Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Dolerophanite

Big Photo

Treschina fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Dolerophanite Photos (6)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark brown, nearly ...
Hardness:3
Name:From the Greek δολερός for "fallacious," and φαιυεσθαι "to appear," since its appearance does not suggest its composition.
This page provides mineralogical data about Dolerophanite.

Classification of Dolerophanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/B.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.BB.20

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:30.2.2.1

30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.5

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1302.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Dolerophanite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:As a sublimate.
Year of Discovery:1873
Geological Setting of type material:Active volcanic fumaroles.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
EuchlorineEriochalciteChalcocyanite

Occurrences of Dolerophanite

Geological Setting:Active volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Dolerophanite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Dark brown, nearly black; yellow-brown in transmitted light.
Streak:Yellowish-brown
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Perfect
On {_101}, perfect.
Density (measured):4.17 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.16 g/cm3
Comment:Measured values on artificial crystals.

Crystallography of Dolerophanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m (B1 1 2/m) [C2/m] {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.35Å, b = 6.31Å, c = 7.62Å
β = 122.29°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.482 : 1 : 1.208
Unit Cell Volume:V 380.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals commonly elongated [010], and more or less tabular on {_101}; small. Faces in the zone [010] commonly striated [010]; other faces smooth and lustrous.

Optical Data of Dolerophanite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.715 nβ = 1.820 nγ = 1.880
2V:Measured: 85° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.165

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = = Dark brown
Y = b = Brownish yellow
Z ^c-10° = Lemon-yellow

Chemical Properties of Dolerophanite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Cu, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, O, S

Relationship of Dolerophanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.BB.05Caminite
Mg
 
7
[(OH)
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
] · H
 
2
O
7.BB.10Hauckite
Fe
3+
3
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
24
Zn
 
18
[(OH)
 
81
|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
]
7.BB.15Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
7.BB.25Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
7.BB.30Vergasovaite
Cu
 
3
[O|SO
 
4
|(MoO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)]
7.BB.35Klebelsbergite
Sb
 
4
[O
 
4
|(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
]
7.BB.40Schuetteite
Hg
2+
3
[O
 
2
|SO
 
4
]
7.BB.45Paraotwayite
Ni(OH)
 
2-x
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
0.5x
7.BB.50Xocomecatlite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|TeO
 
4
]
7.BB.55Pauflerite
(V
4+
 
O)[SO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.2.1Chalcocyanite
CuSO
 
4
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.2.4Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.12Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.18Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.23Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Dolerophanite

Synonyms:
DolerophanDolerophane
Other Languages:
German:Dolerophanit
Italian:Dolerophano
Russian:Долерофанит
Spanish:Dolerophanita

Other Information

Other Information:Slowly decomposed by cold water, leaving a blue solution and residue; also decomposed by moist air.
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 Dolerophanite

Reference List:Scacchi (1873) Acc. Napoli, Att.: 5: 26 (as Dolerophano).

Goldschmidt, V. (1886) Index der Krystallformen der Mineralien. 3 volumes: vol. 1, 601pp.: 511.

Strandmark (1902) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 36: 457.

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana. second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 161.

Richmond and Wolfe (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 606.

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.: 551-553.

Acta Crystallographica: 16: 1009-1014.

Articles/Blogs about Dolerophanite

Internet Links for Dolerophanite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Dolerophanite on Google
  • Look for Dolerophanite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Dolerophanite on Webmineral
  • Look for Dolerophanite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Dolerophanite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Dolerophanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Dolerophanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Dolerophanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Dolerophanite specimens
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Search for Dolerophanite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Find Dolerophanite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Dolerophanite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Note Min.(1873): 1, 22; Atti R. Accad. Sci. fis. mat., Napoli (1873) 5, 22; Lapis (1994): 5: 13-23, 58; 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: 429, 552, 571.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
        • Tolbachik volcano
          • Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption
            • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
              • Second scoria cone
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.