Grandreefite
Encyclopedia
Grandreefite is a secondary lead sulfate-fluoride
mineral
with a general chemical formula, Pb2SO4F2. It is named for the location in which it was discovered in 1989, Grand Reef Mine in Graham County, Arizona
. Grandreefite is monoclinic, falling in the 2/m symmetry group. Crystallographically this means, Grandreefite has three axes of unequal length, with two angles at 90° to one another and a third, obtuse angle. The 2/m symmetry group indicates a two-fold axis with a perpendicular mirror plane. Grandreefite was originally classified as an orthorhombic mineral but was determined monoclinic instead upon further analysis. Pseudograndreefite, one of three other newly discovered minerals in 1989 at the Grand Reef Mine site, has orthorhombic crystallography. Optically, Grandreefite is an anisotropic mineral, meaning the velocity of light varies depending on the direction through which it is passing through the mineral. Its calculated relief, i.e. its relative difference in index of refraction compared to the surrounding medium's index of refraction, is 1.96–1.98; and its birefringence is .025. Grandreefite, while not a valuable mineral in terms of commercial use, is useful in the sense that it is a good indicator of the very specific environment in which it forms and therefore the same conditions required to produce minerals similar to it in structure, composition, etc. For example, Grandreefite’s structure is very similar to that of lanthanide oxide sulfates and therefore may be used to help better describe them. Exclusive to the Grand Reef Mine site, Grandreefite’s unique and rare status also makes it valuable to many mineral collectors. Grand Reef Mine is located near a large granitic intrusion; Grandreefite is usually found in the mine in isolated veins containing hydrothermal copper, silver, and lead deposits hosted in oxidized breccias.
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
with a general chemical formula, Pb2SO4F2. It is named for the location in which it was discovered in 1989, Grand Reef Mine in Graham County, Arizona
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Grandreefite is monoclinic, falling in the 2/m symmetry group. Crystallographically this means, Grandreefite has three axes of unequal length, with two angles at 90° to one another and a third, obtuse angle. The 2/m symmetry group indicates a two-fold axis with a perpendicular mirror plane. Grandreefite was originally classified as an orthorhombic mineral but was determined monoclinic instead upon further analysis. Pseudograndreefite, one of three other newly discovered minerals in 1989 at the Grand Reef Mine site, has orthorhombic crystallography. Optically, Grandreefite is an anisotropic mineral, meaning the velocity of light varies depending on the direction through which it is passing through the mineral. Its calculated relief, i.e. its relative difference in index of refraction compared to the surrounding medium's index of refraction, is 1.96–1.98; and its birefringence is .025. Grandreefite, while not a valuable mineral in terms of commercial use, is useful in the sense that it is a good indicator of the very specific environment in which it forms and therefore the same conditions required to produce minerals similar to it in structure, composition, etc. For example, Grandreefite’s structure is very similar to that of lanthanide oxide sulfates and therefore may be used to help better describe them. Exclusive to the Grand Reef Mine site, Grandreefite’s unique and rare status also makes it valuable to many mineral collectors. Grand Reef Mine is located near a large granitic intrusion; Grandreefite is usually found in the mine in isolated veins containing hydrothermal copper, silver, and lead deposits hosted in oxidized breccias.