Duftite

A variety of Minerals

Duftite specimen - rock identification

What is Duftite?

Duftite is a relatively common arsenate mineral with the formula CuPb(AsO4)(OH), related to conichalcite. It is green and often forms botryoidal aggregates. It is a member of the adelite-descloizite Group, Conichalcite-Duftite Series. Duftite and conichalcite specimens from Tsumeb are commonly zoned in color and composition. Microprobe analyses and X-ray powder-diffraction studies indicate extensive substitution of Zn for Cu, and Ca for Pb in the duftite structure. This indicates a solid solution among conichalcite, CaCu(AsO4 )(OH), austinite, CaZn(AsO4)(OH) and duftite PbCu(AsO4)(OH), all of them belonging to the adelite group of arsenates. It was named after Mining Councilor G Duft, Director of the Otavi Mine and Railroad Company, Tsumeb, Namibia. The type locality is the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

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Key Characteristics

Composition of Duftite

The structure is composed of chains of edge-sharing CuO6 distorted octahedra parallel to the c axis. The chains are linked by AsO4 tetrahedra and Pb atoms.

More Images

Duftite specimen 2
© Robert M. Lavinsky

Quick Facts

Physical Properties

Color
Olive-green, grey-green; light apple-green in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs)
4.5
Density
6.602 g/cm³
Streak
Pale green, white.

Chemical Properties

Chemical Formula
PbCu(AsO4)(OH)
Elements
As, Cu, H, O, Pb
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