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Boothite

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Alma Mine (Alma Pyrite Mine), Leona Heights deposit, Leona Heights, Oakland, Oakland Hills, Diablo Range, Alameda Co., California, USA
© 2009, JGW

Show Boothite Photos (3)



Formula:
CuSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Light blue; light blue ...
Hardness:2 - 2½
Member of:Melanterite Group
Name:After Edward Booth chemist at the University of California.


Melanterite Group.

This mineral, fully hydrated copper sulphate, is very rare. The partially hydrated copper sulphate mineral, chalcanthite, is much more common.

Classification of Boothite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/C.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.CB.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:29.6.10.2

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.4

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
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Type Occurrence of Boothite

Type Locality:Alma Mine (Alma Pyrite Mine), Leona Heights deposit, Leona Heights, Oakland, Oakland Hills, Diablo Range, Alameda Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1903

Physical Properties of Boothite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Silky or pearly luster on fibrous material.
Colour:Light blue; light blue in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {001} imperfect.
Density (measured):2.1 g/cm3
Comment:Value approximate.

Crystallography of Boothite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Morphology:Crystals rare. Commonly massive with crystalline or fibrous structure.

Optical Data of Boothite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.470 nβ = 1.480 nγ = 1.490
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

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

Chemical Properties of Boothite

Formula:
CuSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, S
Analytical Data:Readily soluble in cold water.
Relationship of Boothite to other Species
Member of:Melanterite Group
Other Members of Group:

- + 
Alpersite
(Mg,Cu)[SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
Bieberite
CoSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Mallardite
MnSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Melanterite
FeSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Zincmelanterite
(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
7.CB.05Dwornikite
(Ni,Fe)SO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Gunningite
ZnSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Kieserite
MgSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Szmikite
MnSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Szomolnokite
FeSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.05Cobaltkieserite
CoSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
7.CB.07Sanderite
MgSO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.CB.10Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Aplowite
(Co,Mn,Ni)SO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Boyleite
(Zn,Mg)SO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Ilesite
(Mn,Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Rozenite
FeSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Starkeyite
MgSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Drobecite
CdSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.15Cranswickite
MgSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Jôkokuite
MnSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Pentahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.20Siderotil
FeSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Bianchite
(Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Chvaleticeite
(Mn,Mg)SO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Ferrohexahydrite
FeSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Hexahydrite
MgSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Moorhouseite
(Co,Ni,Mn)SO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.25Nickelhexahydrite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.30Retgersite
NiSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Bieberite
CoSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Mallardite
MnSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Melanterite
FeSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Zincmelanterite
(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.35Alpersite
(Mg,Cu)[SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Epsomite
MgSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Goslarite
ZnSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.40Morenosite
NiSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.45Alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 17H
 
2
O
7.CB.45Meta-alunogen
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.CB.50Aluminocoquimbite
FeAl(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Coquimbite
Fe
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O, x ~0.5
7.CB.55Paracoquimbite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.CB.55Rhomboclase
(H
 
5
O
 
2
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.CB.60Kornelite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.CB.65Quenstedtite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 10H
 
2
O
7.CB.70Lausenite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
7.CB.75Lishizhenite
ZnFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
7.CB.75Römerite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
7.CB.80Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Apjohnite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Bílinite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Dietrichite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Halotrichite
FeAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Pickeringite
MgAl
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Redingtonite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.85Wupatkiite
(Co,Mg,Ni)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
7.CB.90Meridianiite
MgSO
 
4
 · 11H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
25.2.1Chalcocyanite
CuSO
 
4
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.2.5Dolerophanite
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)O
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.12Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
O
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
O
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.18Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.23Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(SO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Other Names for Boothite
Synonyms:
Boothite (of Schaller)Copper-Melanterite
Other Languages:
German:Boothit
Spanish:Boothita
Varieties:
Ferroan BoothiteMg-bearing Boothite
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 Boothite
Reference List:

- + 
Schaller (1903) University of California Department of Geology Bull.: 3: 207.



Schaller (1904) American Journal of Science: 17: 192.



Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 227.



Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 150.



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: 504-505.



Leverett, P., McKinnon, A.R., and Williams, P.A. (2004) New data for boothite, CuSO4·7H2O, from Burranga, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Mineralogy: 10: 3-6.
Internet Links for Boothite
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  • Boothite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Boothite
    






    


    

    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
    

      • Georgiana Co.
    

        • Burraga
    
    		Leverett, P., McKinnon, A.R. & Williams, P.A. (2004) - New data for Boothite, CuSO4.7H2O, from Burraga, New South Wales.- Australian Journal of Mineralogy, vol.10, n°1.
    

    • Tasmania
    

      • Queenstown district
    
    		Ralph Bottrill et al in prep.
    



Bottrill RS & Baker, WE (in prep) Catalogue of Minerals of Tasmania. Mineral Resources Tasmania
    Chile
     
    

    • Antofagasta Region
    

      • El Loa Province
    

        • Calama
    
    		[var: Ferroan Boothite] No reference listed
    France
     
    

    • Rhône-Alpes
    

      • Rhône
    
    		[Le Cahier des Micromonteurs 1988, 4, p.6-46]
    



        • L'Arbresle
    

          • Sain-Bel
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 505; W. L. Roberts, G.R. Rapp Jr., J. Weber : "Encyclopedia of Minerals", 1974, Van Nostrand Rheinhold Company  
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Naples Province
    

        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    
    		[var: Mg-bearing Boothite] Scacchi (1872) Acc. Napoli, Rendus: 211 (as cupromagnesite); American Mineralogist (1927): 12: 14-19.
    

    • Trentino-Alto Adige
    

      • Trento Province
    

        • Valsugana
    

          • Levico Terme
    
    		Exel, R. (1987): Guida mineralogica del Trentino e del Sudtirolo. Athesia, Bolzano, 204 pp. 
    Norway
     
    

    • Aust-Agder
    

      • Evje og Hornnes
    

        • Flåt
    
    		Neumann, H. (1985): Norges Mineraler. Norges geologiske Undersøkelse Skrifter 68, p.109 + pers. Commentary Gunnar Raade 18.04.1988 
    

    • Hordaland
    

      • Kvinnherad
    
    		Ellingsen, R. (1989): Funn av sjeldne sulfatmineraler i Kvinnherad. NAGS-nytt 16 (1), 25-26
    Russia
     
    

    • Far-Eastern Region
    

      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    
    		 http://maurice.strahlen.org/minerals/boothite.htm.
    USA
     
    

    • Arizona
    

      • Cochise Co.
    

        • Mule Mts
    

          • Warren District
    

            • Bisbee
    
    		Grant, Raymond W., Richard A. Bideaux & Sidney A. Williams (2006), Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995 to 2005: 2.
    


      • Graham Co.
    

        • Aravaipa District
    

          • Santa Teresa Mts
    

            • Klondyke
    

              • Grand Reef Mountain
    

                • Laurel Canyon
    

    

    • California
    

      • Alameda Co.
    

        • Diablo Range
    

          • Oakland Hills
    

            • Oakland
    

              • Leona Heights
    

                • Leona Heights deposit
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 505; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1903a), Minerals from Leona Heights, Alameda County, California: University of California, Department of Geological Sciences Bulletin: 3: 207; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1905b), Mineralogical notes: USGS Bulletin 262: 123; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 296.
    







[Mineralogical Record 20 129-142]
    


      • Calaveras Co.
    

        • Foothill Copper Belt
    

          • Campo Seco District
    
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 505.
    





Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1904), Notes on some California minerals: American Journal of Science, 4th. Series: 17: 192; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1905b), Mineralogical notes: USGS Bulletin 262: 122; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 108.
    





Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1904), Notes on some California minerals: American Journal of Science, 4th. Series: 17: 191-194; Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1905b), Mineralogical notes: USGS Bulletin 262: 122; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 297.
    


      • San Bernardino Co.
    

    


      • Santa Barbara Co.
    

        • San Rafael Mts
    

          • Cachuma District
    

            • Cachuma Village
    

              • Figueroa Mountain
    

                • Tunnel Ranch
    
    		Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 108.
    

    • Massachusetts
    

      • Franklin Co.
    

        • Rowe
    
    		No reference listed
    

    • Nevada
    
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    


Rob Lavinsky
    

    • Utah
    

      • San Juan Co.
    

        • White Canyon District
    

          • White Canyon
    

            • Deer Flat
    
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    

    


    

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