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Copiapite

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Dexter No. 7 Mine, Calf Mesa, San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell), Emery Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Crystals: sulfur-yellow ...
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:Named in 1833 for the type locality, near Copiapó city, Chile.


Copiapite Group.

Typically found as greenish-yellow to olive-green scaly to fine-granular crusts.

Some 'copiapite' may in fact be ferricopiapite or other members of the copiapite group.

Classification of Copiapite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.10-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DB.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations; insular octahedra and finite units
Dana 7th edition ID:31.10.5.1
Dana 8th edition ID:31.10.5.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.10.22

25 : Sulphates
10 : Sulphates of Fe alone
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Type Occurrence of Copiapite

Type Locality:Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1833

Occurrences of Copiapite

Geological Setting:Areas of pyrite oxidation.

Physical Properties of Copiapite

Lustre:Pearly, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Comment:Pearly on {010}.
Colour:Crystals: sulfur-yellow to orange, massive material: greenish-yellow to olive-green.
Streak:Not reported
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Fragile
Cleavage:Perfect
on {010}, perfect; on {_101}, imperfect.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Micaeous
Density (measured):2.08 - 2.17 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.118 g/cm3
Comment:2.147 (Tierra Amarilla material); 2.154 (Chuquicamata material).

Crystallography of Copiapite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.337Å, b = 18.76Å, c = 7.379Å
α = 91.47°, β = 102.18°, γ = 98.95°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.391 : 1 : 0.393
Unit Cell Volume:V 978.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals rare, tabular {010}, sometimes highly modified. Commonly found as scaly aggregates or fine-granular encrustations.
Twinning:Contact twinning with twin axis [101] and composition plane {010}, uncommon.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
18.4(100)
9.23(100)
6.15(60)
5.57(70)
5.32(30)
4.20(40)
3.58(60)

Optical Data of Copiapite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.506 - 1.540 nβ = 1.528 - 1.549 nγ = 1.575 - 1.600
2V:Measured: 45° to 74°, Calculated: 48° to 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.069

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Copiapite

Formula:
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, O, S
Common Impurities:Cu,Ca,Al

Relationship of Copiapite to other Species

Related to:
  • Copiapite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    7.DB.05Aubertite
    CuAl[Cl|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 14H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.05Magnesioaubertite
    (Mg,Cu)Al[Cl|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 14H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.05Svyazhinite
    (Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		,Ca)(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[F|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 14H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.10Khademite
    Al[F|SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.10Rostite
    Al[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.15Jurbanite
    Al[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.20Minasragrite
    (V
    4+
     
    		O)[SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.20Orthominasragrite
    (V
    4+
     
    		O)[SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.20Anorthominasragrite
    (V
    4+
     
    		O)[SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.25Bobjonesite
    (V
    4+
     
    		O)[SO
     
    4
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.30Amarantite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.30Hohmannite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 8H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.30Metahohmannite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Aluminocopiapite
    Al
     
    2/3
    		Fe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 20H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Calciocopiapite
    CaFe
     
    4
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·10H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Cuprocopiapite
    CuFe
     
    4
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·20H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Ferricopiapite
    Fe
     
    5
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		O(OH)·20H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Magnesiocopiapite
    MgFe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 20H
     
    2
    		O
    7.DB.35Zincocopiapite
    ZnFe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 18H
     
    2
    		O
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    25.10.1Szomolnokite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.2Rozenite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.3Siderotil
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.4Ferrohexahydrite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.5Melanterite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.6Rhomboclase
    HFe(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.7Lausenite
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.8Kornelite
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.9Coquimbite
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·9H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.10Paracoquimbite
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·9H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.11Quenstedtite
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·10H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.12Ferricopiapite
    Fe
     
    5
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		O(OH)·20H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.13Metahohmannite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.14Hohmannite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 8H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.15Butlerite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.16Parabutlerite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.17Amarantite
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		[O|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.18Fibroferrite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.19Hydroniumjarosite
    (H
     
    3
    		O)Fe
    3+
    3
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    6
    25.10.20Römerite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·14H
     
    2
    		O
    25.10.21Bílinite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·22H
     
    2
    		O
    Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

    - +
    31.10.5.7Aluminocopiapite
    Al
     
    2/3
    		Fe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 20H
     
    2
    		O

    Other Names for Copiapite

    Synonyms:
    ElaeiteEläiteFlaveiteJanositeMisleyite
    NiveitePseudo-copiapiteVioliteYellow Copperas
    Other Languages:
    German:Atramenstein
    Basisches schwefelsaures Eisenoxyd
    Copiapit
    Elaeit
    Eläit
    Ferrocopiapit
    Flaveit
    Gelb Atrament
    Gelbeisenerz (of Breithaupt)
    Ihlëite
    Janosit
    Misleyit
    Niveit
    Xanthosiderit (of Glocker)
    Greek:Μισυ
    Latin:Lapis atramentarius flavus
    Russian:Копиапит
    Spanish:Copiapita
    Elaeita
    Eläita
    Flaveita
    Janosita
    Misleyita
    Niveita
    Swedish:Gul Atrament Sten
    Varieties:
    Knoxvillite

    Other Information

    Other Information:Readily soluble in water, forming a yellowish solution.
    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 Copiapite

    Reference List:Dioscorides (as Μισυ).

    Agricola, Georgius (1546) De natura fossilium and De veteribus et novis metallis (as Gelb Atrament).

    Agricola, Georgius (1546) Interpretatio Germanica vocum rei metallicae (as Gelb Atrament).

    Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm: 159 (as Misy, Gul Atrament, and Lapis atramentarius flavus).

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 1061 (as Misy).

    Breithaupt, A. (1823) Vollständige Characteristik etc., 1st. ed.: 97, 238 (as Gelbeisenerz).

    Breithaupt, A. (1832) Vollständige Characteristik etc., 2nd. Ed.: 223 (as Gelbeisenerz).

    Rose (1833) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 27: 314 (as Basisches schwefelsaures Eisenoxyd).

    Haidinger, Wm. (1845a) Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie. Vienna: 489.

    Glocker, E.F. (1847) Generum et specierum mineralien secundum ordines naturals digestorum synopsis. Halle: 65 (as Xanthosiderit).

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: vol. 2, in two parts: 1203 (as Misy).

    Schrauf, Albrecht (1877): 252 (as Ihlëite).

    Linck (1889) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 15: 1.

    Darapsky (1890) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 49.

    Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 964.

    Mauzelius in: Sjögren (1895) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 17: 268.

    Böckh and Emszt (1905) Földtani Közlöny, Budapest (Magyarhone Földtani Torsulat): 35: 139 (as Janosite).

    Toborffy (1907) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 43: 369.

    Manasse (1911) Processi verbali della Società Toscana di scienze naturali in Pisa: 20: 1.

    Scharizer (1913) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 52: 372.

    Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 61.

    Posnjak and Merwin (1922) Journal of the American Chemical Society: 44: 1965.

    Scharizer (1927) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 65: 335.

    Ungemach (1935) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 58: 97, 152 (as Pseudo-copiapite).

    Berry (1938) University of Toronto Stud., Geol. Series, no. 41: 7

    Palache, C., Peacock and Berry (1946) University of Toronto Stud., Geol. Series, no. 50: 9.

    Berry (1947) University of Toronto Stud., Geol. Series, no. 51: 21.

    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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 623-627.

    Fanfani, L.A., A. Nunzi, P.F. Zanazzi & A.R. Zanzari (1973), The Copiapite problem; the crystal structure of ferrian Copiapite: Am. Min.: 58: 314-322.

    Gaines et al.: Dana's New Mineralogy, 8th ed., p. 663 (1997)

    Internet Links for Copiapite

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  • Look for Copiapite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Copiapite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Copiapite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Copiapite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Copiapite

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