Eriochalcite Mineral Data

Eriochalcite Mineral Data +

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General Eriochalcite Information

Chemical Formula:

CuCl2·2(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 170.48 gm

Copper 37.27 % Cu 46.66 % CuO

Hydrogen 2.36 % H 21.13 % H₂O

Chlorine 41.59 % Cl 41.59 % Cl

- % Cl -9.38 % -O=Cl₂

Oxygen 18.77 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CuCl₂·2(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1884

Locality:

Monte Somma, Vesuvius, Naples Province, Campania, Italy Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek erion = "wool" and kalcos= "copper", in allusion to its form and to the chemical composition.

Synonym:

ICSD 34239

PDF 33-451

Eriochalcite Image

Images:

Eriochalcite

Comments: Green grains of eriochalcite from the eruption of 1875, Vesuvius volcano.
Location: Vesuvius volcano. Vesuvius, Naples, Naples province, Campania, Italy. Scale: Picture size 3 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Eriochalcite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.9179:1:0.4626

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.38, b = 8.04, c = 3.72, Z = 2; V = 220.73 Den(Calc)= 2.56

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pbmn

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 5.44(1), 4.02(0.14), 2.637(0.1),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 0] [ 5 2 0] [ 3 0 1] [ 1 1 1] [ 1 1 0] [ 1 0 0] [ 0 0 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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MacGillavry C H , Bijvoet J M , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 94 (1936) p.231-245, Die kristallstruktur der cadmium-und, quecksilber-diammin-dihalogenide, Locality: synthetic

Physical Properties of Eriochalcite

Cleavage:

[110] Perfect, [001] Good

Color:

Blue green, Green blue.

Density:

2.47

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Optical Properties of Eriochalcite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.009 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.043 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2703,KPDmeas= 0.2802,KC= 0.2826

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.646, b=1.685, g=1.745, bire=0.0990, 2V(Calc)=82, 2V(Meas)=75.

Calculated Properties of Eriochalcite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.41 gm/cc
note: r_Eriochalcite=2.47 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00009
Boson Index = 0.99991

Photoelectric:

PE_Eriochalcite= 18.91 barns/electron
U=PE_Eriochalcite x r_electron= 45.47 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Eriochalcite is Not Radioactive

Eriochalcite Classification

Dana Class:

9.2.8.1 (9)Anhydrous and Hydrated Halides

(9.2)where A (X)2

(9.2.8)Dana Group

9.2.8.1 Eriochalcite CuCl2·2(H2O) Pbmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

9.2.8.2 Tolbachite CuCl2 C 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

III/A.12-20 III - Halogenides

III/A - Simple Halogenides, with water Metal : Halogen = 1 : 1 to 1 : 3

III/A.12 - Hydrohalite - Antarcticite series

III/A.12-10 Hydrohalite NaCl·2(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

III/A.12-20 Eriochalcite CuCl2·2(H2O) Pbmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

III/A.12-30 Bischofite MgCl2·6(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

III/A.12-40 Nickelbischofite NiCl2·6(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

III/A.12-50 Rokuhnite FeCl2·(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

III/A.12-70 Sinjarite CaCl2·2(H2O) Unk. Tetra

III/A.12-80 Antarcticite CaCl2·6(H2O) P 3₂1 3 2

Other Eriochalcite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Eriochalcite

CuCl2·2(H2O)
Dana No: 9.2.8.1 Strunz No: III/A.12-20
Locality:

Notes: