Murdochite Locality: Vesley Mine, Granite Gap, San Simon Mining District, Peloncillo Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, USA Field of view: 1.6 mm Description: These black crystals of murdochite were collected on 11/5/2000. They were a gift from Bob Walstrom. — Photo: Jerry Cone · Public domain
Murdochite
A lead-copper oxide-halide discovered in 1953 at Arizona's Mammoth-St. Anthony mine.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Murdochite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Cu₁₂Pb₂O₁₅Cl₂.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Fm3m). It is a member of the Murdochite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 5.9–6.7; Black streak; Adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Mdh, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1955.
Found in oxidized Pb–Cu deposits.
It is found associated with Wulfenite, fluorite, hemimorphite, willemite, descloizite, dioptase, chrysocolla, creaseyite, quartz (Tiger, Arizona, USA); plattnerite, malachite.
In honor of Professor Joseph Murdoch (1890–1973), American mineralogist, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.