Ajoite Mineral Data

Ajoite Mineral Data +

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General Ajoite Information

Chemical Formula:

(K,Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16·~8(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 3,926.74 gm

Potassium 2.24 % K 2.70 % K₂O

Sodium 1.02 % Na 1.38 % Na₂O

Aluminum 2.06 % Al 3.89 % Al₂O₃

Copper 32.37 % Cu 40.51 % CuO

Silicon 20.74 % Si 44.37 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 0.82 % H 7.34 % H₂O

Oxygen 40.74 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.20 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

K_2.25Na_1.75Cu₂₀Al₃Si₂₉O₇₆(OH)₁₆·8(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary copper mineral.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1958

Locality:

New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Pima County,, Arizona, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Ajoite Image

Images:

Ajoite

Comments: Bluish, bladed ajoite crystals.
Location: New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Pima County, Arizona, USA. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Ajoite Shattuckite

Comments: Dark blue, tabular crystals of shattuckite on light blue ajoite.
Location: New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Pima County, Arizona, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Ajoite

Comments: Aqua blue, long bladed crystals or ajoite on matrix.
Location: New Cornelia mine, Pima Co., Arizona, USA. Scale: Crystal size 0.75 mm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Ajoite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.9961:1:1.061

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.634, b = 13.687, c = 14.522, Z = 1; alpha = 110.83°, beta = 107.21°, gamma = 105.68° V = 2,329.37 Den(Calc)= 2.80

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 12.4(1), 3.34(0.25), 6.19(0.09),

Crystal Structure:

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Pluth J J , Smith J V , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 99 (2002) p.11002-11005, Arizona porphyry copper/hydrothermal deposits II:, Crystal structure of ajoite, (K+Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16*~8H2O

Physical Properties of Ajoite

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect

Color:

Blue green.

Density:

2.96

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Habit:

Lath - Shaped like a small, thin plaster lath, tabular (rectangular) in shape.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

greenish white

Optical Properties of Ajoite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.01 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.046 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2114,KPDmeas= 0.2,KC= 0.2021

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.55, b=1.585, g=1.641, bire=0.0910, 2V(Calc)=80, 2V(Meas)=68-80.

Pleochroism (x):

very light bluish green.

Pleochroism (y):

brilliant bluish green.

Pleochroism (z):

brilliant bluish green.

Calculated Properties of Ajoite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.89 gm/cc
note: r_Ajoite=2.96 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00988
Boson Index = 0.99012

Photoelectric:

PE_Ajoite= 15.08 barns/electron
U=PE_Ajoite x r_electron= 43.63 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 31.60 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Estimated Radioactivity from Ajoite - barely detectable

Ajoite Classification

Dana Class:

78.5.1.1 (78)Unclassified silicates

(78.5)possible phyllosilicates

(78.5.1)Dana Group

78.5.1.1 Ajoite (K,Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16·~8(H2O) P1 1

Strunz Class:

VIII/D.07-10 VIII - Silicates

VIII/D - Unclassified silicates, mostly cations of small size Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu

VIII/D.07 - Ajoite series

VIII/D.07-10 Ajoite (K,Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16·~8(H2O) P1 1

Other Ajoite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8, AmMin v 88, p 1629) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

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Ajoite

(K,Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16·~8(H2O)
Dana No: 78.5.1.1 Strunz No: VIII/D.07-10
Locality:

Notes: