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Cuprocopiapite

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

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, 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

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.

Articles/Blogs about Cuprocopiapite

Internet Links for Cuprocopiapite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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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.
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    (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
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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