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Formula: Cu12Pb2O15Cl2
Simple oxide
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 5.9 to 6.7 measured, 6.06 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Black
Colour: Black
Solubility: Insoluble in cold dilute nitric acid, but dissolves when the acid is warmed (Dana)
Environments:
Murdochite is a secondary mineral found in the oxidised zones of
lead-copper deposits, associated with boleite, bromine-bearing
chlorargyrite, chrysocolla,
diaboleite, dioptase,
hemimorphite, iranite,
limonite, malachite and
plattnerite
(Mindat).
Localities
At the Chah Khouni mine, Anarak District, Nain County, Isfahan Province, Iran, murdochite is associated with
bromium-bearing chlorargyrite, chrysocolla,
dioptase, plattnerite,
hemimorphite, iranite,
boleite, diaboleite and
limonite
(HOM).
At Mapimí, Mapimí Municipality, Durango, Mexico, murdochite is associated with
plattnerite, malachite and
limonite
(HOM).
At the type locality, the Mammoth-Saint Anthony mine, Saint Anthony deposit, Tiger, Mammoth Mining District, Pinal county, Arizona,
USA, tiny black octahedra of murdochite were found on the surface of and embedded within plates of
wulfenite, and on the surface of fluorite
crystals. Hemimorphite, willemite and
quartz were also present (AM 40.904-906). Other associated minerals include
descloizite, dioptase,
chrysocolla, creaseyite and
quartz
(HOM, Mindat).
At the Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino county, California, USA,
murdochite is found as lustrous black octahedral crystals, to 0.4 mm, often associated with
cerussite, vauquelinite
and wulfenite
(R&M 86.2.141).
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