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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
IMA Formula:
Pb2+3AlF9·H2O
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. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
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. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
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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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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