Chemical Formula: PbFCl
Locality: Cromford, near Matlock, Derbyshire. Ancient lead slags at Laurium, Greece.
Name Origin: Named from its locality.
Matlockite is a rare lead halide mineral, named after the town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England, where it was first discovered in a nearby mine. Matlockite (chemical formula: PbFCl) gives its name to the matlockite group which consists of rare minerals of a similar structure.
Description
The mineral, a lead fluorochloride (formula PbFCl), was discovered sometime around the early 1800s at Bage Mine at Bolehill near Matlock, together with specimens of phosgenite and anglesite. Although phosgenite was known at this time, it seems likely that matlockite itself remained unappreciated as a new mineral for some fifty years. It was given the name by Greg in 1851. The first mention of Matlockite may have been in Mawe’s Mineralogy of Derbyshire in 1802 in which he gives a detailed description of phosgenite, which is then followed by a mention of a mineral he refers to as “glass lead” – a description which does rather equate to the appearance of matlockite. It is a light, translucent creamy-yellow colour, but heavy in weight having a density that is over 7.1.
A very large specimen 10 cm across, and originating from Derbyshire, exists in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. A 7 cm specimen can be found in the collection of Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
Matlockite has been reported from a variety of locations since its discovery at the type locality of Derbyshire. The mineral is also found in Tiger, Arizona, Laurium in Greece, a mine near Essen in Germany and near Campiglia in Tuscany. Samples have also been found at locations in South Africa, Peru, Chile, Australia, Austria, France and Italy.
Optical properties
Optical and misc. Properties : Transparent
Refractive Index : from 2,00 to 2,14
Physical Properties
Cleavage: {001} Perfect
Color: Brownish yellow, Colorless, Green yellow, Dark yellow brown.
Density: 7.12
Diaphaneity: Transparent
Fracture: Brittle – Uneven – Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.
Hardness: 2.5-3 – Finger Nail-Calcite
Luminescence: Non-Fluorescent.
Luster: Adamantine – Pearly
Streak: white
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