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Cuprocopiapite

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Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© Brent Thorne

Show Cuprocopiapite Photos (5)
Formula:
CuFe
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
·20H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Yellow-orange, ...
Lustre:PearlyHardness:2½ - 3
Name:In allusion to the composition as the copper dominant (CUPRO) member of the COPIAPITE group.


Copiapite Group.

Classification of Cuprocopiapite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/0.0-60
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 8th edition ID:31.10.5.3

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : Miscellaneous
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Type Occurrence of Cuprocopiapite

Type Locality:Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Boston Ma, USA 99048, 99060
Year of Discovery:1938

Occurrences of Cuprocopiapite

Geological Setting:Mineral is formed by the reaction of copper sulfate solutions and copiapite in arid environments.

Physical Properties of Cuprocopiapite

Lustre:Pearly
Colour:Yellow-orange, greenish-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Imperfect on {101}
Density (measured):2.23 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.26 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cuprocopiapite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.34Å, b = 18.19Å, c = 7.28Å
α = 93.88°, β = 101.5°, γ = 99.38°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.404 : 1 : 0.4
Unit Cell Volume:V 934.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Fine-grained lumpy aggregates.

Optical Data of Cuprocopiapite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.558 nβ = 1.575 nγ = 1.620
2V:Calculated: 63°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.062

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:Strong r > v
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:Shades of green

Chemical Properties of Cuprocopiapite

Formula:
CuFe
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
·20H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, H, O, S
Empirical Formula:
CuFe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
·20H
 
2
O

Relationship of Cuprocopiapite to other Species

Member of Group:
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.35Copiapite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
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

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water.
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 Cuprocopiapite

Reference List:Bandy (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 737-739.

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

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.

Internet Links for Cuprocopiapite

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

    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
     
    • South Australia
      • Olary Province
        • Mingary
          • Pine Creek - Mutooroo area
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Cerritos Bayos
          • Chuquicamata 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: 625; Canadian Mineralogist (1985): 23: 53.
      • Tocopilla Province
    China
     
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Prefecture
        • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Co.
    		Ying-Xia Xu, Ke-Zhang Qin, Kui-Shou Ding, Yu Miao, Tong-Hui Fang, Xing-Wang Xu, and He Sun (2007): Mineral Deposits [Kuangchuang Dizhi] 26(1), 58-69.
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
            • Bisbee
              • Calumet and Arizona group of claims (Calumet and Arizona Mining Company group of claims)
    		Grant, Raymond W., Richard A. Bideaux & Sidney A. Williams (2006), Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995 to 2005: 3.
    • California
      • Amador Co.
        • Ione
    		Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 273, 274.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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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: 10th Oct 2009 06:13:30