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Delafossite

Big Photo

Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Delafossite Photos (17)
Formula:
CuFeO
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Black, brown-white in ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:5½
Name:After G. Delafosse (1796-1878), French mneralogist.
This page provides mineralogical data about Delafossite.

Classification of Delafossite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/A.05-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.AB.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
Dana 8th edition ID:7.1.1.1

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
1 : ABX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.3.6

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Delafossite

Type Locality:Mednorudyanskoye Cu Deposit, Nizhnii Tagil, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1873

Physical Properties of Delafossite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Black, brown-white in reflected light
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
{101¯0}
Density (measured):5.41 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.52 g/cm3

Crystallography of Delafossite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:a = 3.04Å, c = 17.12Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 5.632
Unit Cell Volume:V 137.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals tabular {0001} to equant, with {0001} and {101¯1} as dominant forms. Botryoidal crusts.
Twinning:Contact twins on {0001} noted.

Optical Data of Delafossite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:Rose brown-white
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O = light golden-brown
E = darker rose-brown

Chemical Properties of Delafossite

Formula:
CuFeO
 
2
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, O
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, O

Relationship of Delafossite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.AB.05Crednerite
CuMnO
 
2
4.AB.10Tenorite
CuO
4.AB.15Mcconnellite
CuCrO
 
2
4.AB.20Bromellite
BeO
4.AB.20Zincite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
4.AB.25Bunsenite
NiO
4.AB.25Lime
CaO
4.AB.25Manganosite
MnO
4.AB.25Monteponite
CdO
4.AB.25Periclase
MgO
4.AB.25Wüstite
FeO
4.AB.30Palladinite
PdO
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.3.1Cuprite
Cu
 
2
O
7.3.2Tenorite
CuO
7.3.3Paramelaconite
CuCu
 
2
O
 
3
7.3.4Spertiniite
Cu(OH)
 
2
7.3.5Crednerite
CuMnO
 
2
7.3.7Cuprospinel
Cu
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
O
 
4

Other Names for Delafossite

German names:
Delafossit
Russian names:
Делафоссит
Spanish names:
Delafossita

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 Delafossite

Reference List:Friedel (1873), Comptes rendus, Académie des sciences, Paris: 77: 211.

Rogers (1913), American Journal of Science: 35: 290.

Pabst (1938), American Mineralogist: 23: 175.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 674-675.

Acta Crystallographica: C47: 2644-2646.

Internet Links for Delafossite

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

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Santa Cruz
      • Macizo del Deseado
    		Brodtkorb (2002): Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
      • Mt Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
          • Cloncurry
    		No reference listed
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • South Flinders Ranges
          • Wilmington
    		No reference listed
      • Mt Lofty Ranges
        • South Mt Lofty Ranges
          • Clarendon
    		Kolitsch, U. and Elliott, P. (1999): Mineralogy of the Mount Malvern Mine near Clarendon, South Australia. Australian J. Mineral. 5, 3-17.
    • Tasmania
      • Queenstown district
    		Ralph Bottrill et al in prep.
    Bottrill RS & Baker, WE (in prep) Catalogue of Minerals of Tasmania. Mineral Resources Tasmania
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Friesach - Hüttenberg area
        • Hüttenberg
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    Ettinger, K., Mörtl, J., (1993): Delafossit vom Hüttenberger Erzberg, (Ma. Waitschach), Kärnten, Österreich, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 44, 39-43
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Stubach valley
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    Belgium
     
    • Luxembourg Province
      • Stavelot Massif
    		No reference listed
    China
     
    • Hubei Province
      • Huangshi Prefecture
        • Daye Co.
          • Edong Mining District
    		Collection of NHM, Vienna
    • Jiangxi Province
      • Jiujiang Prefecture
        • Jiujiang Co.
          • Jiurui Mining District
    		http://www.smartminerals.com/cina2004/art_Jiangxi.htm
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Qamdo (Changdu) Prefecture
        • Jomdo (Jiangda) Co.
    		Gu, X.X., Tang, J.X., Wang, C.S., Chen, J.P., and He, B.B. (2003): Mineralogy and Petrology 78, 1-20
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1060/PorCu.txt
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Štěpánov nad Svratkou
    		Velebil, D., Kráčmar, L.: Ložisko Borovec u Štěpánova (štěpánovský revír). Minerál, 2002, roč. 10, č. 3, s. 163-181.
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Bas-Rhin
        • Villé Valley
    		Wittern, Journée: "Mineralien finden in den Vogesen", von Loga (Cologne), 1997
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Aude
        • Carcassonne
          • Mas-Cabardès
            • Salsigne
    		 Le Règne Minéral, Hors série (3), 36-54
        • Narbonne
          • Tuchan
            • Padern
    		Favreau, G., Berbain, C. & Meisser, N. (2003): Cyanophyllite et autres minéraux rares de Padern (Aude). Le Cahiers des Micromonteurs, 82(4), 17-23.
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Tarn
        • Alban
          • Paulinet
            • Saint-Jean-de-Jeannes
    		desescaut.jy@voila.fr
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Alpes-Maritimes
        • Puget-Théniers
          • La-Croix-sur-Roudoule
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, J. Féraud, J. Vernet : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 4 : Alpes-Maritimes", BRGM, 1974
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Freudenstadt
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
    K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
        • Gengenbach
          • Haigerach valley
    		Wittern,A. (1995) Mineralien finden im Schwarzwald
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
            • Heubach Valley
    		No reference listed
    K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Oberpfälzer Wald
          • Waldsassen
            • Pfaffenreuth
    		Lapis, 10 (9), 13-20+50.
    • Hesse
      • Odenwald
        • Bensheim
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Lautenthal
          • Wolfshagen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Eifel Mts
        • Düren
          • Untermaubach
    		Schachner, D., (1961): Blei-Zink-Lagerstätten im Buntsandstein der Triasmulde Maubach-Mechernich-Kall, Der Aufschluss, 10. Sonderheft
      • Siegerland
        • Eiserfeld
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
          • Kohlenbach Valley
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Gosenbach
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Müsen
    		Der Aufschluss 2000(2), 71-123
        • Niederschelden
    		Lapis, 12 (12), 23-31+42.
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Langenfeld
            • St Jost
    		Graf, HW., (1991): Die Grube Bendisberg, bei Virneburg / Eifel, Mineralien-Welt 5/91
      • Kirchheimbolanden
        • Orbis
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
      • Lahn valley
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
      • Siegerland
        • Betzdorf
          • Brachbach
    		Emser Hefte 1987(4), 62-67
          • Schutzbach
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
        • Gebhardshain
          • Kausen
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundstellen in Deutschland", 2001
        • Niederfischbach
          • Niederndorf
    		Henrich, J. M. (2007: Die Mineralien der Grube Fürst Moritz bei Niederndorf. Mineralien-Welt 18 (4), 20-26. (in German)
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamareza; Kamariza)
    		No reference listed
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Szalonnai Mts.
    		Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec., 1993
    Italy
     
    • Emilia-Romagna
      • Parma Province
        • Berceto
          • Corchia mine
    		ADORNI F., GUELFI F. (1997) - La miniera di Fe e Cu di Corchia, Berceto, Appennino Parmense. - Riv. Min. It., N. 3, 217-250.
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Borzoli
    		M.E. Ciriotti (2005) Probed
    • Lombardy
      • Brescia Province
        • Fraine
          • Pisogne Valley
    		Britvin S., Sturla M., Bonacina E., Zambetti L., 2003. Nuovi minerali della miniera del Duadello (Val Pisogne, Brescia). Riv. Mineral. Ital., 27 (2): 107-108.
      • Sondrio Province
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    • Piedmont
      • Alessandria Province
        • Voltaggio
    		Piccoli, G. C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., & Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo F. Eusebio - Alba, 607 pag.
      • Torino Province
        • Canavese District
          • Léssolo
            • Cálea
    		M.E. Ciriotti (2005) Probed
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    		Lapis, 20 (4), 13-18+50.
    Japan
     
    • Shikoku Island
      • Ehime Prefecture
        • Niihama
    		Minakawa & Dehara (2005) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 150.
    Luxembourg
     
    • Goesdorf commune
      • Goesdorf
    Mexico
     
    • Durango
      • Mun. de Mapimí
        • Buruguilla
    		Panczner(1987):105-373.
        • Mapimí
    		Rocks & Min.: 56:247.
    • Sonora
      • Sonoripa District
    		Dana 7:I:674.
    Mongolia
     
    • Bulgan Aimag
      • Darkhan
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Nizhnii Tagil
    		No reference listed
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Gelnica ore belt
    		Pauliš P., Ďuďa R., 2002: Nejzajimavejší mineralogická nalezište Slovenska. Kuttna, Kutná Hora, 134p.
    Háber,M., 1980: Mineralogische – geochemische und paragenetische Erfoschung hydrotermaler Gänge im Gebiet zwischen Prakovce und Kojšov (SGR). Záp.Karpáty – sér. Miner.,petrograf.,geochém., metalog., 7 – 131
        • Medzev
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
        • Rožňava (Rozsnyo; Rosenau) Mining District
    		Pauliš P., Ďuďa R., 2002:Nejznámejší mineralogická nalezište Slovenska. Kuttna, Kutná Hora, 136p
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Seville
        • El Pedroso
    		Dana 7:I:674.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Penzance - Ludgvan Area
            • Marazion
    		BMS Database
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Dubacher Canyon
    		MRDS database Dep. ID file #10096107, MRDS ID #TC40403.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
    		No reference listed
              • Queen Hill
    		MRDS database Dep. ID file #10046248, MRDS ID #M241115.
    Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 108.
      • Graham Co.
        • Gila Mts
          • Lone Star District
            • Safford
    		MRDS database Dep. ID #10026888, MRDS ID #M000791.
      • Pinal Co.
        • Mineral Creek District (Ray District)
          • Hot Tamale Peak
            • Ray
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 200; Jones, R.W. & W.E. Wilson (1983), The Ray mine, Min.Rec.: 14(5): 311-322.
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Black Hills (Black Hill Range)
          • Verde District
            • Jerome
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 200.
    • California
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Clark Mts
    		[Mineralien Welt 1/93:44]
    • Idaho
      • Lemhi Co.
        • Eureka District
          • Salmon
            • Sal Mountain
    		Dana 7:I:675.
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
      • Lyon Co.
        • Yerington District
          • Yerington
    		Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
      • Pershing Co.
        • Antelope District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • White Pine Co.
        • Robinson District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    AmMin 7:102-103 (1922).
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
          • Tripp-Veteran pit
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Sierra Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
          • Chloride
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
      • Socorro Co.
    		[MinRec 20:24]
    Min Rec 20:1 pp13-24
    Mineral and/or Locality
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