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

Kolwezite

Big Photo

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

Show Kolwezite Photos (17)
Formula:
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
System:TriclinicHardness:4


Probably 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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2243.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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.25UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClH
Ca
 
10
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
 
2
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
Other Languages:
German:Koluezit
Kolwezit
Spanish:Koluezita
Kolwezita

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.

Perchiazzi, N. & Merlino, S. (2006): The malachite-rosasite group: crystal structures of glaukosphaerite and pokrovskite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 18, 787-792. [with comments on probable structure of kolwezite]

Internet Links for Kolwezite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Kolwezite on Google
  • Look for Kolwezite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Kolwezite on Webmineral
  • Look for Kolwezite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Kolwezite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Kolwezite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Kolwezite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Kolwezite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for - Kolwezite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Kolwezite specimens
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

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

    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] (Kamariza)
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Hinsdale Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 5th Nov 2009 21:18:36