Aravaipaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aravaipaite
Formula:
Pb3AlF9 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
6.37 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
For the Aravaipa mining district, Arizona, USA, where the mineral occurs.
Closely related to Calcioaravaipaite which has dominant Ca and no water.
See also Unnamed (Ba-analogue of Calcioaravaipaite).
See also Unnamed (Ba-analogue of Calcioaravaipaite).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
311
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:311:9
IMA Classification of Aravaipaite
Approved
Approval year:
1988
First published:
1989
Classification of Aravaipaite
3.BB.35
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
11.6.19.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
8.8.19
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides 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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Avp | 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 Aravaipaite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Elastic
Cleavage:
Perfect
micaceous on {010}; good on {100}, {001}, {101}, {10_1}
micaceous on {010}; good on {100}, {001}, {101}, {10_1}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.37 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aravaipaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.678 nβ = 1.69 nγ = 1.694
2V:
Measured: 70° to 73°, Calculated: 66°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.016
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v, strong
Chemistry of Aravaipaite
Mindat Formula:
Pb3AlF9 · H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Aravaipaite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.842 Å, b = 25.2 Å, c = 5.652 Å
α = 93.84°, β = 90.14°, γ = 85.28°
α = 93.84°, β = 90.14°, γ = 85.28°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.232 : 1 : 0.224
Unit Cell V:
827.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Platy crystals, flattened on {010}.
Twinning:
polysynthetic on {010}, universal
Comment:
Originally thought to be monoclinic, P21/n, with a = 25.048(4), b = 5.8459(8), c = 5.6505(7) Å, β = 94.013(3)°. Kampf et al. (2011): "Twinning may be responsible for the original monoclinic cell or the two structures could be order-disorder (OD) polytypes."
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018320 | Aravaipaite | Kampf A R, Yang H, Downs R T, Pinch W W (2011) The crystal structures and Raman spectra of aravaipaite and calcioaravaipaite American Mineralogist 96 402-407 | 2011 | Grand Reef mine, Aravaipa mining district, Arizona, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002659 | Aravaipaite | Kampf A R (2001) The crystal structure of aravaipaite American Mineralogist 86 927-931 |  | 2001 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.134 Å | (100) |
| 12.5 Å | (80) |
| 3.65 Å | (70) |
| 3.50 Å | (60) |
| 3.33 Å | (60) |
| 2.916 Å | (40) |
| 2.822 Å | (40) |
Reference:
Comments:
Recorded on material from the type locality
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Aravaipaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
platy crystals to 3 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National History Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA (No. 25414);
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 166058)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 166058)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
oxidized zone of an epithermal Pb-Cu-Ag deposit hosted by a silicified rhyolite-schist breccia
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Aravaipaite
Other Language Names for Aravaipaite
Dutch:Aravaipaiet
French:Aravaipaïte
German:Aravaipait
Norwegian:Aravaipaitt
Russian:Аравайпаит
Spanish:Aravaipaita
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.BB. | Králíkite | BaCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.05 | Eriochalcite | CuCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.10 | Rokühnite | FeCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.15 | Bischofite | MgCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.20 | Nickelbischofite | NiCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.25 | Sinjarite | CaCl2 · 2H2O |
| 3.BB.30 | Antarcticite | CaCl2 · 6H2O |
| 3.BB.35 | Tachyhydrite | CaMg2Cl6 · 12H2O |
| 3.BB.40 | Ghiaraite | CaCl2 · 4H2O |
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 Aravaipaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-311.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Aravaipaite
Reference List:
Kampf, Anthony R., Dunn, Pete J., Foord, Eugene E. (1989) Grandreefite, pseudograndreefite, laurelite, and aravaipaite: Four new minerals from the Grand Reef mine, Graham County, Arizona. American Mineralogist, 74 (7-8) 927-933
Localities for Aravaipaite
Showing 3 localities.
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.
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2022) |
| Marco E. Ciriotti et al. (2025) |
USA (TL) | |
| Kampf et al. (1989) +2 other references |
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Grand Reef Mine, Laurel Canyon, Grand Reef Mountain, Klondyke, Aravaipa Mining District, Graham County, Arizona, USA