The First Botallackite Occurrence in Poland (Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine)

The presence of botallackite was recognized in an underground galery in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice copper mine. This mineral coexists with paratacamite, clinoatacamite, gypsum and halite. Botallackite crystallized from chloride-reach (3500 mg/dm3), warm (33°C) mine water. On the basis of microprobe analyzes, two types of botallackite were recognized. The first one contains only small amounts of Pb, Fe and Zn. These elements substitute Cu2+ ions in small proportions. Empirical formula of this botallackite is: (Cu1.94Pb0.02Fe0.02Zn0.02)S = 2.00Cl0.98(OH)3.02. The second type of the mineral were characterized by increased amounts of Pb, Fe, Zn. The empiric formula of this type of botallackite can be expressed as: (Cu1.85Pb0.09Fe0.04Zn0.02)S = 2.00Cl1.05(OH)2.95. The calculated unit-cell parameters of botallackite from Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine are as follows: a = 5.7165(2), b = 6.1362(2), c = 5.6325(2), b = 92.943(3). Botallackite is a least stable polymorph of Cu2Cl(OH)3 and finally transforms to more stable polymorphs. The botallackite recrystallization can be inhibit by high concentration of Ca2+ in the mine water. Substitution of Cu2+ ions by other divalent cations can slows the rapidity of recrystalization this mineral and prevent its further transformation also. The Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine is the first occurrence of botallackite in Poland.