flattened on {110} and elongated on [001]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
14.50 Å | (49) |
12.13 Å | (49) |
10.53 Å | (100) |
7.45 Å | (20) |
6.61 Å | (16) |
2.939 Å | (22) |
2.846 Å | (19) |
2.732 Å | (22) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] |
Type Occurrence of Packratite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very dark blue to greenish-blue blades up to about 1 mm long, striated lengthwise, and grow in sub-parallel and divergent intergrowths. Also as pearly green, botryoidal aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California, USA, catalogue numbers 64513 and 64514
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Nash, B.P., Marty, J. (2016) Vanarsite, Packratite, Morrisonite, and Gatewayite: Four New Minerals Containing the [As3+V4+,5+12As5+6O51] Heteropolyanion, A Novel Polyoxometalate Cluster. The Canadian Mineralogist: 54(1): 145-162.
Synonyms of Packratite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.FD.05 | Volborthite | Cu3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
8.FD.05 | Martyite | Zn3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
8.FD.05 | Karpenkoite | Co3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
8.FD.10 | Vanarsite | NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O |
8.FD.10 | Morrisonite | Ca11(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O |
8.FD.10 | Gatewayite | Ca6(As3+V4+3 V5+9As5+6O51) · 31H2O |
8.FD.10 | Kegginite | Pb3Ca3[AsV12O40(VO)] · 20H2O |
8.FD.10 | Bicapite | [KNa2Mg2(H2O)25][H2PV5+12O40(V5+O)2] |
8.FD.10 | Lumsdenite | NaCa3Mg2(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51) · 45H2O |
8.FD.15 | Chinchorroite | Na2Mg5(As2O7)2(AsO3OH)2(H2O)10 |
Fluorescence of Packratite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in room-temperature H2O; easily soluble in room-temperature 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 Packratite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46228.html
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References for Packratite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC), CNMNC Newsletter No. 22. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (5) 1241-1248 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.5.10
Localities for Packratite
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.
USA (TL) | |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles ... +2 other references |
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