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Botallackite

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Levant Mine, Trewellard, Botallack - Pendeen Area, St Just District, Cornwall, England, UK
© De Nul, Richard

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Formula:
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
System:MonoclinicColour:Mountain-green, bluish ...
Name:For the type locality, the Botallack Mine, St. Just, Cornwall.
Polymorph of:Atacamite, Clinoatacamite, Paratacamite


Polymorphous with Atacamite, Paratacamite and Clinoatacamite.

A secondary copper mineral.

NOTE: May be confused with Kapellasite, which has a similar X-ray powder diffraction pattern. Some botallackites contain minor Zn, but the Zn:Cu ratio never approaches that of kapellasite (1:3).

Classification of Botallackite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.01-50
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 8th edition ID:10.1.3.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
1 : A2(O,OH)3Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.2.6

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

Type Locality:Wheal Cock, Botallack Mine, Botallack, Botallack - Pendeen Area, St Just District, Cornwall, England, UK
General Appearance of Type Material:Crusts of minute platy interlaced crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:The Natural History Museum, London, England (No. 36528)
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (No. 100805)
Year of Discovery:1865
Geological Setting of type material:In a copper deposit, in areas weathered while exposed to sea water.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ParatacamiteAtacamite

Occurrences of Botallackite

Geological Setting:In copper-bearing deposits, in areas with high chloride concentrations or weathered while exposed to sea water; a reaction product of slags immersed in sea water; a weathering product of sulphides in subsea black smoker deposits.

Physical Properties of Botallackite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Mountain-green, bluish green to green; pale bluish green in transmitted light
Comment:Soft
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
In one direction perpendicular to Z axis
Density (measured):3.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.6 g/cm3

Crystallography of Botallackite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 5.717Å, b = 6.126Å, c = 5.636Å
β = 93.07°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.933 : 1 : 0.92
Unit Cell Volume:V 197.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Elongate tabular indistinct crystals; also blocky-prismatic crystals.
Comment:Krause (2006) gives a 5.7155(5), b 6.1255(6), c 5.6336(4) A, beta 93.090(8),
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.66 (10)
2.40 (8)
2.57 (7)
2.84 (4)
1.53 (4)
2.68 (3)
Comments:Recorded on material from the Botallack Mine, Cornwall, England

Optical Data of Botallackite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.775 nβ = 1.800 nγ = 1.846
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.071

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v, strong
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:in shades of bluish green

Chemical Properties of Botallackite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
Essential elements:Cl, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu, H, O
Analytical Data:Chemical analysis of material from the Botallack Mine, Cornwall, England
CuO       (66.25)
Cl        (14.51)
H2O       (22.60)
-O = Cl2   (3.27)

sum       100.09 wt.-%

Relationship of Botallackite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DA.05Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
[O|Cl
 
2
]
3.DA.10aAtacamite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
3.DA.10bClinoatacamite
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)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10bBelloite
Cu[OH|Cl]
3.DA.10cHerbertsmithite
Cu
 
3
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10cKapellasite
Cu
 
3
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10cGillardite
Cu
 
3
NiCl
 
2
(OH)
 
6
3.DA.10cHaydeeite
Cu
 
3
Mg(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10dIMA2009-042
Cu
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
3
3.DA.15Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
7
|Cl] · nH
 
2
O
3.DA.20Simonkolleite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
8
|Cl
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Buttgenbachite
Cu
 
19
[(OH)
 
32
|(NO
 
3
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Connellite
Cu
 
19
[(OH)
 
32
|SO
 
4
|Cl
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.30Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
3.DA.35Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
[O|Cl
 
10
]
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
[(OH)
 
8
|Cl
 
2
] · 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 - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.2.1Nantokite
CuCl
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
8.2.7Melanothallite
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 Botallackite

Other Languages:
German:Botallackit
Russian:Боталлактит
Spanish:Botallackita
Varieties:
Brombotallackite

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 Botallackite

Reference List:Church (1865) Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 18: 212.

Maskelyne (1865) Royal Society of London Proceedings: 14: 399.

Zepharovich (1873) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Sitzber.: 68: 130.

Frondel, C. (1950) Mineralogical Magazine: 29: 34.

American Mineralogist (1951), 36, 384.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 76-77.

Frondel, C. (1965): On paratacamite and some related copper chlorides. Mineralogical Magazine 29, 34-35.

Hawthorne, F. C. (1985): Refinement of the crystal structure of botallackite. Mineralogical Magazine 49, 87-89.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 73.

Krause, W. (2006): X-ray powder diffraction data for botallackite. Powder Diffraction 21, 59-62.

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    Localities for Botallackite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 73
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Balfour-Temma district
        • Temma
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    Austria
     
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Brixlegg - Schwaz area
            • Brixlegg - Rattenberg
    		Schnorrer, G. & Poeverlein, R. (2008): Schwaz-Brixlegger Fundstellen. 6. Die Minerale des Gratlspitz bei Brixlegg in Tirol. Aufschluss 59, 7-28.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Tocopilla Province
        • Gatico District
    		maurizio Dini & Arturo Molina collctions- analysed by EDX & PDF (by dr. Jochen Scluter)
    France
     
    • Brittany
      • Finistère
        • Poullaouen
    		P Le Roch collection
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Var
        • Pradet
    		http://www.mine-capgaronne.fr/site/Mineraux/ListeMineraux.html
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • North Hesse
        • Richelsdorf District
          • Süss
            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    		No reference listed
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Mansfeld Basin
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    		No reference listed
          • Sounion area
            • Sounion Mines
    		J. Gröbner und U. Kolitsch (2002): Neufunde von Laurion aus den Jahren 2001 und 2002. Aufschluss 53 (5-6), 363-371.
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Sounion area
    		No reference listed
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Cork
      • Beara Peninsula
        • Allihies
    		[R.Tayler Minerals catalogue 70 p.2]. Moreton, S. & Aspen, P. (1993) J. Russell Soc., 5(1), 31-2. Braithwaite, R.S.W. & Wilson, J.I. (2001) J. Russell Soc., 7(2), 96.
    • Co. Waterford
      • Bonmahon (Bunmahon)
        • Knockmahon
    		Braithwaite, R.S.W. & Wilson, J.I. (2001) J. Russell Soc., 7(2), p.96.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    		Muenchener Micromounter-Lithothek
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Fukui Prefecture
    		Okamoto et al. (1993) Chigaku Kenkyu, 42, 130-134.
    South Africa
     
    • Gauteng Province
    		Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • St Agnes District
          • Perranzabuloe
    		Michael Merry, collected 2007
    UKJMM Vol.29 p.5
    No reference listed
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
              • Botallack Mine
    		J.Chem.Soc. London (1865) ser. 2, vol. 3, 212-214
    No reference listed
    [Journal of the Russell Society, 6(1), 17-26 (1995)]
    Visual Identification (J.Ralph 2009)
    No reference listed
            • Pendeen
    		No reference listed
            • Trewellard
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 73
        • Wadebridge District
          • Area West of Wadebridge
            • Padstow
    		No reference listed
    No reference listed
    • Scotland
      • Dumfries & Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire)
        • Dalbeattie
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 73
        • Needle's Eye
    		BMS Database
      • Strathclyde (Argyllshire)
        • Lochgilphead
    		[J.Russell Soc. 1998:38]
    • Wales
      • Gwynedd (Caernarvonshire)
        • Lleyn Peninsula
          • Llanengan
            • Abersoch
    		Dossett, I. & Green, D.I., 1998. Atacamite, botallackite and cumengeite from Abersoch, Gwynedd, Wales. Journal of the Russell Society 7(1), 37-38.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
            • Bisbee
    		Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    • New York
      • St Lawrence Co.
        • Balmat-Edwards Zinc District
    		No reference listed
    • Oklahoma
      • Jackson Co.
        • Creta
    		Rocks & Min. vol. 72 (1997)
    • Washington
      • Pierce Co.
        • Tacoma
          • Ruston
    		Washington Geology, vol.25, no. 3, September 1997.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 2nd Nov 2009 23:43:31