Aurichalcite Mineral Data

Aurichalcite Mineral Data +

General Aurichalcite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 546.71 gm

Zinc 44.85 % Zn 55.83 % ZnO

Copper 14.53 % Cu 18.19 % CuO

Hydrogen 1.11 % H 9.89 % H₂O

Carbon 4.39 % C 16.10 % CO₂

Oxygen 35.12 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Zn_3.75Cu_1.25(CO₃)₂(OH)₆

Environment:

Secondary mineral in copper and zinc deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1839

Locality:

Salida, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Probably from the Greek oreichalchos, "mountain copper."

Synonym:

ICSD 75323

PDF 17-743

Aurichalcite Image

Images:

Aurichalcite

Comments: Sky-blue radiating acicular crystals of aurichalcite covering matrix.
Location: Lucin, Utah, USA. Scale: 6.5 x 3 x 2 cm with 5 mm crystals.
© Dan Weinrich

Aurichalcite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =2.1529:1:0.8241

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.82, b = 6.419, c = 5.29, Z = 2; beta = 101.04° V = 460.59 Den(Calc)= 3.94

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.78(1), 2.61(0.8), 3.68(0.7),

Crystal Structure:

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drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
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Harding M M , Kariuki B M , Cernik R , Cressey G , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 50 (1994) p.673-676, The structure of aurichalcite, (Cu,Zn)5(OH)6(CO3)2, determined from, a microcrystal

Physical Properties of Aurichalcite

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect

Color:

Pale green, Sky blue, Greenish blue.

Density:

3.64 - 3.9, Average = 3.77

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.

Habit:

Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.

Hardness:

2 - Gypsum

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Pearly

Streak:

light blue

Optical Properties of Aurichalcite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.013 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.031 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.181,KPDmeas= 0.1891,KC= 0.1867

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.655, b=1.74, g=1.744, bire=0.0890, 2V(Calc)=22, 2V(Meas)=1-4. Dispersion relatively strong.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

pale green.

Pleochroism (z):

pale green.

Calculated Properties of Aurichalcite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.62 gm/cc
note: r_Aurichalcite=3.77 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01904
Boson Index = 0.98096

Photoelectric:

PE_Aurichalcite= 28.76 barns/electron
U=PE_Aurichalcite x r_electron= 104.21 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Aurichalcite is Not Radioactive

Aurichalcite Classification

Dana Class:

16a.4.2.1 (16a)Carbonates - Hydroxyl or Halogen

(16a.4)where (A B)5 (XO3)2 Zq

(16a.4.2)Dana Group

16a.4.2.1 Aurichalcite (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 P 2₁/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

V/C.01-110 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/C - Waterfree carbonates with unfamiliar anions

V/C.01 - Azurite - Rosasite group and related compounds

V/C.01-10 Azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-20 Malachite Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-25 Georgeite Cu5(CO3)3(OH)4·6(H2O) None

V/C.01-30 Pokrovskite Mg2(CO3)(OH)2·0.5(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-40 Mcguinnessite (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2/a or P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-50 Kolwezite (Cu,Co)2(CO3)(OH)2 P1 or P1 Tri

V/C.01-60 Glaukosphaerite (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-70 Nullaginite Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2₁/m,P 2₁ Mono

V/C.01-80 Rosasite (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-90 Zincrosasite (Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

V/C.01-100 Hydrozincite Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 C 2/m 2/m

V/C.01-105 Brianyoungite Zn3(CO3,SO4)(OH)4 C 2/m 2/m

V/C.01-110 Aurichalcite (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 P 2₁/m 2/m

V/C.01-120 Loseyite (Mn,Zn)7(CO3)2(OH)10 A2/a 2/m

V/C.01-130 Sclarite (Zn,Mg,Mn)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10 A2/a 2/m

Other Aurichalcite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Aurichalcite

(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Dana No: 16a.4.2.1 Strunz No: V/C.01-110
Locality:

Notes: