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Kolwezite

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Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© Steve Rust

Show Kolwezite Photos (15)
Formula:
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
System:TriclinicHardness:4


Rosasite Group.

Classification of Kolwezite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.01-50
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.3.1.7

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.14.2

11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Kolwezite

Type Locality:Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1980

Physical Properties of Kolwezite

Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Kolwezite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.5Å, b = 12.15Å, c = 3.18Å
α = 93.32°, β = 90.74°, γ = 91.47°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.782 : 1 : 0.262
Unit Cell Volume:V 366.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Kolwezite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 1.688 nγ = 1.900
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.212

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

Chemical Properties of Kolwezite

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

Relationship of Kolwezite 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.10Glaukosphaerite
(Cu,Ni)
 
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
11.14.3Nullaginite
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
11.14.8Glaukosphaerite
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
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 Kolwezite

Synonyms:
IMA1979-017Koluezite
German names:
KoluezitKolwezit
Spanish names:
KoluezitaKolwezita

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 Kolwezite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 1067.

Bulletin de Mineralogie (1980): 103: 179-184.

Internet Links for Kolwezite

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    Localities for Kolwezite

    (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.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Western area
          • Kolwezi
            • Kamoto
    		Gauthier, G. & Deliens, M. (1999): Cobalt minerals of the Katanga Crescent, Congo. Mineralogical Record 30 (4): 255-273
    No reference listed
    [MinRec 22:13-20,28]
    Gauthier, G. & Deliens, M. (1999): Cobalt minerals of the Katanga Crescent, Congo. Mineralogical Record 30 (4): 255-273
    Bull.Minéral.(1980) 103, 179-184
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamareza; Kamariza)
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Hinsdale Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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