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Clinoatacamite

Big Photo

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

Show Clinoatacamite Photos (14)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
System:MonoclinicColour:Green to dark ...
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:3
Name:Named in allusion to its monoCLINic morphology and relationship to Atacamite.
Polymorph of:Atacamite, Botallackite, Paratacamite


Easily confused with the closely related Paratacamite.

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

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DA.05Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
[O|Cl
 
2
]
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)
 
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 - Dana Grouping):

- +
10.1.2.1Paratacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)[(OH)
 
3
|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.

Malcherek, 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
  • Search for Clinoatacamite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Clinoatacamite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Clinoatacamite

    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
    		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
    		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
    		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
      • 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.
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		analysed material from dr. Jochen Schluter (curator Hamburg mineralogical museum) - Arturo Molina collection
    • Arica and Parinacota Region
      • Caleta Vitor district
    		Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.
    Germany
     
    • Saxony-Anhalt
    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)
      • 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
     
    • Valencian Community
      • Castellón
        • Villahermosa del Rio
    		Collection and photos of Adrian Pesudo
    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]
    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: 5th Nov 2009 12:38:25