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Clinoatacamite

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Castletown mine, Lochgilphead, Strathclyde (Argyllshire), Scotland, UK
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
System:MonoclinicColour:Green to dark ...
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:3
Member of:Atacamite Group
Name:Named in allusion to its monoCLINic morphology and relationship to Atacamite.
Polymorph of:Anatacamite, Atacamite, Botallackite


Easily confused with the closely related paratacamite and anatacamite.

Classification of Clinoatacamite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.01-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DA.10b

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
Dana 7th edition ID:10.1.2.2
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Type Occurrence of Clinoatacamite

Type Locality:Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

Physical Properties of Clinoatacamite

Lustre:Adamantine
Colour:Green to dark greenish-black, greenish-blue.
Streak:Green to white.
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Clinoatacamite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.157(2) Å, b = 6.814(3) Å, c = 9.105(5) Å
β = 99.65(4)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.904 : 1 : 1.336
Unit Cell Volume:V 376.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Pseudo-rhombohedral; complex intergrowths/twins.
Twinning:Very common, on {100}.

Optical Data of Clinoatacamite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.830 nβ = 1.850 nγ = 1.880
2V:Measured: 75° , Calculated: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.050

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:strong

Chemical Properties of Clinoatacamite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
Essential elements:Cl, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu, H, O

Relationship of Clinoatacamite to other Species

Member of:Atacamite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Anatacamite
Cu
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
3
Atacamite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
Botallackite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
Gillardite
Cu
 
3
Ni(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
Haydeeite
Cu
 
3
Mg(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
Herbertsmithite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
Kapellasite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
Paratacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DA.05Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
Cl
 
2
O
3.DA.10aAtacamite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10bBotallackite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10aHibbingite
Fe
2+
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10aKempite
Mn
2+
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10cParatacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10bBelloite
Cu(OH)Cl
3.DA.10cHerbertsmithite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cKapellasite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cGillardite
Cu
 
3
Ni(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cHaydeeite
Cu
 
3
Mg(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10dAnatacamite
Cu
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
3
3.DA.15Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
(OH)
 
7
Cl · nH
 
2
O
3.DA.15Barlowite
Cu
 
4
BrF(OH)
 
6
3.DA.20Simonkolleite
Zn
 
5
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Buttgenbachite
Cu
 
19
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Connellite
Cu
 
19
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.30Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
3.DA.35Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
Cl
 
10
O
3.DA.40Anthonyite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.40Calumetite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.45Khaidarkanite
Na
 
0.34
Cu
 
4
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
14
F
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.50Bobkingite
Cu
 
5
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.55Avdoninite
K
 
2
Cu
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Cl
 
8
 · H
 
2
O
3.DA.60Droninoite
Ni
 
3
Fe
3+
 
Cl(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
10.1.2.1Paratacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2

Other Names for Clinoatacamite

Synonyms:
IMA1993-060
Other Languages:
German:Clinoatacamit
Klinoatacamit
Russian:Клиноатакамит
Spanish:Clinoatacamita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Clinoatacamite

Reference List:

- +
Grice, J. D. Szymański, J. T., and Jambor, J. L. (1996), The crystal structure of clinoatacamite, a new polymorph of Cu2(OH)3Cl. Canadian Mineralogist: 34: 73-78.

Jambor, J. L., Dutrizac, J. E., Roberts, A. C., Grice, J. D. and Szymański, J. T. (1996): Clinoatacamite, a new polymorph of Cu2(OH)3Cl, and its relationship to paratacamite and "anarakite". Canadian Mineralogist: 34, 61-72.

Mineralogical Record: 27: 463.

Malcharek, T. & Schlüter, J. (2008): The crystal structure of clinoatacamite and the quest for paratacamite. Poster, Annual Meeting of the DMG, Berlin, Germany, September 14-17, 2008; CD with abstracts, Abs. no. 527.

Internet Links for Clinoatacamite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Clinoatacamite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Clinoatacamite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Atlantic Ocean
     
    • Mid-Atlantic Ridge complex
    		Gablina, I.F., Semkova, T.A., Stepanova, T.V., and Gor'kova, N.V. (2006): Lithology and Mineral Resources 41(1), 27-44.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Kennedy Co.
        • Northparkes Mine (Goonumbla Mine; Endeavour Mine)
    		A.L. McLean, J.Chapman, J.L. Sharpe and P.A. Williams (2004): The mineralogy of the oxidised zone of the E26 orebody at Northparkes, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 10, 53-57.
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		Australian Jour.Min. v.6, no. 1
    • Western Australia
      • Pilbara Region
        • East Pilbara Shire
    		Downes, P. J., Hope, M., Bevan, A. W. R. and Henry, D. A. (2006): Chalcocite and associated secondary minerals from the Telfer gold mine, Western Australia. Austral. J. Mineral. 12, 25-42.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		 Malcherek, T. & Schlüter, J. (2010): Anatacamite from La Vendida mine, Sierra Gorda, Atacama desert, Chile: a triclinic polymorph of Cu2(OH)3Cl. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, 187, 307-312.
    analysed material from dr. Jochen Schluter (curator Hamburg mineralogical museum) - Arturo Molina collection
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
    		Canadian Mineralogist (1996): 34: 61-72; Mineralogical Record: 27: 463.
      • Tocopilla Province
    		C. Ruiz Fuller/F. Peebles (1988): "Yacimientos metalíferos de Chile": Fondecyt, Stgo de Chile.
    • Arica and Parinacota Region
      • Caleta Vitor district
    		Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.
    Germany
     
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Stassfurt Potash Deposit
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza)
            • Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines)
              • Hilarion area
    		J. Gröbner und U. Kolitsch (2002): Neufunde von Laurion aus den Jahren 2001 und 2002. Aufschluss 53 (5-6), 363-371.
    Iran
     
    • Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province)
      • Nain County (Nayin County)
        • Anarak District
    		Jambor, J.L. et al. (1996). "Clinoatacamite a new polymorph of Cu2(OH)3Cl and its relationship to paratactamite and "anarakite"." Canadian Mineralogist, 34,pp:61-72.
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Waterford
      • Bonmahon (Bunmahon)
        • Knockmahon
    		Braithwaite, R.S.W. & Wilson, J.I. (2001) J. Russell Soc., 7(2), p.96.
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Capoliveri
            • Cape Calamita Mine (Calamita Mine)
    		P. Rögner, M. Hanauer, F. Senesi (2000) - Elba orientale: nuovi ritrovamenti - Riv. Min. It., 24, 2: 102-109.
    Papua New Guinea
     
    • New Ireland Province
      • Lihir Island area
    		A.D. Renno, L. Franz, T. Witzke, P.M. Herzig (2004) Canadian Mineralogist 42, 1-16
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Almería
        • Cuevas del Almanzora (Cuevas de Vera)
          • Sierra Almagrera
            • Jaroso Ravine
    		Georges FAVREAU collection
        • Huercal-Overa
    		VIÑALS, J., FAVREAU, G., and EYTIER C. & J.-R. (2010): Bobkingite, capgaronnite, juanitaite, gerhardtite, reevesite and other rare minerals from Cerro Minado, Huercal-Overa (Almería). Mineral Up, 4, 3, 6-23 Versions simultaneously published in Catalan (Mineralogistes de Catalunya); in Spanish version (Revista de Minerales).
        • Níjar
          • Rodalquilar
            • Cerro de los Guardias
    		Georges Favreau collection Christiane & Jean-Robert Eytier collection
    • Aragón
      • Zaragoza
        • Fombuena
    		Calvo, G., Viñals, J. y Calvo, M. (2008). Presencia de delafossita, gibbsita y cianotriquita en un yacimiento cuprífero del barranco de la Sierra, Fombuena (Zaragoza). Macla, 9, 59-60.
    • Valencian Community
      • Castellón
    		Mineralogía de la concesión San Rafael, Villahermosa del Río, Castellón, España
          • San Rafael claim
    		- Cócera, H., Menor-Salván, C. and Muñoz-Alvarado, R. (2010): Mineralogía de la concesión San Rafael, Villahermosa del Río, Castellón, España. Acopios, 1, 1-51. [http://mti-acopios.blogspot.com/ ; http://issuu.com/malacate/docs/acopios-1-1?mode=a_p]
    - Cócera, H., Menor-Salván, C. and Muñoz-Alvarado, R. (2010): Mineralogía de la concesión San Rafael, Villahermosa del Río, Castellón, España. Acopios, 1, 1-51. [http://mti-acopios.blogspot.com/ ; http://issuu.com/malacate/docs/acopios-1-1?mode=a_p]
    UK
     
    • England
      • Leicestershire
        • Stanton under Bardon
    		UKJMM 26:31-42
    • Scotland
      • Strathclyde (Argyllshire)
        • Isle of Islay
    		[J.Russell Soc. 1998:38]
        • Lochgilphead
    		[J.Russell Soc. 1998:38]
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