Duftite

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title: "Duftite" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["arsenate-minerals", "copper(ii)-minerals", "lead-minerals", "orthorhombic-minerals", "minerals-in-space-group-19"] description: "Arsenate mineral" topic_path: "general/arsenate-minerals" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duftite" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Arsenate mineral ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox mineral"]

Field	Value
name	Duftite
category	Arsenate minerals
image	Anglesite-Duftite-174037.jpg
caption	Duftite from Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
formula	PbCuAsO4(OH)
IMAsymbol	Dft
molweight	426.67 g/mol
strunz	8.BH.35
dana	41.5.1.4
system	Orthorhombic
class	Disphenoidal (222)
H-M symbol: (2 2 2)
symmetry	P212121
unit cell	a = 7.768(1), b = 9.211(1)
c = 5.999(1) [Å]; Z = 4
color	Green, olive green or grey green. Generally zoned due to compositional variations.
habit	Tiny crystals elongated along [001] with curved and rough faces, aggregated into crusts. Crystals may be pseudo-octahedral.
cleavage	Indistinct
fracture	Uneven to conchoidal
mohs	4.5
luster	Vitreous on fracture surfaces and dull on crystal faces
refractive	nα = 2.03–2.04, nβ = 2.06–2.08, nγ = 2.08–2.10
opticalprop	Biaxial (-), faint apple-green color (transmitted light)
birefringence	δ = 0.06
2V	Large
dispersion	r v, perceptible
streak	Pale green or white
gravity	6.4 (measured), 6.60 (calculated)
solubility	Readily soluble in acids
diaphaneity	Crystals are transparent to translucent
other	Decrepitates on heating. Not radioactive.
references
::

| name = Duftite | category = Arsenate minerals | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Anglesite-Duftite-174037.jpg | alt = | caption = Duftite from Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia | formula = PbCuAsO4(OH) | IMAsymbol = Dft | molweight = 426.67 g/mol | strunz = 8.BH.35 | dana = 41.5.1.4 | system = Orthorhombic | class = Disphenoidal (222) H-M symbol: (2 2 2) | symmetry = P212121 | unit cell = a = 7.768(1), b = 9.211(1) c = 5.999(1) [Å]; Z = 4 | color = Green, olive green or grey green. Generally zoned due to compositional variations. | habit = Tiny crystals elongated along [001] with curved and rough faces, aggregated into crusts. Crystals may be pseudo-octahedral. | lattice = | twinning = | cleavage = Indistinct | fracture = Uneven to conchoidal | tenacity = | mohs = 4.5 | luster = Vitreous on fracture surfaces and dull on crystal faces | refractive = nα = 2.03–2.04, nβ = 2.06–2.08, nγ = 2.08–2.10 | opticalprop = Biaxial (-), faint apple-green color (transmitted light) | birefringence = δ = 0.06 | pleochroism = | 2V = Large | dispersion = r v, perceptible | streak = Pale green or white | gravity = 6.4 (measured), 6.60 (calculated) | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = Readily soluble in acids | diaphaneity = Crystals are transparent to translucent | other = Decrepitates on heating. Not radioactive. |references =

Duftite is a relatively common arsenate mineral with the formula CuPb(AsO4)(OH), related to conichalcite. It is green and often forms botryoidal aggregates. It is a member of the adelite-descloizite Group, Conichalcite-Duftite Series. Duftite and conichalcite specimens from Tsumeb are commonly zoned in color and composition. Microprobe analyses and X-ray powder-diffraction studies indicate extensive substitution of Zn for Cu, and Ca for Pb in the duftite structure. This indicates a solid solution among conichalcite, CaCu(AsO4 )(OH), austinite, CaZn(AsO4)(OH) and duftite PbCu(AsO4)(OH), all of them belonging to the adelite group of arsenates. It was named after Mining Councilor G Duft, Director of the Otavi Mine and Railroad Company, Tsumeb, Namibia. The type locality is the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia.

Structure

The structure is composed of chains of edge-sharing CuO6 distorted octahedra parallel to the c axis. The chains are linked by AsO4 tetrahedra and Pb atoms.

Environment

Duftite is an uncommon product of weathered sulfide ore deposits. It is associated with azurite at the type locality, It occurs in association with olivenite, mottramite, azurite, malachite, wulfenite and calcite in the Tsumeb, Namibia deposit. It occurs with bayldonite, beudantite, mimetite and cerussite in the Cap Garonne mine, France.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Duftite-Cerussite-174182.jpg" caption="Duftite on [[cerussite]], [[Tsumeb]] mine, Namibia (size: 6 × 5 × 3 cm)"] ::

Distribution

Reported from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, the US and Zimbabwe.

References

Bibliography

• Palache, P.; Berman H.; Frondel, C. (1960). "Dana's System of Mineralogy, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. (Seventh Edition)" John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, pp. 810-811.

References

1. Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
2. [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Duftite.shtml Duftite]. Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
3. [http://www.mindat.org/min-1325.html Duftite]. Mindat.org
4. [http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/duftite.pdf Duftite]. (PDF) Handbook of Mineralogy
5. Jambor, J L, Owens, D R and Dutrizac, J E. (1980). "Solid solution in the adelite group of arsenates". Canadian Mineralogist.
6. (1921). "New mineral names". American Mineralogist.
7. (1998). "The crystal chemistry of duftite, PbCuAsO4(OH) and the beta-duftite problem". Mineralogical Magazine.
8. Australian Journal of Mineralogy

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