The chemical formula of mineral Bideauxite is indicated by Pb2AgCl3(F,OH)2 or Lead Silver Chloride Fluoride Hydroxide. Bideauxite is actually a Halide mineral. Bideauxite mineral species was named after Richard August Bideaux (1935-2004) of Oro Valley, Arizona in the United States, an American mineralogist, an author and also a mineral collector. It was first discovered in the year 1970 at the Mammoth St. Anthony Mine, Tiger, Pinal County, Arizona in the United States. Bideauxite is known to crystallize in the isometric system of crystal formation. In optical mineralogy, this isometric system comprises crystals having three axes, all of which are perpendicular to one another and all are found equal in lengths. Bideauxite minerals are also considered very hard to find in the mineral market since they are extremely rare.
Bideauxite is really a beautiful mineral that is usually found forming well-shaped cubic crystals that look like fluorite cubes and are usually found showing splendid appearance under polarizing microscope for mineralogists. However, the color that is exhibited by Bideauxite is considered more variable than most fluorite specimens that are either strongly colored or colorless when viewed under polarizing microscopes, but not both. When Bideauxite is closely evaluated under petrographic polarizing light microscope, it can be possibly found showing deep purple colors in the cores of the crystal and is usually with striking colorless exteriors. There can be some deeply colored cubes that can be found nested beside the perfectly colorless cubes, all in the same specimen, when closely examined with the aid of polarizing microscope used in optical mineralogy. Bideauxite can be easily distinguished from fluorite through its lack of cleavage that can be seen more clearly when evaluated with the aid of petrographic polarizing light microscopes and also, its greater density characteristic.
Bideauxite minerals are commonly found colorless, white and sometimes in shades of pale violet to lavender in transmitted light of petrographic polarizing light microscope. In optical mineralogy, colorless mineral specimens actually allow the whole constituent of the white light to pass through making the mineral non-pleochroic even between crossed nicols of polarizing light microscope for mineralogists. Bideauxite mineral will actually appear pale lavender and dull upon exposure to the strong light. Bideauxite crystals are most commonly found exhibiting high adamantine luster in reflected light of petrographic polarizing light microscope for mineralogists. Bideauxite is most commonly found having absent cleavage even when it is closely evaluated under several adjustments on the aperture diaphragm of petrographic polarizing light microscope for mineralogists. Bideauxite can be also found having uneven fracture when viewed with the aid of polarized microscopes used in optical mineralogy. Sometimes, Bideauxite crystals can be also found showing very brittle fractures that are usually producing small, conchoidal fragments that can be seen more clearly visible when viewed under petrographic polarizing light microscope. The specific gravity measure of Bideauxite mineral is commonly found 6.3 grams per cubic centimeters that are usually considered very heavy for translucent minerals. The hardness measure of mineral Bideauxite when it is evaluated using the Mohs scale method usually gives a value of 3. Bideauxite is most commonly found leaving a white streak when specimens are rubbed on the white porcelain streak plate. A nice piece of specimen that is commonly found exhibiting a marvelous microscope image under a polarized microscope.
Bideauxite crystals are commonly found transparent to translucent in appearance. The crystal habit of Bideauxite as described in optical mineralogy usually includes cubic crystals that are commonly found enveloping boleite crystals and are also often found completely replacing them. Bideauxite is considered isotropic mineral. In optical mineralogy, isotropic minerals are actually those minerals that have no power to produce any illumination when viewed in transmitted light of petrographic polarizing light microscope. These minerals are commonly found as singly refracting that are consequently dark when evaluated between crossed nicols of geological polarizing microscopes. Mineral Bideauxite is commonly found having a very high index of refraction that is usually found to be 2.192. It is also found as a non-radioactive mineral after several chemical evaluations. Bideauxite mineral crystals are commonly found nearly sectile. They are also found brittle, a property that is commonly displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.
Bideauxite minerals are commonly associated with several other interesting minerals such as matlockite, anglesite, boleite, cerussite, leadhillite and galena. The best field indicators of Bideauxite mineral usually include color, crystal habit, luster, locality, density and lack of cleavage. Bideauxite minerals are commonly formed from the alteration pf Boleite crystals, which are formed from the original lead sulfide ores. They can be also found forming in the rarely enclosing and replacing boleite, usually with other oxidized Pd and Cl minerals and also from oxidized base-metal mineral deposits. Mineral Bideauxite notably occurs at some types of localities including Chile and at the Mammoth St. Anthony Mine, Tiger, Pinal County, Arizona in the United States.
