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Cupalite

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Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al
System:OrthorhombicColour:Steel yellow
Lustre:MetallicHardness:4 - 4½
Name: Named from Chemical Composition (Copper and Aluminium)
This page provides mineralogical data about Cupalite.

Classification of Cupalite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.AA.20

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family
Dana 7th edition ID:1.1.23.1
Dana 8th edition ID:1.1.15.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
Hey's CIM Ref.:1.23

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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Type Occurrence of Cupalite

Type Locality:Listvenitovyi Stream, Chetkinvaiam tectonic melange, Iomrautvaam Massif, Koryak (Koriak; Koriakskhiye) Upland, Koriak Autonomous Okrug, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Mining Museum, Lenningrad
Year of Discovery:1985
Geological Setting of type material:Placers derived from serpentine.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Khatyrkite

Physical Properties of Cupalite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Steel yellow
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=272 - 318
Density (calculated):5.12 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cupalite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.94Å, b = 4.12Å, c = 10.14Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.684 : 1 : 2.461
Unit Cell Volume:V 289.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:10
Morphology:Grains to 35 microns

Optical Data of Cupalite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Very weak from light gray to gray.

Chemical Properties of Cupalite

Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al
Essential elements:Al, Cu
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cu, Zn

Relationship of Cupalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.AA.05Aluminium
Al
1.AA.05Copper
Cu
1.AA.05Electrum
(Au, Ag)
1.AA.05Gold
Au
1.AA.05Lead
Pb
1.AA.05Nickel
Ni
1.AA.05Silver
Ag
1.AA.05UM2004-08-E:AuCuPd
(Cu,Pd,Au)
1.AA.05UM1991-06-E:AuCu
Au
 
3
Cu
1.AA.10aAuricupride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.AA.10bTetra-auricupride
AuCu
1.AA.10aCuproauride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.AA.15Anyuiite
Au(Pb,Sb)
 
2
1.AA.15Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2
1.AA.15Iodine
I
1.AA.15Novodneprite
AuPb
 
3
1.AA.15UM1985-02-E:AlZn
ZnAl
 
2
1.AA.25Hunchunite
Au
 
2
Pb
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
1.1Copper
Cu
1.2Silver
Ag
1.5Gold
Au
1.6Auricupride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.7Tetra-auricupride
AuCu
1.8Zinc
Zn
1.9Cadmium
Cd
1.10Danbaite
CuZn
 
2
1.11Zhanghengite
CuZn
1.12Mercury
Hg
1.13Kolymite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.14Moschellandsbergite
Ag
 
2
Hg
 
3
1.15Eugenite
Ag
 
11
Hg
 
2
1.16Schachnerite
Ag
 
1.1
Hg
 
0.9
1.17Paraschachnerite
Ag
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.18Luanheite
Ag
 
3
Hg
1.19Weishanite
(Au,Ag)
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.20Indium
In
1.21Aluminium
Al
1.22Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2
1.24Diamond
C
1.25Graphite
C
1.26Chaoite
C
1.27Lonsdaleite
C
1.28Silicon
Si
1.29Tin
Sn
1.30Lead
Pb
1.31Anyuiite
Au(Pb,Sb)
 
2
1.31Novodneprite
AuPb
 
3
1.32Leadamalgam
HgPb
 
2
1.33Arsenic
As
1.34Arsenolamprite
As
1.35Paxite
CuAs
 
2
1.36Koutekite
Cu
 
5
As
 
2
1.37Domeykite
Cu
 
3
As
1.38Algodonite
(Cu
 
1-x
As
 
x
)
1.39Novakite
Cu
 
20
AgAs
 
10
1.40Kutinaite
Cu
 
2
AgAs
1.41Antimony
Sb
1.42Stibarsen
AsSb
1.43Paradocrasite
Sb
 
3
As
1.44Horsfordite
Cu, Sb
1.45Cuprostibite
Cu
 
2
(Sb,Tl)
1.46Allargentum
(Ag
 
1-x
Sb
 
x
)
1.47Aurostibite
AuSb
 
2
1.48Dyscrasite
Ag
 
3
Sb
1.49Bismuth
Bi
1.50Maldonite
Au
 
2
Bi
1.51Sulphur
S
 
8
1.52Rosickýite
S
1.53Selenium
Se
1.54Tellurium
Te
1.55Chromium
Cr
1.56Rhenium
Re
1.57Iron
Fe
1.58Chromferide
Fe
 
3
Cr
 
1-x
 (x=0.6)
1.59Ferchromide
Cr
 
1.5
Fe
 
0.5-x
1.60Wairauite
CoFe
1.61Nickel
Ni
1.62Kamacite
(Fe,Ni)
1.63Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.64Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.65Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.66Palladium
(Pd,Pt)
1.67Potarite
PdHg
1.68Paolovite
Pd
 
2
Sn
1.69Stannopalladinite
(Pd,Cu)
 
3
Sn
 
2
1.70Cabriite
Pd
 
2
SnCu
1.71Taimyrite
(Pd,Cu,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.72Atokite
(Pd,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.73Rustenburgite
(Pt,Pd)
 
3
Sn
1.74Zvyagintsevite
(Pd,Pt,Au)
 
3
(Pb,Sn)
1.75Plumbopalladinite
Pd
 
3
Pb
 
2
1.76Osmium
(Os,Ir,Ru)
1.77Iridium
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.82Platinum
Pt
1.83Hongshiite
PtCu
1.84Niggliite
PtSn
1.85Isoferroplatinum
Pt
 
3
Fe
1.86Tetraferroplatinum
PtFe
1.87Tulameenite
Pt
 
2
CuFe
1.88Ferronickelplatinum
Pt
 
2
FeNi
1.89Rhodium
(Rh,Pt)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
1.1.23.2Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2

Other Names for Cupalite

Synonyms:
IMA1983-084
Other Languages:
German:Cupalit
Spanish:Cupalita

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 Cupalite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 71: 1278.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 114(1): 90-100.

Journal of Less Common Metals: 29: 133-140.

Internet Links for Cupalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    • Localities for Cupalite

    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.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Chukotskii Autonomous Okrug
    		Bindi, L., Steinhardt, P.J., Yao, N., Lu, P.J. (2011) Icosahedrite, Al63Cu24Fe13, the first natural quasicrystal. American Mineralogist, 96, 928-931.
      • Koriak Autonomous Okrug
        • Koryak (Koriak; Koriakskhiye) Upland
          • Iomrautvaam Massif
            • Chetkinvaiam tectonic melange
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 18th Jun 2011 03:48:01
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