Karlseifertite, Pb(Ga₂Ge)(AsO₄)₂(OH)₆, a new dussertite-group mineral, from Tsumeb, Namibia

Abstract

Karlseifertite (IMA 2024-007, International Mineralogical Association), Pb(Ga2Ge)(AsO4)2(OH)6, is a new member of the dussertite group, from Tsumeb, Namibia. It is a secondary oxidation-zone mineral found on fracture surfaces in germanite–chalcocite ore. Karlseifertite occurs in rosettes of thin, yellow, hexagonal plates up to about 0.2 mm in diameter and usually less than 0.01 mm thick. The mineral has a pale-yellow streak, subadamantine lustre, Mohs hardness of ∼ 4, brittle tenacity, irregular fracture, perfect cleavage on {001} and a calculated density of 4.993 g cm−3. Optically, karlseifertite crystals are uniaxial (+), with ω=1.890(5) and ε=1.894(calc) (white light). The empirical formula from electron probe microanalyses is Pb0.992+(Ga1.603+Ge0.684+Fe0.573+Al0.123+)Σ2.97[(As0.765+S0.156+W0.096+)Σ1.00O4]2(OH0.99)6. Karlseifertite is trigonal with space group R3‾m and unit-cell parameters a=7.2814(7), c=17.1077(12) Å, V=785.50(15) Å3 and Z=3. The mineral has an alunite-supergroup structure (R1=0.0591 for 248 reflections with I>2σI).