Boleite
About Boleite
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Boleite
Classification of Boleite
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
B : With Pb, Cu, etc.
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : AmBn(O,OH)pXq
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
8 : Halides of Pb
Mineral Symbols
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bol | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Boleite
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Boleite
on {001}; good on {101}; poor on {100}.
Optical Data of Boleite
Chemistry of Boleite
Crystallography of Boleite
Crystal Structure
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005684 | Boleite | Cooper M A, Hawthorne F C (2000) Boleite: Resolution of the formula, KPb26Ag9Cu24Cl62(OH)48 The Canadian Mineralogist 38 801-808 | ![]() | 2000 | 0 | 293 | |
0019811 | Boleite | Rouse R C (1973) The crystal structure of boleite - a mineral containing silver atom clusters Journal of Solid State Chemistry 6 86-92 | 1973 | 0 | 293 |
Epitaxial Relationships of Boleite
Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.415 Å | (100) |
3.821 Å | (80) |
3.505 Å | (35) |
2.702 Å | (60) |
2.547 Å | (40) |
2.330 Å | (35) |
1.990 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Boleite
Synonyms of Boleite
Other Language Names for Boleite
Argentopercylit
Boleíta
Common Associates
69 photos of Boleite associated with Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
49 photos of Boleite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
41 photos of Boleite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
39 photos of Boleite associated with Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
37 photos of Boleite associated with Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
33 photos of Boleite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
32 photos of Boleite associated with Paratacamite | Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2 |
29 photos of Boleite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
28 photos of Boleite associated with Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
16 photos of Boleite associated with Penfieldite | Pb2Cl3(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
3.DB. | Rickturnerite | Pb7O4[Mg(OH)4](OH)Cl3 |
3.DB.05 | Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 |
3.DB.10 | Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
3.DB.20 | Cumengeite | Pb21Cu20Cl42(OH)40 · 6H2O |
3.DB.25 | Bideauxite | Pb2AgCl3(F,OH)2 |
3.DB.30 | Chloroxiphite | Pb3CuO2Cl2(OH)2 |
3.DB.35 | Hematophanite | Pb4Fe3O8(OH,Cl) |
3.DB.40 | Parkinsonite | Pb7MoO9Cl2 |
3.DB.40 | Janchevite | Pb9V5+(O10.25◻0.75)Cl2.5 |
3.DB.40 | Asisite | Pb7SiO9Cl2 |
3.DB.45 | Eddavidite | Cu12Pb2O15Br2 |
3.DB.45 | Murdochite | Cu12Pb2O15Cl2 |
3.DB.50 | Yedlinite | Pb6Cr3+Cl6(O,OH,H2O)8 |
3.DB.55 | Siidraite | Pb2Cu(OH)2I3 |
Radioactivity
Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
---|---|---|---|
Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
Potassium (K) | 0.3575% | 111 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
---|---|---|
1 cm | ||
10 cm | ||
1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Internet Links for Boleite
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Boleite
Localities for Boleite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Boleo District, Santa Rosalía, Mulegé Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico