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Natropharmacoalumite

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CR88760

Natropharmacoalumite

Type Locality
Rare Mineral

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
María Josefa Mine, Rodalquilar, Níjar, Almería, Andalusia, Spain
Size Range: 
Thumbnail (1-3cm)
Size: 
1.6 × 1.3 × 1.3 cm
Description

In October 2010 a new mineral was published by M. S. RUMSEY , S. J. MILLS AND J. SPRATT in the Mineralogical Magacine Vol 74(5) with the name NATROPHARMACOALUMITE.

I found the type specimen some time ago in a largeFe-rich silicified boulder in the western area ofthe dumps.

The here offered specimen came from the same boulder and is co-type material.

Here is a shorted abstract of the Rumsey et al. article:

"Natropharmacoalumite, ideally NaAl 4[(OH)4(AsO4)3]·4H2O, is a new mineral from the Maria Josefa Gold mine, Rodalquilar, Andalusia region, Spain. It occurs as colourless, intergrown cubic crystals with chenevixite, kaolinite, jarosite and indeterminable mixtures of Fe and Sb oxyhydroxides. Individual crystals are up to 0.5 mm on edge, although crystals are more commonly ~0.25 mm across and occur in patchy aggregates several millimetres across.The mineral is transparent with a vitreous to adamantine lustre. It is brittle with an imperfect cleavage, irregular fracture and a white streak."

Douzends of lustrous colourless cubic crystals of Natropharmacoalumite on matrix. Very rich and good specimen!

 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Natropharmacoalumite

Formula: 
NaAl4(AsO4)3(OH)4·4H2O
Strunz: 
8.DK.12
Hardness: 
0.0
Type Locality: 
María Josefa Mine, Rodalquilar, Níjar, Almería, Andalusia, Spain