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Eriochalcite

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La Vendida Mine (Rio Tinto Mine), Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
CuCl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Bluish green, greenish ...
Hardness:2½
Name:From the Greek έριου, wool, and χαλκός, copper, in allusion to the form of aggregation of the original Vesuvius material.


A secondary, water-soluble mineral.

Classification of Eriochalcite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/A.12-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.BB.05

3 : HALIDES
B : Simple halides, with H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:9.2.8.1

9 : NORMAL HALIDES
2 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.2.3

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
2 : Halides of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Eriochalcite

Type Locality:Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1870
Geological Setting of type material:Active volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Eriochalcite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Bluish green, greenish blue, yellowish tint at times.
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {110} perfect; on {001} good.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.47 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.55 g/cm3

Crystallography of Eriochalcite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.41Å, b = 8.09Å, c = 3.74Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.916 : 1 : 0.462
Unit Cell Volume:V 224.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Lichen-like aggregates of crystals elongated [01]. The center of these aggregates is occupied by small, deeply grooved spire-like cvrystals, often bent or entirely recurved as with gypsum "flowers"; wool-like aggregates.
Twinning:On {021}, as nearly rectangular penetration twins.

Optical Data of Eriochalcite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.646 nβ = 1.685 nγ = 1.745
2V:Measured: 75° , Calculated: 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.099

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Eriochalcite

Formula:
CuCl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cl, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu, H, O

Relationship of Eriochalcite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.BB.10Rokühnite
FeCl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.BB.15Bischofite
MgCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.BB.20Nickelbischofite
NiCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.BB.25Sinjarite
CaCl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.BB.30Antarcticite
CaCl
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.BB.35Tachyhydrite
CaMg
 
2
Cl
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.2.1Nantokite
CuCl
8.2.2Tolbachite
CuCl
 
2
8.2.4Atacamite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
8.2.5Paratacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
8.2.6Botallackite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
8.2.7Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
Cl
 
2
O
8.2.8Calumetite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.2.9Anthonyite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.2.10Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
(OH)
 
7
Cl · nH
 
2
O
8.2.11Marshite
CuI
8.2.12Mitscherlichite
K
 
2
CuCl
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.2.13Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
Cl
 
10
O

Other Names for Eriochalcite

Synonyms:
AntofagastiteEriocalciteErythrocalcite
Other Languages:
German:Antofagasit
Eriochalcit
Erythrochalcit
Italian:Eriocalco
Russian:Эриохальцит
Spanish:Antofagasita
Eriochalcita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in water to a pale blue solution and in NH4OH to an intense blue solution.
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 Eriochalcite

Reference List:

- +
Scacchi (1884) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples: 23: 158 (as Eriocalco).

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 174 (as Erythrocalcite).

Groth, P. (1898) Tabellarische Übersicht der Mineralien nach ihren krystallographish-chemischen Beziehungen. Braunschweig. 4th. edition: 52 (as Erythrochalcit).

Harker (1936) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 93: 136.

Palache, C. and Foshag (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 85 (as Antofagastite).

Frondel, C. (1950) Mineralogical Magazine: 29: 34.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 44-46.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 189: 13-15.

Internet Links for Eriochalcite

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    • Localities for Eriochalcite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
      • Andamooka Ranges - Lake Torrens area
        • Stuart Shelf area
          • Mt Gunson
    		Noble R.J., Just J. and Johnson J. E., 1983, Catalogue of South Australian Minerals:1983, Government Printer, Adelaide.; Noble R.J., Just J. and Johnson J. E., 1983, Catalogue of South Australian Minerals-1983, Government Printer, Adelaide.
      • Yorke Peninsula
        • Moonta
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Fischbacher Alpen
        • St. Jakob-Breitenau
          • Hochlantsch
    		Bojar, H.-P. et al. (1993)
    Chile
     
    [Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		 Malcherek, T. & Schlüter, J. (2010): Anatacamite from La Vendida mine, Sierra Gorda, Atacama desert, Chile: a triclinic polymorph of Cu2(OH)3Cl. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, 187, 307-312.
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
            • Toki Cu deposit (Toki Cluster)
    		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: 45; 45, 75, 374.
    Hungary
     
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Recsk
    		No reference listed
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		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: 45, 429, 552, 571.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    		Diederik Visser List #39, July 2006
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Pinal Co.
        • Casa Grande
    		Grant, Raymond W., Bideaux, R.A., and Williams, S.A. (2006) Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995-2005: 4.
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
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