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Melanothallite

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Big Photo

Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Melanothallite Photos (3)



Formula:
Cu
 
2
Cl
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Black, bluish black
Name:From the Greek for "black" and a "young shoot," for the mineral’s property of turning green on exposure.
This page provides mineralogical data about Melanothallite.

Classification of Melanothallite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.01-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DA.05

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:10.4.4.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
4 : A2(O,OH)Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.2.7

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

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1870
Associated Minerals at type locality:
EuchlorineEriochalciteDolerophaniteChalcocyanite

Physical Properties of Melanothallite

Colour:Black, bluish black
Comment:Changes to green colours upon exposure.

Crystallography of Melanothallite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.59Å, b = 9.69Å, c = 7.46Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.99 : 1 : 0.77
Unit Cell Volume:V 693.24 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Melanothallite

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

Relationship of Melanothallite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DA.10aAtacamite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10bBotallackite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10bClinoatacamite
Cu
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10aHibbingite
Fe
2+
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10aKempite
Mn
2+
2
(OH)
 
3
Cl
3.DA.10cParatacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10bBelloite
Cu(OH)Cl
3.DA.10cHerbertsmithite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cKapellasite
Cu
 
3
Zn(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cGillardite
Cu
 
3
Ni(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10cHaydeeite
Cu
 
3
Mg(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10dAnatacamite
Cu
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
3
3.DA.15Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
(OH)
 
7
Cl · nH
 
2
O
3.DA.15Barlowite
Cu
 
4
BrF(OH)
 
6
3.DA.20Simonkolleite
Zn
 
5
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Buttgenbachite
Cu
 
19
(NO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Connellite
Cu
 
19
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.30Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
3.DA.35Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
Cl
 
10
O
3.DA.40Anthonyite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.40Calumetite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.45Khaidarkanite
Na
 
0.34
Cu
 
4
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
14
F
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.50Bobkingite
Cu
 
5
Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.55Avdoninite
K
 
2
Cu
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Cl
 
8
 · H
 
2
O
3.DA.60Droninoite
Ni
 
3
Fe
3+
 
Cl(OH)
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.2.1Nantokite
CuCl
8.2.2Tolbachite
CuCl
 
2
8.2.3Eriochalcite
CuCl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
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
8.2.8Calumetite
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 Melanothallite

Synonyms:
MelanotalloMelanothallite (of Scacchi)
Other Languages:
German:Melanothallit
Russian:Меланоталлит
Spanish:Melanothallita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water. Changes to a green, more highl;y hydrated substance (hydromelanothallite) upon exposure.
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 Melanothallite

Reference List:

- +
Scacchi, A. (1870) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: 9: 86.

Scacchi (1884) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: 10: 158.

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana. second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 111-112.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 44.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 852.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 111: 562-565.

Internet Links for Melanothallite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Melanothallite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Melanothallite

    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.
    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: 429, 571.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
        • Tolbachik volcano
          • Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption
            • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
              • Second scoria cone
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
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