Orthoserpierite Mineral Data

Orthoserpierite Mineral Data +

General Orthoserpierite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 644.32 gm

Calcium 6.22 % Ca 8.70 % CaO

Zinc 10.15 % Zn 12.63 % ZnO

Copper 29.59 % Cu 37.04 % CuO

Hydrogen 1.88 % H 16.78 % H₂O

Sulfur 9.95 % S 24.85 % SO₃

Oxygen 42.21 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaCu₃Zn(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·3(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary mineral in a copper mine.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1985

Locality:

Chessy copper mine, near Lyon, France. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for its stuctural rellationship to serpierite.

Orthoserpierite Image

Images:

Orthoserpierite

Comments: Vivid blue green sheets and coatings of orthoserpierite on matrix.
Location: Galiuro Mt. Copper Creek, Pinal County, Arizona, USA. Scale: 3.0 X 4.4 cm.
© John Veevaert

Orthoserpierite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =3.5645:1:3.2887

Cell Dimensions:

a = 22.1, b = 6.2, c = 20.39, Z = 8; V = 2,793.84 Den(Calc)= 3.06

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - PyramidalH-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: P ca2₁

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 10.21(1), 3.4(0.9), 5.1(0.9),

Physical Properties of Orthoserpierite

Cleavage:

[???] Perfect

Color:

Pale blue green.

Density:

2.95 - 3.05, Average = 3

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Fracture:

Splintery - Thin, elongated fractures produced by intersecting good cleavages or partings (e.g. hornblende).

Habit:

Crystalline - Fine - Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals.

Habit:

Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Long UV=mauve.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

light green

Optical Properties of Orthoserpierite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.034 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.013 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2049,KPDmeas= 0.209,KC= 0.2022

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.586, b=1.645, g=1.65, bire=0.0640, 2V(Calc)=30, 2V(Meas)=32. Dispersion r > v weak.

Pleochroism (x):

pale yellow.

Pleochroism (y):

pale yellow.

Pleochroism (z):

sulfur yellow.

Calculated Properties of Orthoserpierite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.01 gm/cc
note: r_{Orthoserpierite}=3.06 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00519
Boson Index = 0.99481

Photoelectric:

PE_{Orthoserpierite}= 19.03 barns/electron
U=PE_{Orthoserpierite} x r_electron= 57.31 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Orthoserpierite is Not Radioactive

Orthoserpierite Classification

Dana Class:

31.6.7.1 (31)Hydrated Sulfates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(31.6)where (A+ B++)5 (XO4)2 Zq·x(H2O)

(31.6.7)Dana Group

31.6.7.1 Orthoserpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) P ca2₁ mm2

Strunz Class:

VI/D.19-30 VI - Sulfates,Chromates,Molybdates and Tungstates

VI/D - Water-bearing sulfates with unfamiliar anions. Cations of medium and very big size

VI/D.19 - Devilline - Serperite - Rapidcreekite series

VI/D.19-05 Niedermayrite! Cu4Cd(SO4)2(OH)6·4(H2O) P 2₁/m 2/m

VI/D.19-10 Devilline CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VI/D.19-20 Serpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) C 2/c 2/m

VI/D.19-30 Orthoserpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) P ca2₁ mm2

VI/D.19-32 Lautenthalite PbCu4(OH)6(SO4)2·3(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VI/D.19-35 Arzrunite Cu4Pb2SO4(OH)4Cl6·2(H2O) Unk Ortho

VI/D.19-40 Tatarskite Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2Cl4(OH)4·7(H2O) Unk Ortho

VI/D.19-50 Tanteuxenite-(Y) (Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)6 Pcan 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Orthoserpierite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.72,p1026,1987) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

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Orthoserpierite

Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O)
Dana No: 31.6.7.1 Strunz No: VI/D.19-30
Locality:

Notes: