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Formula: CuPb2Cl2(OH)4
Hydroxylhalide, perovskite group
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 5.41 to 5.43 measured, 5.48 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: Blue
Colour: Blue
Solubility: Completely soluble in nitric acid
Environments
Diaboleite belongs to the 4mm crystal class, which has only 7 members, including diaboleite, to date
(July 2021).
Localities
At Minela Compania, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile, diaboleite has been found with
paratacamite
(AESS).
At the type locality, Higher Pitts Mine, Priddy, Mendip, Somerset, England, UK, diaboleite occurs in oxidised manganese ore
associated with chloroxiphite,
hydrocerussite, mendipite and
cerussite (HOM, Mindat). It occurs both as a
primary mineral, and in
secondary form as an alteration product of
chloroxiphite. As a primary mineral,
diaboleite is generally found as small crystalline grains and masses but occasionally as relatively well formed minute crystals.
Most commonly, diaboleite occurs as granular to crystalline blue masses within mendipite,
often associated with paralaurionite. Crystals of diaboleite enclosed within
cerussite and calcite have also been found, and therefore
it must have formed relatively early in the paragenetic sequence. Small crystals of diaboleite have been found within masses of
rickturnerite fibres. Diaboleite also occurs as a
secondary phase accompanying altered
chloroxiphite, where it is typically found as a powdery material surrounding
the chloroxiphite. One such specimen studied also contained
cotunnite in association with the diaboleite
(JRS 13.33).
At the Gallagher Vanadium Property, Cochise county, Arizona, USA, diaboleite is only tentatively identified at present and is observed
tiny blue crystals associated with anglesite,
leadhillite and linarite from the dumps
(R&M 90.4.343).
At the Mammoth Mine, Pinal County, Arizona, USA, At Tiger, Arizona, USA, diaboleite occurs as a
secondary mineral in deeply oxidised lead-copper ores, associated with
boleite, wherryite,
hydrocerussite, leadhillite,
phosgenite, caledonite,
atacamite, paratacamite and
cerussite (HOM). Diaboleite is widely distributed in the Collins vein in the
400 and 500 foot levels, associated with linarite. It is, in general, a late mineral, often
found in drusy cavities in quartz. Common associates include
cerussite and wulfenite, and more rarely
dioptase. Implanted on diaboleite are crystals of
boleite, pseudoboleite and
quartz. In one specimen diaboleite is cut by a tiny vein of
hemimorphite, and spherules of needles of this mineral are implanted upon it. Intergrowths
of diaboleite and phosgenite were noted
(AM 26.605-612).
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