Mindat Logo

Glaukosphaerite

Formula:
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
System:MonoclinicHardness:3 - 4


Rosasite Group.

Classification of Glaukosphaerite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.01-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BA.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
Dana 8th edition ID:16a.3.1.3

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.14.8

11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1711.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Glaukosphaerite

Type Locality:Durkin shaft, Hampton East Location, Kambalda Nickel deposit, Kambalda, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1974

Physical Properties of Glaukosphaerite

Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4

Crystallography of Glaukosphaerite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.34Å, b = 11.93Å, c = 3.07Å
β = 91°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.783 : 1 : 0.257
Unit Cell Volume:V 342.03 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Glaukosphaerite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.690 nβ = 1.830 nγ = 1.830
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.140

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

Chemical Properties of Glaukosphaerite

Formula:
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
Essential elements:C, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Cu, H, Ni, O

Relationship of Glaukosphaerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
5.BA.05Azurite
Cu
 
3
[OH|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.10Georgeite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 6H
 
2
O
5.BA.10Kolwezite
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Malachite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Nullaginite
Ni
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Pokrovskite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Rosasite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Zincrosasite
(Zn,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Chukanovite
Fe
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.15Aurichalcite
(Zn,Cu)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.15Hydrozincite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.20Holdawayite
Mn
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
5.BA.25Defernite
Ca
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2-x
(SiO
 
4
)
 
x
(OH)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
 
1-2x
(x=0.5)
5.BA.30Loseyite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
7
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.30Sclarite
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
4
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
11.14.1Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
11.14.2Kolwezite
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.14.3Nullaginite
Ni
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.14.4Hellyerite
NiCO
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
11.14.5Otwayite
Ni
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
11.14.6Zaratite
Ni
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
11.14.7Kambaldaite
NaNi
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
11.14.9Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
11.14.10Reevesite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.14.11Comblainite
(Ni
 
x
,Co
 
1-x
)(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
(1-x)/2
·nH
 
2
O
11.14.12Szymańskiite
Hg
 
16
(Ni,Mg)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
12
(OH)
 
12
(H
 
3
O)
 
8
·3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Glaukosphaerite

Synonyms:
GlaucosphaeriteIMA1972-028
German names:
GlaukosphaeritGlaukosphärit
Spanish names:
Glaukosphaerita

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 Glaukosphaerite

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 737-743.

Canadian Mineralogist: 14: 574-576.

Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 315-324.

Internet Links for Glaukosphaerite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite on Google
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite on Webmineral
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Glaukosphaerite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Glaukosphaerite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Glaukosphaerite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Search for Glaukosphaerite on minvision.com
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Glaukosphaerite specimens
  • Search for Glaukosphaerite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Find Glaukosphaerite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Glaukosphaerite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Coolgardie Shire
        • Kambalda
          • Kambalda Nickel deposit
            • Hampton East Location
    MM 1974, 737-43
      • Kalgoorlie
        • Goongarrie
      • Widgiemooltha
    No reference listed
    Austria
     
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Brixlegg - Schwaz area
            • Brixlegg - Rattenberg
              • Geyer - Silberberg District
    Lapis 19(7/8):13-78 (1994)
    Schnorrer, G. and Poeverlein, R. (2002) Schwaz-Brixlegg-Fundstellen: 2. Die Minerale des Stockerstollens bei Brixlegg in Tirol. Aufschluss, 53, 209-228.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Swambo
    Lapis 17(3), 13-40 (1992)
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Pyrénées-Orientales
        • Céret
          • Oms
    Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, 2007, 95, 3-24.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Siegerland
        • Siegen
          • Achenbach
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    No reference listed
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Aichi prefecture
          • Shinshiro city
    Matsubara, S. and Kato A. (1993) Jour. Japan Ass. Min. Petr. Econ. Geol., 88(11), 515-524 (in japanese).
    Romania
     
    CanMin 40:1693-1703.
      • Nucet
        • Băiţa Mining District (Baita Bihor; Rézbánya)
          • Codreanu Mine
    Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 40, pp. 1693-1703 (2002)
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Mabilikewe Hill
    Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Bunkerville District
          • Whitney Pocket Basin
    Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999.
    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.