{{Short description|Sulfate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral|image = Lautenthalite LL26.jpg| formula=PbCu<sub>4</sub>(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>6</sub> · 3H<sub>2</sub>O| IMAsymbol = Lth<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3 |pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W |s2cid=235729616 |doi-access=free}}</ref>|strunz=07.DE.70|system=Monoclinic|dana=31.06.01.02|class=Prismatic <br />H-M symbol: (2/''m'')|symmetry=''P''2<sub>1</sub>/''b''|unit cell=2,799.47|color=Blue green, green, greenish blue|twinning=Polysynthetic on {100}|cleavage=Good on {001} and {010}, distinct|mohs=2.5|luster=Vitreous|opticalprop=Biaxial (−)|refractive=n<sub>α</sub> = 1.659(2) <br />n<sub>β</sub> = 1.703(2) <br />n<sub>γ</sub> = 1.732(2)|birefringence=0.073|pleochroism=Weak|2V=78° – 79°|dispersion=Strong, r < v|streak=White|gravity=3.84|density=3.84|diaphaneity=Transparent}}
'''Lautenthalite''' is a mineral that was named after its location, Lautenthal, Harz mountains, Germany. It can be found in several slag localities. It was approved by the IMA in 1993. It is a member of the devilline group, and it is the lead analogue of devilline and campigliaite. Without analytical methods, it is hard to distinguish the mineral from both. It shows pleochroic properties, which is an optical phenomenon. Depending on which angle the mineral is inspected, the color of it differs. On the x optical axis, the mineral could be seen in a pale blue color; on the y and z axis, the mineral's color changes to blue. It has tabular crystals and sheaflike or irregular aggregates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lautenthalite|url=https://www.mindat.org/min-2347.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref> Lautenthalite is associated with wroewolfeite, which it tends to overgrow. It is also associated with anglesite, devilline–serpierite, galena, linarite, brochantite and schulenbergite.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mineral Database|url=https://museum.wales/mineralogy-of-wales/database/?mineral=344&name=Lautenthalite|access-date=2021-08-08|website=National Museum Wales|language=en}}</ref> It forms small singular crystals with a size of up to 0.5 × 0.3 × 0.03 mm.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Lautenthalite, PbCu4[(OH)6/(SO4)2].3H2O, the Pb analogue of devillite. A new mineral from the Harz mountains, Germany |year=1993|s2cid=99443180|last1=Medenbach |first1=O. |last2=Gebert |first2=W. |journal=Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte|pages=401–407}}</ref>
== Chemical properties == Lautenthalite forms during the oxidation of copper, lead and zinc sulphides.<ref name=":0" /> It mostly consists of oxygen (33.60%), copper (31.40%) and lead (25.59%), but also contains sulfur (7.92%) and hydrogen (1.49%).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lautenthalite Mineral Data|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Lautenthalite.shtml|access-date=2021-08-08|website=webmineral.com}}</ref>
==References== <references />
Category:Lead minerals Category:Monoclinic minerals Category:Copper minerals Category:Sulfate minerals
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