Editorial Feature

Pottsite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Pottsite is a tetragonal-trapezohedral bright yellow mineral containing vanadium, oxygen, lead, hydrogen and bismuth. It was first discovered in 1988 from the Potts, Lander Coundy, Nevada. USA. It is named after its place of discovery.

Properties of Pottsite

The following are the key properties of Pottsite:

  • Cell Data
    • Space Group: I4122
    • a = 11.084
    • c = 12.634
    • Z = 10
  • Crystal Data
    • Tetragonal
    • Point Group: 422
    • Crystals are prismatic or dipyramidal, showing dominant {101}, with {110}, {103}, {211}, to 1 mm; typically in druses
    • X-ray Powder Pattern: 3.062 (10), 4.618 (9), 3.210 (4), 2.476 (4), 4.168 (3), 2.252 (3), 2.184 (3)
  • Chemical Composition
    Elements Content 1 Content 2
    Bi2O3 34 34.11
    PbO 32.4 32.67
    V2O5 26.6 26.63
    H2O 6.71 6.59
    Total 99.7 100
  • Optical Properties
    • Optical Class: Uniaxial (–)
    • ω = 2.40 (Li)
    • ε = 2.30 (Li)
  • Estimated Properties
    Electron density Bulk density (electron density)=6.07 g/cm3
    note: Specific gravity of Pottsite =7 g/cm3
    Photoelectric PEPottsite = 1108.57 barns/electron
    U= PEPottsite x ρElectron density= 6725.12 barns/cm3
    Fermion index Fermion index = 0.06
    Boson index = 0.94
    Radioactivity
    Pottsite is not radioactive

How to Identify Pottsite

Pottsite is a bright yellow mineral having translucent appearance, light yellow streak and adamantine luster. Its fractures are brittle as shown by most of the non-metallic minerals and glasses. It can be formed as prismatic or pyramidal crystals. The density of pottsite is 7 g/cm3, and its hardness is 3.5.

Global Distribution

Pottsite is distributed in the following places:

  • Linka mine, Spencer Hot Springs district, Lander Co., about 30 km northwest of Potts, and northeast of Chalk Mountain, Clan Alpine Mountains
  • Churchill Co., Nevada, USA.

Occurrence of Pottsite and Useful Mineral Association

Pottsite occurs in the oxidation zone of a tungsten-bearing tactite. It is closely associated with vanadinite, cerussite, duhamelite, clinobisvanite, bismutite, junoite and scheelite.

References

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit