Marshite-miersite solid solution and iodargyrite from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

University of Canberra, Faculty of Applied Science, Belconnen, A.C.T., Australia

Microprobe analysis of marshite and miersite from Broken Hill, Australia, demonstrate extensive solid solution between the end-members CuI and AgI, indicating the possibility of a complete solid-solution series. Unit-cell parameters increase from 6.054 Aa for marshite to 6.504 Aa for miersite, closely following Vegard's Law. The Cu content of iodargyrite is generally below the limit of detection, but one zoned crystal contained 0.28 wt.% Cu. Crystallization of either miersite or iodargyrite at Broken Hill appears to be dependent upon the local availability and ratio of copper, silver and iodine ions.

This record provided courtesy of AGI/GeoRef.