Luetheite Locality: Patagonia District, Patagonia Mts, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, USA Field of view 5 mm. Ex Kidwell collection. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Luetheite
Luetheite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula CuAl(AsO₄)(OH)₂.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group B2_1). It is a member of the Chenevixite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 4.28; White streak; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Lut, IMA status: approved, named in 1976.
A rare mineral filling cavities in intensely altered volcanic rock (Patagonia district, Arizona, USA); in the oxidized zone of a copper deposit (Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA).
It is found associated with Chenevixite, cornubite (Patagonia district, Arizona, USA); pharmacosiderite, arthurite, scorodite, chenevixite, zeunerite (Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA).
The mineral was named to honor Ronald D. Luethe (1944–), geologist for Phelps Dodge Corporation, Douglas, Arizona, USA, who found the first material.