ELYITE

    Class : Sulfates, chromates, molybdates
    Subclass : Anhydrous sulfates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Pb4Cu(SO4)(OH)8
    Rarity : Very rare

Elyite is a very rare lead and copper sulfate known only from the oxidation zone of a dozen polymetallic deposits. Extremely rare in its natural state, elyite is however abundant in the slag of lead foundries. Its name was given to it in honor of the important mining promoter of the 19th century : John Ely. Elyite occurs in small fibrous crystals gathered in tufts with radiate textures and in tufts of a beautiful purple color in the voids of the gossans, where it can accompany a curious earthy secondary galena.

Main photo : Elyite from Bréziès, Asprières, Aveyron, Occitanie, France © Serge Lavarde

Elyite from Altemann cliff, Badenweiler, Freiburg, Germany © Gerhard Niceus
Elyite from Redmond Mine, North Carolina, USA © Stephan Wolfsried
Elyite from Altemann cliff, Badenweiler, Freiburg, Germany © Carsten Slotta
Elyite from the Crozet slag, Loire, France © Yannick Vessely

Elyite in the World

The best specimens of elyite come from Tsumeb (Namibia), it is also present in Rausis (Austria), Ward (Nevada), Redmond Mine (North Carolina) and on many mines in Badenweiler (Germany).

Elyite in France

In France, "natural" elyite is reported at Asprières (Aveyron), at the Tistoulet Mine (Aude) and at Echassières (Allier). It is also found in the slag of Crozet (Loire), Poullaouen and Menez-Plom (Finistère), Vialas (Lozère) and Lembach (Bas-Rhin).

Twinning

A twin is known by mirror on (100).

Fakes and treatments

No fake listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2
Density : 6
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Purple

TP : Transparent
RI : 1.990 to 1.994
Birefringence : 0.004
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Visible
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None