Brochantite Mineral Data

Brochantite Mineral Data +

General Brochantite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu4(SO4)(OH)6

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 452.29 gm

Copper 56.20 % Cu 70.35 % CuO

Hydrogen 1.34 % H 11.95 % H₂O

Sulfur 7.09 % S 17.70 % SO₃

Oxygen 35.37 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cu₄(SO₄)(OH)₆

Environment:

Secondary, formed in arid climates or in rapidly oxidizing copper sulfide deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1824

Locality:

Chuquicamata, Chile. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the French geologist and mineralogist, A. J. M. Brochant de Villiers (1772-1840).

Synonym:

Blanchardite

ICSD 64688

PDF 43-1488

Brochantite Image

Images:

Brochantite

Comments: Blue green spray of acicular brochantite crystals on matrix.
Location: Douglas Hill, Lidwig, Lyon County, Nevada, USA. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Brochantite Linarite

Comments: Deep blue, acicular, linarite with light blue, globular brochantite on white quartz.
Location: Goulmina, Er Rachidia, Morroco. Scale: Crystal size 1.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Brochantite

Comments: Prismatic crystals of blue green brochantite.
Location: Grand View Mine, Grand Canyon, Coconino County, Arizona, USA. Scale: See Image.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Brochantite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.3279:1:0.6111

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.08, b = 9.85, c = 6.02, Z = 4; beta = 103.366° V = 754.60 Den(Calc)= 3.98

Crystal System:

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

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.521(1), 3.9(0.85), 2.678(0.5),

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Merlino S , Perchiazzi N , Franco D , European Journal of Mineralogy , 15 (2003) p.267-275, Brochantite, Cu4SO4(OH)6: OD character, polytypism and crystal structures

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Brochantite
[1]

Physical Properties of Brochantite

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect

Color:

Green, Emerald green, Black.

Density:

3.97

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

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

Habit:

Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Vitreous - Pearly

Streak:

pale green

Optical Properties of Brochantite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.008 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.005 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1925,KPDmeas= 0.193,KC= 0.1916

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.728, b=1.771, g=1.8, bire=0.0720, 2V(Calc)=76, 2V(Meas)=72. Dispersion relatively weak.

Calculated Properties of Brochantite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.84 gm/cc
note: r_Brochantite=3.98 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0007
Boson Index = 0.9993

Photoelectric:

PE_Brochantite= 25.03 barns/electron
U=PE_Brochantite x r_electron= 96.02 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Brochantite is Not Radioactive

Brochantite Classification

Dana Class:

30.1.3.1 (30)Anhydrous Sulfates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(30.1)where (A B)m (XO4)p Zq where m:p>2:1

(30.1.3)Dana Group

30.1.3.1 Brochantite Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

VI/B.01-30 VI - Sulfates,Chromates,Molybdates and Tungstates

VI/B - Waterfree sulfates [SO4]2- with unfamiliar anions. cations of medium size

VI/B.01 - Brochantite series, Dolerophanite - Brochantite

VI/B.01-10 Dolerophanite Cu2(SO4)O C 2/m 2/m

VI/B.01-20 Antlerite Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 Pnam 2/m 2/m 2/m

VI/B.01-30 Brochantite Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 P 2₁/a 2/m

Other Brochantite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Brochantite Specimen Label here :

Brochantite

Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Dana No: 30.1.3.1 Strunz No: VI/B.01-30
Locality:

Notes: