Aurichalcite is a carbonate mineral, usually found as a secondary mineral in copper and zinc deposits. Its chemical formula is (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6. The zinc to copper ratio is about 5:4.[3] Copper (Cu2 ) gives aurichalcite its green-blue colors.[5]
| Aurichalcite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Carbonate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Zn,Cu)5[(OH)3|CO3]2 |
| IMA symbol | Ach[1] |
| Strunz classification | 5.BA.15 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/m |
| Unit cell | a = 13.82, b = 6.419 c = 5.29 [Å] β = 101.04°; Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Pale green, greenish blue, light blue; colorless to pale blue, pale green in transmitted light |
| Crystal habit | Typically in tufted divergent sprays or spherical aggregates, may be in thick crusts; rarely columnar, laminated or granular |
| Twinning | Observed in X-ray patterns |
| Cleavage | {010} and {100} Perfect |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 |
| Luster | Pearly, silky |
| Streak | Light blue |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.96 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (−) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.655 nβ = 1.740 nγ = 1.744 |
| Birefringence | 0.0890 |
| Pleochroism | Weak colorless to pale green |
| 2V angle | Measured: 1° to 4°, Calculated: 22° |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Occurrence
editAurichalcite typically occurs in the oxidized zone of copper and zinc deposits. Associated minerals include: rosasite, smithsonite, hemimorphite, hydrozincite, malachite and azurite.[2]
It was first described in 1839 by Bottger who named the mineral for its zinc and copper content after the Greek όρειχαλκος, for "mountain brass" or "mountain copper", the name of orichalcum, a fabulous metal, mentioned in the legend of the mythic lost continent Atlantis. The type locality is the Loktevskoye Mine, Upper Loktevka River, Rudny Altai, Altai Krai, Western Siberia, Russia.[3]
Crystallography
editAurichalcite displays prismatic crystals often in the form of encrustations and sometimes columnar structures.[6] The crystal system is monoclinic.
References
edit- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ a b c Mindat
- ^ Webmineral data
- ^ "Minerals Colored by Metal Ions". minerals.gps.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "Aurichalcite Mineral Data." https://www.mindat.org/min-422.html Accessed 18 February 2019.
