Chemistry:Susannite
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| Susannite | |
|---|---|
Susanite with macphersonite and lanarkite from the Susanna Mine, Leadhills | |
| General | |
| Category | Carbonate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Strunz classification | 5.BF.40 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | Rhombohedral (3) H-M symbol: (3) |
| Space group | R3 |
| Unit cell | a = 9.07, c = 11.57 [Å]; Z = 3 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, white, pale green, pale yellow, brown |
| Crystal habit | Occurs as equant to acute rhombohedral crystals |
| Cleavage | {0001} perfect |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 - 3 |
| |re|er}} | Adamantine, resinous |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 6.55 |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (anomalously biaxial) |
| Refractive index | 1.96 |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Susannite is a lead sulfate carbonate hydroxide mineral. It has the formula Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2. Susannite is the higher temperature phase of the two and forms above 80 °C when fluids oxidize the lead ore deposits. It is trimorphous with leadhillite and macphersonite.[3]
Susannite crystallizes in the trigonal system. It is quite soft with a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3.0 and a relatively high specific gravity of 6.57.

It was discovered in 1827 in the Susannah Mine, Leadhills in the county of Lanark, Scotland.[2] In addition to the type locality in Scotland, it has also been reported from various locations in Germany, the Tiger Mine in Pinal County, Arizona, from Iporanga, Sao Paulo, Brazil , and the Tsumeb mine of Namibia.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ Webmineral data
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mindat w/ locations
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Handbook of Mineralogy
- ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode: 2021MinM...85..291W.
