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Nantokite

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Avissalos (slag locality), Serifos Island (Seriphos), Cyclade Islands (Cyclades; Kikladhes; Nomos Kikladhon), Kykládes Prefecture, Aegean Islands (Aiyaíon) Department, Greece

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Formula:
CuCl
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white to ...
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:2 - 2½
Name:For the locality at Nantoko, Copiapó, Chile.


A rare anhydrous copper chloride, known only from arid environments and slags (as tetrahedral crystals). Colourless and transparent when fresh.

Classification of Nantokite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/A.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.AA.05

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
A : M:X = 1:1, 2:3, 3:5, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:9.1.7.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
1 : AX
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.2.1

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
2 : Halides of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Nantokite

Type Locality:Carmen Bajo Mine, Nantoko, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1868

Physical Properties of Nantokite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white to greyish, greenish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {011}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.93 - 4.3 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.22 g/cm3

Crystallography of Nantokite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:F4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 5.407Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 158.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Massive, granular

Optical Data of Nantokite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.930(5)
Birefringence:Anomalously anisotropic
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Comments:On synthetic material.

Chemical Properties of Nantokite

Formula:
CuCl
Essential elements:Cl, Cu
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu
Analytical Data:Alters superficially to paratacamite when exposed in air.
Relationship of Nantokite to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
3.AA.05Marshite
CuI
3.AA.05Miersite
(Ag,Cu)I
3.AA.05UM1999-11:I:CuS
Cu(I,S)
3.AA.10Iodargyrite
AgI
3.AA.10Tocornalite
(Ag,Hg)I
3.AA.15Bromargyrite
AgBr
3.AA.15Chlorargyrite
AgCl
3.AA.20Carobbiite
KF
3.AA.20Griceite
LiF
3.AA.20Halite
NaCl
3.AA.20Sylvite
KCl
3.AA.20Villiaumite
NaF
3.AA.25Salammoniac
NH
 
4
Cl
3.AA.25UM1998-03-Cl:Tl
TlCl
3.AA.25Lafossaite
Tl(Cl,Br)
3.AA.30Calomel
Hg
 
2
Cl
 
2
3.AA.30Kuzminite
Hg
 
2
(Br,Cl)
 
2
3.AA.30Moschelite
Hg
 
2
I
 
2
3.AA.35Neighborite
NaMgF
 
3
3.AA.40Chlorocalcite
KCaCl
 
3
3.AA.45Kolarite
PbTeCl
 
2
3.AA.50Radhakrishnaite
PbTe
 
3
(Cl,S)
 
2
3.AA.55Challacolloite
KPb
 
2
Cl
 
5
3.AA.60Hephaistosite
TlPb
 
2
Cl
 
5
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
8.2.2Tolbachite
CuCl
 
2
8.2.3Eriochalcite
CuCl
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.2.4Atacamite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
8.2.5Paratacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
8.2.6Botallackite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
8.2.7Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
[O|Cl
 
2
]
8.2.8Calumetite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.2.9Anthonyite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.2.10Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
7
|Cl] · nH
 
2
O
8.2.11Marshite
CuI
8.2.12Mitscherlichite
K
 
2
[CuCl
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.2.13Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
[O|Cl
 
10
]
Other Names for Nantokite
Synonyms:
Kupferchlorür
Other Languages:
German:Nantokit
Russian:Нантокит
Spanish:Nantokita
Nantoquita
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:		 Unstable in humid air, and transforms slowly into greenish secondary Cu-hydroxchlorides. Alters to paratacamite on exposure.
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 Nantokite
Reference List:Breithaupt (1868) B.H. Zeitung: 27: 3.



Breithaupt (1872) Jb. Min.: 814.



Armstrong ad Carmichael (1894) Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales: 28: 96.



Wyckoff and Posnjak (1922) Journal of theAmerican Chemical Society: 44: 30.



Barth and Lunde (1925) Norsk Geol. Tidsskr.: 8: 281.



Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 18-19.
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    Localities for Nantokite
    






    


    

    
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    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the  symbol to view information about a locality. 
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    (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.

    Australia
     
    

    • New South Wales
    

      • Yancowinna Co.
    
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    



Mineralogical Magazine 1894 10 : 326-327
    

    • Queensland
    

      • Mt Isa - Cloncurry area
    

        • Cloncurry District
    

          • Cloncurry
    
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    



Australian Journal of Mineralogy Volume 5 Number 2
    



Handbook of Mineralogy
    Chile
     
    

    • Atacama Region
    

      • Copiapó Province
    

        • Nantoko
    
    		Dana 6 (1892): 154; Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 18.
    Czech Republic
     
    

    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
    

      • Ústí Region
    

        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
    

          • Krupka (Graupen)
    

            • Steinknochen (Lux vein) area
    
    		Lapis 23(4), 18-34 (1998)
    India
     
    

    • Madhya Pradesh
    

      • Balaghat District
    
    		Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Naples Province
    
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work. 
    

    • Liguria
    

      • Genova Province
    

        • Genova
    

          • Varenna Valley
    
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
    

    • Tuscany
    

      • Livorno Province
    

        • Campiglia Marittima
    
    		http://www.comune.pisa.it/apsn/Articoli/Scorie/Capattoli.htm
    



        • Piombino
    
    		Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    


Luigi Chiappino data
    Kazakhstan
     
    

    • Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast')
    

      • Dzhezkazgan
    
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    Mexico
     
    

    • Durango
    

      • Mun. de Mapimí
    

        • Mapimí
    
    		Rocks & Min.: 56:247.
    

    • Tamaulipas
    

      • Mun. de Villagrán
    

        • San José
    
    		Panczner (1987):281.
    Poland
     
    

    • Małopolskie
    

      • Chrzanów District
    
    		Coppola, V., Boni, M., Gilg, A., and Strzelska-Smakowska, B. (2009): Mineralium Deposita 44, 559-580.
    



        • Trzebinia
    
    		Coppola, V., Boni, M., Gilg, A., and Strzelska-Smakowska, B. (2009): Mineralium Deposita 44, 559-580.
    

    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
    
    		Coppola, V., Boni, M., Gilg, A., and Strzelska-Smakowska, B. (2009): Mineralium Deposita 44, 559-580.
    UK
     
    

    • England
    

      • Cornwall
    

        • St Just District
    

          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
    

            • Trewellard
    
    		[Golley & Williams, 1995, 44 - "Cornish Mineral Reference Manual"]
    USA
     
    

    • Arizona
    

      • Cochise Co.
    

        • Mule Mts
    

          • Warren District
    

            • Bisbee
    
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 310; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    





Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 398; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    

    • Michigan
    

      • Ontonagon Co.
    

        • Mass City
    
    		Rocks & Min.:58:112.
    

    • New Mexico
    

      • Grant Co.
    
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    

    • New York
    

      • St Lawrence Co.
    

        • Balmat-Edwards Zinc District
    
    		Rocks & Minerals  (2008) Volume 83:3   Pages:  224 - 239
    

    


    

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