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Natrochalcite

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Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
© Brent Thorne

Show Natrochalcite Photos (16)
Formula:
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Bright green; green in ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:4½
Name:In allusion to the composition, containing sodium (Latin = NATRium) and copper (CHALCo-)
This page provides mineralogical data about Natrochalcite.

Classification of Natrochalcite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.18-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DF.15

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:31.8.1.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.12

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
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Type Occurrence of Natrochalcite

Type Locality:Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

Physical Properties of Natrochalcite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Bright green; green in transmitted light.
Streak:Greenish white
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}, perfect.
Density (measured):3.47 - 3.51 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.54 g/cm3

Crystallography of Natrochalcite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Morphology:Crystals pyramidal {111}. {110} commonly well-developed, but faces of the remaining forms are usually small and often not present in their full complement; cross-fiber veinlets.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Natrochalcite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.649 nβ = 1.655 nγ = 1.714
2V:Measured: 36° , Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.065

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

Chemical Properties of Natrochalcite

Formula:
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, Na, O, S

Relationship of Natrochalcite to other Species

Member of:Tsumcorite Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DF.05Uklonskovite
NaMg[F|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.10Kainite
KMg[Cl|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.20Metasideronatrite
Na
 
4
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
7.DF.20Sideronatrite
Na
 
2
Fe(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OH·3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Despujolsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
4+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Fleischerite
Pb
 
3
Ge[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Schaurteite
Ca
 
3
Ge[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.25Mallestigite
Pb
 
3
Sb
5+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|AsO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DF.30Slavíkite
(H
 
3
O
+
 
)
 
3
Mg
 
6
Fe
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
18
·99H
 
2
O
7.DF.35Metavoltine
Na
 
6
K
 
2
FeFe
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
O
 
2
·18H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Lannonite
HCa
 
4
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
9
·32H
 
2
O
7.DF.40Vlodavetsite
AlCa
 
2
[F
 
2
|Cl|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DF.45Peretaite
Ca(SbO)
 
4
[(OH)|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DF.50Gordaite
NaZn
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|Cl] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DF.55Clairite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Fe
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
7.DF.60Arzrunite
near Cu
 
4
Pb
 
2
SO
 
4
Cl
 
6
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
7.DF.65Elyite
Pb
 
4
Cu(SO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.DF.70Yecoraite
Fe
3+
3
(BiO)
 
5
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
7.DF.75Riomarinaite
Bi(OH)(SO
 
4
) * H
 
2
O
7.DF.80Dukeite
Bi
 
24
Cr
6+
8
O
 
57
(OH)
 
6
(H
 
2
O)
 
3
7.DF.85Xocolatlite
Ca
 
2
Mn
4+
2
Te
6+
2
O
 
12
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.2.1Chalcocyanite
CuSO
 
4
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.2.4Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.2.5Dolerophanite
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.18Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.23Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2

Other Names for Natrochalcite

Other Languages:
German:Natrochalcit
Russian:Натрохальцит
Spanish:Natrochalcita

Other Information

Other Information:Slowly soluble in water. Readily 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 Natrochalcite

Reference List:Palache, C. and Warren (1908) American Journal of Science: 26: 342.

Palache, C. and Warren (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 45: 534.

Palache, C. (1939) American Journal of Science: 237 451.

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.: 602-603.

Periodico di Mineralogia (1969): 38: 355.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1989): 187: 239.

Internet Links for Natrochalcite

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    Localities for Natrochalcite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Baquedano
    		Anthonyt, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy" Vol V, P. 485.
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
    		American Journal of Science, series 4 (1908): 26: 342; 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: 603.
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Capoliveri
            • Cape Calamita Mine (Calamita Mine)
    		F. Quagliarella (1966) - Su alcuni solfati di Capo Calamita (Isola d'Elba) - Rend. Soc. Min. It., 22: 210.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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