The chemical formula of the mineral Bindheimite is indicated by Pb2Sb2O6(O,OH) or Lead Antimony Oxide Hydroxide. Bindheimite is actually an Oxides and Hydroxides mineral. Mineral species Bindheimite was named after Johann Jacob Bindheim (1750-1825), a German chemist who made the first chemical analysis of the mineral. There is one variety of Bindheimite that is known. This is the Argentian Bindheimite. This Bindheimite is also a hydrous lead antimonite mineral, which is produced from natural oxidation of jamesonite. Bindheimite crystals are known to crystallize in the isometric system. 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.
Bindheimite mineral crystals are usually found opaque in appearance. Crystal habits of Bindheimite, as described in optical mineralogy, usually include pseudomorphs of lead antimony sulfides, but are more commonly found as cryptocrystalline masses or crusts. This habit exhibited by the Bindheimite minerals is usually found splendidly displayed under a petrographic polarizing microscope. Bindheimite is actually an alteration product or an oxidation product of lead antimony sulfides like boulangerite and jamesonite. Sometimes mineral Bindheimite are found pseudomorphing these minerals. This means that Bindheimite replaces them without too much distortion found on the outward appearance of the mineral crystals. Actually, mineral Bindheimite commonly replaces these minerals with the cryptocrystalline indistinct masses or crusts.
Mineral specimens of Bindheimite are usually found in shades of yellow to red brown or greenish to white. It actually exhibits resinous to earthy luster when viewed in reflected light of petrographic polarizing microscopes used in optical mineralogy. Bindheimite has a not so discernible cleavage even when it is closely evaluated under several adjustments on the aperture diaphragm of polarizing microscope for mineralogists. Bindheimite is most commonly found exhibiting an earthy luster when viewed under polarizing light microscopes for mineralogists. In optical mineralogy, fracture describes how a mineral breaks when broken contrary to its natural cleavage planes. The specific gravity measure for mineral Bindheimite commonly gives an approximate value that is usually found ranging from 7.3 grams per cubic centimeters to 7.5 grams per cubic centimeters, which is considered heavier than average. The hardness measure for mineral Bindheimite when it is evaluated using the Mohs scale method are commonly found in values ranging from 4 to 4.5. When mineral specimens of Bindheimite are rubbed on a white porcelain streak plate, they are commonly found leaving a pale yellow to brown streak.
Mineral specimens of Bindheimite are actually found isotropic when evaluated under a petrographic polarizing light microscope. Since these minerals are isotropic, they are therefore not pleochroic minerals even between crossed nicols of polarizing microscope used in optical mineralogy. Refractive indices of Bindheimite mineral when they are examined in plane-polarized light of polarizing microscopes are commonly found ranging from 1.84 to 1.87. Mineral Bindheimite also shows very high surface relief when it is evaluated with the aid of polarized light microscopes used in optical mineralogy. There is no specific data on the toxicity and health dangers for this mineral Bindheimite. However, specimens of Bindheimite should be treated with great care and use of sensible precaution is advised upon handling them.
The best field indicators of mineral Bindheimite usually include color, luster, crystal habit and its awesome association with other interesting minerals. This Bindheimite mineral is commonly associated with other wonderful minerals such as partzite, stibiconite, lewisite, tetrahedrite, cerussite and other lead and antimony minerals. Bindheimite minerals are commonly found in the oxidized portions of antimony-bearing lead deposits. Bindheimite minerals notably occur at some types of localities including Russia, England, Bolivia, Australia and some areas in the United States like California and Arizona.
