Paratacamite Mineral Data

Paratacamite Mineral Data +

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General Paratacamite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Cu,Zn)2(OH)3Cl

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 214.49 gm

Zinc 15.24 % Zn 18.97 % ZnO

Copper 44.44 % Cu 55.63 % CuO

Hydrogen 1.41 % H 12.60 % H₂O

Chlorine 16.53 % Cl 16.53 % Cl

- % Cl -3.73 % -O=Cl₂

Oxygen 22.38 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cu_1.5Zn_0.5(OH)₃Cl

Environment:

Alteration of copper minerals by chloride waters under cold conditions.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1873

Locality:

Generosa and Herminia mines, Sierra Gorda, Chile. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the dimorphous relationship with atacamite.

Synonym:

ICSD 64956

PDF 25-325

Paratacamite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Paratacamite Image

Paratacamite Christelite

Comments: Robins-egg blue christelite with dark green paratacamite on matrix.
Location: San Francisco mine, Sierra Gorda, Chile. Scale: 3 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Paratacamite

Comments: Deep green crystal paratacamite rosettes on rusty quartz.
Location: Churchill Butte, Lyon County, Nevada, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Paratacamite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.02834

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.654, c = 14.041, Z = 24; V = 2,266.98 Den(Calc)= 3.77

Crystal System:

Trigonal - RhombohedralH-M Symbol ( 3) Space Group: R 3

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 5.44(1), 2.27(0.8), 2.74(0.6),2.76(0.6), 2.78(0.5), 1.71(0.5), 2.9(0.3),

Crystal Structure:

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Fleet M E , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 31 (1975) p.183-187, The crystal structure of paratacamite, Cu2(OH)3Cl, Sample: Ordered structure, considered to be the true structure

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Paratacamite
[1] [2]

Physical Properties of Paratacamite

Cleavage:

[1011] Good

Color:

Greenish black, Dark green.

Density:

3.74

Diaphaniety:

Translucent to Subopaque

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Uneven - Uneven fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Rhombohedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing rhobohedral crystals.

Hardness:

3 - Calcite

Luster:

Vitreous - Dull

Streak:

light green

Optical Properties of Paratacamite

Dichroism (e):

none.

Dichroism (w):

none.

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.029 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.021 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2243,KPDmeas= 0.2261,KC= 0.2196

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (+), w=1.843, e=1.848, bire=0.0050.

Calculated Properties of Paratacamite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.60 gm/cc
note: r_Paratacamite=3.77 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00635
Boson Index = 0.99365

Photoelectric:

PE_Paratacamite= 28.34 barns/electron
U=PE_Paratacamite x r_electron= 102.10 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Paratacamite is Not Radioactive

Paratacamite Classification

Dana Class:

10.1.2.1 (10)Oxyhalides and Hydroxyhalides

(10.1)where (A)2 (O,OH)3 Xq

(10.1.2)Dana Group

10.1.2.1 Paratacamite (Cu,Zn)2(OH)3Cl R 3 3

10.1.2.2 Clinoatacamite! Cu2(OH)3Cl P 2₁/n 2/m

10.1.2.3 Herbertsmithite! Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 R 3m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

III/D.01-55 III - Halogenides

III/D - Oxi-halogenides with Mg - Mn - Cu - Zn - Sn

III/D.01 - Atacamite series, Korshunovskite - Anthonyite

III/D.01-10 Korshunovskite Mg2Cl(OH)3·3.5-4(H2O) P1 or P1 Tri

III/D.01-12 Nepskoeite! Mg4Cl(OH)7·6(H2O) Pcmm,Pcm2,Pc2m Ortho

III/D.01-15 Hibbingite (Fe,Mg)2(OH)3Cl Pnam 2/m 2/m 2/m

III/D.01-20 Kempite Mn2Cl(OH)3 Pnam 2/m 2/m 2/m

III/D.01-25 Belloite! Cu(OH)Cl P 2₁/a 2/m

III/D.01-30 Atacamite Cu2Cl(OH)3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

III/D.01-40 Clinoatacamite! Cu2(OH)3Cl P 2₁/n 2/m

III/D.01-50 Botallackite Cu2Cl(OH)3 P 2₁/m 2/m

III/D.01-55 Paratacamite (Cu,Zn)2(OH)3Cl R 3 3

III/D.01-57 Herbertsmithite! Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 R 3m 3 2/m

III/D.01-60 Melanothallite Cu2OCl2 F ddd 2/m 2/m 2/m

III/D.01-65 Bobkingite! Cu5Cl2(OH)8(H2O)2 C 2/m 2/m

III/D.01-70 Calumetite Cu(OH,Cl)2·2(H2O) Unk Ortho

III/D.01-80 Anthonyite Cu(OH,Cl)2·3(H2O) Unk. Mono

Other Paratacamite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Paratacamite

(Cu,Zn)2(OH)3Cl
Dana No: 10.1.2.1 Strunz No: III/D.01-55
Locality:

Notes: