Mineralpedia Details for Ludlockite

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Ludlockite

Named after Frederik Ludlow (lud) Smith III and Charles Locke (lock) Key, who were American mineral dealers residing at the time in New Jersey, USA and provided the first specimens for analysis. Ludlockite is a rare mineral that occurs at its type locality at the Tsumeb mine in Namibia in sulfide ore from a polymetallic hydrothermal deposit. Other localities for Ludlockite include Greece, Italy, and Azerbaijan, among just a few others.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/ludlockite.pdf

Formula: PbFe³⁺₄As³⁺₁₀O₂₂
Crystal System: Triclinic
Crystal Habit: Acicular
Cleavage: Good, Good, None
Luster: Subadamantine
Color: copper red
Streak: light brown
Class: Triclinic - Pinacoidal
Fracture: Sectile
Hardness: 1.5-2
WebMineral: View Ludlockite
Mindat: View Ludlockite

Ludlockite from Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia

1. Flaming orange red fibrous crystals in aggregates to 1mm.

2. Fiery reddish orage fibrous sprays to 1mm in vuggy matrix.

3. Exceptional specimen of flaming reddish orange fibrous Ludlockite with associated silky white to Leiteite. Ludlockite occurs in two forms on this specimen: one, as thin bundles and radiating groups and two, as this deep red needledles to 5mm.