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Cornetite

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L'Etoile du Congo Mine (Star of the Congo Mine; Kalukuluku Mine), Lubumbashi (Elizabethville), Southern area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)

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Formula:
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Dark blue to green-blue; ...
Hardness:4½
Name:After Mr. Jules Cornet (1865-1929), Belgian geologist.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cornetite.

Classification of Cornetite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.13-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BE.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.3.2.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)3(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.2.2

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Cornetite

Type Locality:L'Etoile du Congo Mine (Star of the Congo Mine; Kalukuluku Mine), Lubumbashi (Elizabethville), Southern area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1916
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Heterogenite

Physical Properties of Cornetite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Dark blue to green-blue; green-blue in transmitted light.
Comment:May exhibit colour zoning in shades of green-blue.
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Cleavage:None Observed
Density (measured):4.1 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.1 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cornetite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbca {P21/b 21/c 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.88Å, b = 14.1Å, c = 7.11Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.772 : 1 : 0.504
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,090.73 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic [001] to equant. Face {210} commonly rounded. Crusts of minute crystals.
Twinning:Reported on {h0l}.

Optical Data of Cornetite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.765 nβ = 1.810 nγ = 1.820
2V:Measured: 33° , Calculated: 48°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.055

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:none
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Cornetite

Formula:
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, P
Common Impurities:Co

Relationship of Cornetite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BE.05Augelite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
8.BE.10Grattarolaite
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
8.BE.20Clinoclase
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BE.25Arhbarite
Cu
 
2
Mg[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BE.25Gilmarite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BE.30Allactite
Mn
2+
7
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.30Flinkite
Mn
2+
2
Mn
3+
 
AsO
 
4
(OH)
 
4
8.BE.30Raadeite
Mg
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.35Chlorophoenicite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
8.BE.35Magnesiochlorophoenicite
(Mg,Mn)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
8.BE.40Gerdtremmelite
(Zn,Fe)(Al,Fe)
 
2
AsO
 
4
(OH)
 
5
8.BE.45Dixenite
CuMn
2+
14
Fe
2+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
3
)
 
5
|AsO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BE.45Hematolite
(Mn,Mg,Al)
 
15
(AsO
 
3
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
23
8.BE.45Kraisslite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
24
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
8
]
8.BE.45Mcgovernite
(Mn,Mg,Zn)
 
273
As
3+
~12
As
5+
~30
Si
 
~42
O
 
324
(OH)
 
252
8.BE.45Arakiite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
12
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(AsO
 
3
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
23
8.BE.45Turtmannite
(Mn,Mg)
 
22.5
Mg
 
3-3x
[(V,As)O
 
4
]
 
3
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
[AsO
 
3
]
 
x
O
 
5-5x
(OH)
 
20+x
8.BE.50Synadelphite
Mn
2+
9
[(OH)
 
9
|As
3+
 
O
 
3
|(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.BE.55Holdenite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
8
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
8.BE.60Kolicite
Mn
2+
7
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
8
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BE.65Sabelliite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
)]
8.BE.70Jarosewichite
Mn
 
3
MnAsO
 
4
(OH)
 
6
8.BE.75Theisite
Cu
 
5
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
7
|(AsO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
)]
 
2
8.BE.80Coparsite
Cu
 
4
[O
 
2
|Cl|(AsO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)]
8.BE.85Waterhouseite
Mn
2+
7
[(OH)
 
8
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.2.1Libethenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.2.3Reichenbachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.4Ludjibaite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.5Pseudomalachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.6Nissonite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.2.7Zapatalite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.8Turquoise
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.9Sieleckiite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.2.10Planerite
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4 H
 
2
O
19.2.11Hentschelite
CuFe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.13Chalcosiderite
Cu(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.14Phosphofibrite
[K
 
<0.5
(H
 
2
O)
 
3
][(Fe
3+
 
,Cu)
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
7
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
]

Other Names for Cornetite

Other Languages:
German:Cornetit
Russian:Корнетит
Spanish:Cornetita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in cold HCl.
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 Cornetite

Reference List:Cesàro (1912) Société géologique de Belgique, Liége, Annales: 39: 241.

Hutchinson and MacGregor (1913) Nature: 92: 364.

Buttgenbach (1917): 452.

American Mineralogist (1920): 5: 17.

Hutchinson and MacGregor (1921) Mineralogical Magazine: 19: 225.

Ungemach (1929) Société géologique de Belgique, Liége, Annales: 52: 75.

Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 201.

Berry, L.G. (1946) American Mineralogist: 31: 190.

Berry, L.G. (1950) On pseudomalachite and cornetite. American Mineralogist: 35, 365-385.

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.: 789-791.

Mineralogy and Petrology: 40: 127-136.

Internet Links for Cornetite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Cornetite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cornetite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
      • Mt Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
          • Cloncurry
    		Tony Parker collection
        • Selwyn District
    		[UKJMM 19:24]
    Chile
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Chañaral Province
        • El Salado
          • Mantoverde district
    		C. Lemanski collection (7198 & 7201CL).
      • Copiapó Province
        • Cachiyuyo de Llampos district
          • Carrera Pinto
    		maurizio dini collection - analysed material
    • Coquimbo Region
      • Choapa Province
        • Combarbalá
          • La Isla de Cogotí
    		samples analysed by Dr. Hubert Putz, Geological Department of Salzburg University, may 2009
      • Elqui Province
        • Brillador district
    		C. Ruiz Fuller/F. Peebles (1988): \"Yacimientos metalíferos de Chile\": Fondecyt, Stgo de Chile.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Kambove
    		L. Kruszewski collection
          • Likasi
          • Luambo
          • Swambo
    		Lapis 17(3), 13-40 (1992)
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
    		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: 176 & 790.
    Lapis 17(3), 13-40 (1992)
        • Western area
          • Kolwezi
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Freiburg im Breisgau
          • Schauinsland Mt.
            • Schauinsland Pb-Zn mining District
              • Hofsgrund (South field)
    		S. Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    S. Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Namaqualand
        • Okiep Copper District
          • Springbok
    		Thomas Kleser collection; Leon Hupperichs collection
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Huelva
        • Minas de Riotinto
    		Bocamina, (4), (1999) 50-86.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Pima Co.
        • Tucson Mts
          • Amole District
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 121, 146, 187, 277; Khin, B.S. (1970), Cornetite from SAginaw Hill, AZ, Min.Rec.: 1: 117-118.
              • Amole Mine group
    		Mineralogy of Arizona, Third Edition, 1995
    • Colorado
      • Montrose Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Lyon Co.
        • Yerington District
          • Artesia Lake
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    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: 790; Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 31, Minerals of Nevada.
    No reference listed
    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: 790.
      • Pershing Co.
        • Antelope 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: 861; Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 31: Minerals of Nevada.
      • Washoe Co.
        • Peavine District
          • Copperfield area
    		NBMG Bull 70 Geology and Mineral Resources of Washoe and Storey Counties, Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Grant Co.
        • Burro Mountains District
          • Tyrone Area
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. ed., 1996
    Zambia
     
    • Copperbelt Province
      • Ndola
    		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: 790.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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