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Mitscherlichite

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Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© Brent Thorne 2008




Formula:
K
 
2
CuCl
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Greenish-blue; ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2½
Name:
For German crystallographer and chemist Eilhard Mitscherlich (1794-1863), Professor of Chemistry in the University of Berlin, Germany, who discovered the phenomena of isomorphism and polymorphism, and who first prepared the compound.
This page provides mineralogical data about Mitscherlichite.

Classification of Mitscherlichite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/C.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CJ.15

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
J : With MX6 complexes; M = Fe, Mn, Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:11.3.2.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
3 : AmBX4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.2.12

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

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:Stalactites
Year of Discovery:1925
Geological Setting of type material:Floor of an active volcanic crater.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SylviteMetavoltineGypsum

Physical Properties of Mitscherlichite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Greenish-blue; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Density (measured):2.418 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.41 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mitscherlichite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.45Å, c = 7.9Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.06
Unit Cell Volume:V 438.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals pyramidal {011}, or short prismatic [001].
Twinning:On {011} (artificial material).

Optical Data of Mitscherlichite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.637 nε = 1.615
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

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

Chemical Properties of Mitscherlichite

Formula:
K
 
2
CuCl
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cl, Cu, H, K, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, Cu, H, K, O

Relationship of Mitscherlichite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CJ.05Chlormanganokalite
K
 
4
[MnCl
 
6
]
3.CJ.05Rinneite
K
 
3
Na[FeCl
 
6
]
3.CJ.10Erythrosiderite
K
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(OH
 
2
)]
3.CJ.10Kremersite
(NH
 
4
,K)
 
2
[Fe
3+
 
Cl
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
3.CJ.20Douglasite
K
 
2
[Fe
2+
 
Cl
 
4
(OH
 
2
)
 
2
]
3.CJ.25Redikortsevite
(NH
 
4
)MgCl
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
3.CJ.30Zirklerite
(Fe,Mg,Ca)
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
18
(OH)
 
12
 · 14H
 
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
8.2.7Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
Cl
 
2
O
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
8.2.13Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
Cl
 
10
O

Other Names for Mitscherlichite

Other Languages:
German:Mitscherlichit
Russian:Митчерлихит
Spanish:Mitscherlichita

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 Mitscherlichite

Reference List:

- +
Wyrouboff (1887) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 10: 125.

Zambonini and Carobbi (1925) Ann. R. Osservat Vesuviano: (3): 2: 7.

Hendricks and Dickinson (1927) Journal of the American Chemical Society: 48: 2149.

Chrobak (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 88: 35.

Acta Crystallographica: 26: 827-830.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 100-101.

Internet Links for Mitscherlichite

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

    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.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Zambonini and Carobbi (1925) Ann. R. Osservat. Vesuviano: III, 2, 7; 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: 101; Lapis 1994: 5: 13-23, 58.
    Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI
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