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Liroconite

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Wheal Gorland, St Day, Gwennap - St Day Area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK
© François Périnet

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Formula:
Cu
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Sky-blue to green; light ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:2 - 2½
Name:From the Greek λειρός = pale, and κουία = powder, in allusion to the colour of its streak.


A rare secondary mineral found in oxidized zones of copper deposits.

Classification of Liroconite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.20-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DF.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
F : With only medium-sized cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 > 3:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.2.1.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.1.13

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
1 : Arsenates of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Liroconite

Type Locality:Wheal Gorland, St Day, Gwennap - St Day Area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1825

Occurrences of Liroconite

Geological Setting:Oxidized zones of copper deposits.

Physical Properties of Liroconite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Sky-blue to green; light blue to light bluish green in transmitted light.
Streak:Light blue
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
On {110} and {011}, indistinct.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.9 - 3 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.97 g/cm3
Comment:Density varies with the P:As ratio. Calculated value based on P:As = 1:4.

Crystallography of Liroconite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 12.66Å, b = 7.57Å, c = 9.89Å
β = 91.25°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.672 : 1 : 1.306
Unit Cell Volume:V 947.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals thin or lenticular [001] with a flat octahedral aspect. The faces of m and e are striated parallel to their intersection edges.
Crystal Atlas:
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Liroconite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Liroconite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Structure
  Reference
Burns P C Eby R K Hawthorne F C (1991) Refinement of the structure of liroconite, a heteropolyhedral framework oxysalt mineral Locality: Roughton Gill, England. Acta Crystallographica, Section C 47:916-919.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Liroconite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.612 nβ = 1.652 nγ = 1.675
2V:Measured: 67° , Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.063

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Liroconite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, As, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, As, Cu, H, O

Relationship of Liroconite to other Species

Common Associates:
OliveniteMalachiteLimoniteCupriteChalcophyllite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DF.05Hotsonite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
21
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 16H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Bolivarite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · 4-5H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Evansite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Liskeardite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Rosièresite
(Pb, Cu, Al, P, O, H)
8.DF.15Rusakovite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
9
|(VO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DF.25Sieleckiite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DF.30Chalcophyllite
Cu
 
18
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
9
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 33H
 
2
O
8.DF.35Parnauite
Cu
 
9
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DF.40Gladiusite
Fe
 
2
(Fe,Mg)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
11
(H
 
2
O)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
20.1.1Lammerite
Cu
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.1.2Olivenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.1.3Clinoclase
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
]
20.1.4Cornwallite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.1.5Cornubite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.1.6Chlorotile (of Frenzel)
20.1.7Geminite
Cu
 
2
[As
 
2
O
 
7
] · 3H
 
2
O
20.1.8Euchroite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
20.1.9Strashimirite
Cu
 
8
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
20.1.10Arhbarite
Cu
 
2
Mg[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
]
20.1.11Lindackerite
CuCu
 
4
[HAsO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
20.1.12Conichalcite
CaCu[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.1.14Ceruleite
Cu
 
2
Al
 
7
[(OH)
 
13
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 11.5H
 
2
O
20.1.15Chenevixite
Cu
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.1.16Arthurite
CuFe
3+
2
[(OH,O)|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Liroconite

Synonyms:
CouphochloriteLenticular CopperLentil-OreLentuliteLirocone-Malachite
Octahedral Arseniate of Copper
Other Languages:
French:Cuivre Arseniaté Octaèdre obtus
German:Chalcophacit
Couphochlorit
Lentulit
Linsenerz
Linsenkupfer
Liroconit
Lirokomalachit
Lirokonit
Lirokon-malachit
Russian:Лироконит
Spanish:Couphochlorita
Lentulita
Liroconita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
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 Liroconite

Reference List:Bournon (1801) Phil. Trans.: 174 (as Octahedral Arseniate of Copper).

Rashleigh, P. (1802) Specimens of British Minerals Selected from the Cabinet of Phillip Rashleigh. London. part 2: Pl. 2, 5, 11 (as Octahedral Arseniate of Copper).

Werner (1803) (as Linsenerz).

Werner (1804) Ludwig's Min.: 2: 215 (as Linsenerz).

Karsten, D.L.G. (1808) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin, second edition: 64 (as Linsenerz).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 1051 (as Linsenkupfer).

Mohs, F. (1822) Grundriss der Mineralogie. 2 volumes, Dresden: 180 (as Lirokon-malachite).

Glocker, E.F. (1831) Handbuch der Mineralogie, Nürnberg: 859 (as Chalcophacit).

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 600.

Hermann (1844) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 33: 296.

Damour (1845) Annales de chimie et de physique, Paris: 13: 414.

Des Cloizeaux (1859): 2: 71.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 853.

Church (1895) Mineralogical Magazine: 11: 1.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 163.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 101.

Hintze, Carl (1931) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4B]: 953.

American Mineralogist (1951): 36: 484.

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.: 921-922.

Giuseppetti G., Coda A., Mazzi F., Tadini C. (1962) La struttura cristallina della liroconite Cu2Al[(As,P)O4(OH)4]*4(H2O). Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma pp. 19-42.

Burns, P. C., Eb, R. K. and Hawthorne, F. C. (1991): Refinement of the structure of liroconite, a heteropolyhedral framework oxysalt mineral. Acta Cryst. C 47, 916-919.

Articles/Blogs about Liroconite

Internet Links for Liroconite

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    Localities for Liroconite

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    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.
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    (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
      • Olary Province
        • Kalabity homestead area
    		Noble (1983): Catalogue of South Australian Minerals
    Germany
     
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Clausnitz - Sayda District
          • Sayda
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Thuringia
      • Bad Lobenstein
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
      • Vogtland
        • Hirschberg
          • Ullersreuth
    		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: 922.
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Starohorské Mts
        • Špania Dolina ore belt
    		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: 922; Koděra, M., a kol.: Topografická mineralogie Slovenska. Sv. 3 Sed-Ž, Bratislava, Veda 1990, s. 1247-1256.
      • Western Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
        • Ľubietová (Libetbánya; Libethen) ore belt
    		Pauliš,P.,Ďuďa,R.,2002: Nejzajímavejší mineralogická naletište Slovenska. Kuttna,K.Hora, 136p
        • Poniky
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cheshire
        • Alderley Edge
    		No reference listed
      • Cornwall
        • Camborne - Redruth - St Day District
          • Gwennap - St Day Area
            • Carharrack
    		[Ian Bruce, pers. comm.]
            • St Day
    		Am.Min.: 36:484 (1951); Rocks & Min.: 60(1):24.
    [Embrey & Symes, 1987, 111 - "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon"; Dana 6: 853.]
    No reference listed
        • St Ives District
          • Lelant
            • Carbis Bay
    		Collins, J.H. (1892): "A Handbook to the Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon", 2nd ed., D. Bradford Barton Ltd. (Truro, UK), pp. 108.
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
              • Botallack Mine
    		No reference listed
      • Cumbria
        • North and Western Region (Cumberland)
          • Caldbeck Fells
            • Potts Gill
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
            • Bisbee
    		Grant, Raymond W., Bideaux, R.A., and Williams, S.A. (2006) Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995-2005: 5.
    • California
    		No reference listed
    Calif. Div. of Mines & Geology Bull. #189, Murdoch, et al (1966): 50.
    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: 922; Calif. Div. of Mines & Geology Bull. #189, Murdoch, et al (1966): 50.
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Dunn(1995):Pt5:671.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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