{{Short description|Phosphate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Sampleite | category = Phosphate minerals | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Sampleite 04.JPG | imagesize = 260px | caption = | formula = NaCaCu<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>4</sub>Cl•5(H<sub>2</sub>O) | IMAsymbol = Smp<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> | molweight = 875.95 g/mol | strunz = 8.DG.05 | system = Monoclinic | class = Prismatic (2/m) <br/><small>(same H-M symbol)</small> | symmetry = ''P''2<sub>1</sub>/n or ''P''2<sub>1</sub>/c | unit cell = a = 9.7 Å, b = 38.4 Å <br/>c = 9.65 Å; β = 90.07°; Z = 4 | color = Light blue to blue-green | habit = Aggregates, lath, rosette | twinning = | cleavage = Perfect on {010}; good on {100} and {001} | fracture = | tenacity = | mohs = 4 | luster = Pearly | refractive = n<sub>α</sub> = 1.629 n<sub>β</sub> = 1.677 n<sub>γ</sub> = 1.679 | opticalprop = Biaxial (−) | 2V = Measured: 5° to 23° | birefringence = δ = 0.050 | pleochroism = X = deep blue, blue-green; Y = light blue, turquoise blue; Z = turquoise-blue, colorless | streak = Light Blue | gravity = 3.2 | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Transparent | other = | references = <ref name=HBM>[http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/sampleite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy]</ref><ref name=Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/min-3515.html Mindat.org]</ref><ref name=Webmin>[http://webmineral.com/data/Sampleite.shtml Webmineral data]</ref> }} '''Sampleite''' has a general formula of NaCaCu<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>4</sub>Cl·5(H<sub>2</sub>O).<ref name=Webmin/> It was first described in 1942 for an occurrence in Chuquicamata, Chile and was named after Mat Sample, a mine superintendent for the Chile Exploration Company.<ref name=Mindat/>
Sampleite is monoclinic. It belongs to the space group ''P''2<sub>1</sub>/n or ''P''2<sub>1</sub>/c.<ref>[https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/MineralData?mineral=Sampleite Mineralienatlas]</ref><ref>Campbell, T.J., Rapp, G.R., Roberts, W.L. (1990) Encyclopedia of Minerals (2nd Edition) 753 p. Library of Congress Cataloging, Washington D.C.</ref> In a thin section it has a high surface relief and will have sharp boundaries with the surrounding medium. Sampleite is anisotropic and has visible pleochroism and birefringence.
It is characteristically found in earthy crusts in a highly sericitized rock and is present in highly oxidized conditions near the surface. When it occurs as micaceous rosettes and aggregates it can be associated with dendrites of manganese and iron oxides. Sampleite appears to be the most recent mineral deposited with the exception of gypsum.<ref>Hulbert, C.S. "Sampleite A New Mineral." http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM27/AM27_586.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-11</ref><ref>"Sampleite Mineraology." http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/minerals/sampleite/fx/0q/75/{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. Retrieved 2010-11-28</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Sampleite}}
Category:Sodium minerals Category:Calcium minerals Category:Copper(II) minerals Category:Phosphate minerals Category:Chloride minerals Category:Pentahydrate minerals Category:Monoclinic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 14 Category:Minerals described in 1942
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