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Olivenite

Big Photo

Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© D. Schläfli

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Formula:
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Olive green to yellow or ...
Hardness:3
Name:In allusion to its common olive-green color.


Olivenite Group. Adamite-Olivenite Series. the copper analogue of Adamite.

Note: 'Zincolivenite' or 'Zinc-olivenite' were also used for Zn-bearing olivenites with unspecified Zn:Cu ratios. Zincolivenite (with a structured ratio of Zn:Cu) is now a distinct species.

A secondary copper mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits containing arsenic-bearing phases, especially Enargite.

Classification of Olivenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.06-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BB.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.6.6.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.1.2

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

Type Locality:Carharrack Mine, Consolidated Mines, Gwennap - St Day Area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1820

Occurrences of Olivenite

Geological Setting:Commonly found in the oxidized zone of arsenic-bearing copper deposits.

Physical Properties of Olivenite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Comment:Pearly to silky if fibrous.
Colour:Olive green to yellow or brown, gray-green, grayish white; light green in transmitted light.
Comment:Straw yellow if fibrous.
Streak:Olive green to brown
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on {101} and {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.46 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Olivenite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.5894(2) Å, b = 8.2073(2) Å, c = 5.9285(1) Å
β = 90.088(3)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.047 : 1 : 0.722
Unit Cell Volume:V 417.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals elongated [100]; also short prismatic to acicular [001]; tabular on {011}, {100}, or {001}, less common. Occurs as globular or reniform masses with a fibrous structure with the fibers straight and divergent, rarely irregular; curved lamellar; massive, granular to earthy; nodular.
Twinning:On {010}
Crystal Atlas:
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Olivenite no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Olivenite no.19 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Structure
  Reference
Burns P C Hawthorne F C (1995) Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure of olivenite: A twinned monoclinic structure. The Canadian Mineralogist 33:885-888.

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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 Olivenite

Type:Biaxial (+/-)
RI values: nα = 1.747 - 1.780 nβ = 1.788 - 1.820 nγ = 1.829 - 1.865
2V:Measured: 80° to 90°, Calculated: 46° to 84°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.082 - 0.085

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:strong r > v or r < v
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:In green and yellow.
Absorption Y > X, Z.

Chemical Properties of Olivenite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
Essential elements:As, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:As, Cu, H, O
Common Impurities:Fe,P

Relationship of Olivenite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Adamite (see here)
Related to:
  • Olivenite Group
    • Common Associates:
    ScoroditeMalachiteLimoniteEnargiteAzurite
    Adamite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    8.BB.05Amblygonite
    (Li,Na)Al[(F,OH)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.05Montebrasite
    LiAl[(OH,F)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.05Tavorite
    LiFe
    3+
     
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.10Triplite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[(F,OH)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.10Zwieselite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[F|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.10IMA2004-009
    Mg
     
    2
    		[PO
     
    4
    		](OH)
    8.BB.15Sarkinite
    Mn
    2+
    2
    		[OH|AsO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.15Triploidite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.15Wagnerite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[F|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.15Wolfeite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.15Stanĕkite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)[O|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.15Joosteite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		(Mn
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[PO
     
    4
    		]O
    8.BB.20Holtedahlite
    Mg
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.20Satterlyite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[(OH,O)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.25Althausite
    Mg
     
    2
    		[(OH,F)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.30Adamite
    Zn
     
    2
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)(OH)
    8.BB.30Eveite
    Mn
    2+
    2
    		[OH|AsO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.30Libethenite
    Cu
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.30Zincolibethenite
    CuZnPO
     
    4
    		OH
    8.BB.30Zincolivenite
    CuZn(AsO
     
    4
    		)(OH)
    8.BB.35Paradamite
    Zn
     
    2
    		[OH|AsO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.35Tarbuttite
    Zn
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    8.BB.40Barbosalite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.40Hentschelite
    CuFe
    3+
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.40Lazulite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)Al
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.40Scorzalite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)Al
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.40Wilhelmkleinite
    ZnFe
    3+
    2
    		[OH|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.45Trolleite
    Al
     
    4
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    8.BB.50Namibite
    Cu(BiO)
     
    2
    		(VO
     
    4
    		)(OH)
    8.BB.55Phosphoellenbergerite
    Mg
     
    14
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(HPO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		]
    8.BB.60Urusovite
    Cu[AlAsO
     
    5
    		]
    8.BB.65Theoparacelsite
    Cu
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|As
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    8.BB.70Turanite
    Cu
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|VO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.75Stoiberite
    Cu
     
    5
    		[O
     
    2
    		|(VO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    8.BB.80Fingerite
    Cu
     
    11
    		[O
     
    2
    		|(VO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		]
    8.BB.85Averievite
    Cu
     
    6
    		[O
     
    2
    		|Cl
     
    2
    		|(VO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    8.BB.90Lipscombite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)Fe
    3+
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.BB.90Richellite
    Ca
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    10
    		[(OH,F)
     
    3
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    4
    		 · nH
     
    2
    		O (not confirmed)
    8.BB.90Zinclipscombite
    ZnFe
    3+
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    20.1.1Lammerite
    Cu
     
    3
    		[AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    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
    		]
    20.1.13Liroconite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Al[(OH)
     
    4
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    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 Olivenite

    Synonyms:
    Acicular arseniate of copperLaurochalciteOlive Copper OreOlive-green Copper OrePharmacholzite
    PharmacochalcitePharmacochalzitePharmakochalciteWood-ArsenateWood-Copper
    French names:
    Cuivre arseniaté en octaèdre aigusCuivre Arseniaté (of Bournon)
    German names:
    Arseniksaures KupfererzHolzkupfererzLaurochalcitOlivenerzOlivenit
    OlivenkupferPharmacholzitPharmacochalcitPharmacochalzitPharmacolzit
    PharmakochalcitPharmakochalzit
    Russian names:
    Оливенит
    Spanish names:
    LaurochalcitaOlivenita
    Varieties:
    Cobaltoan OliveniteLeucochalciteWood CopperZincian Olivenite

    Other Information

    Other Information:Soluble in acids and in ammonia.
    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 Olivenite

    Reference List:Klaproth (1786) Schriften der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde in Berlin: 7: 160 (as Arseniksaures Kupfererz).

    Werner (1789) Bergmaennusches Journal, Freiberg (Neues Bergmannische Journal): 382, 385 (as Olivenerz).

    Kirwan, R. (1796) Elements of Mineralogy. Second edition: 2: 151 (as Olive Copper Ore).

    Rashleigh, P. (1797) Specimens of British Minerals Selected from the Cabinet of Phillip Rashleigh. London. Part 1: pl. 11, figure 2; part 2 (1802): pl. 6 (as Olive-green Copper Ore).

    Bournon (1801) Transactions of the Royal Philosophical Society, London: 177 (as Cuivre arseniaté en octaèdre aigus).

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 3: 1042 (as Pharmacochalzit).

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 3: 1045 (as Olivenkupfer).

    Jameson, R. (1820) A System of Mineralogy, third edition, 3 volumes: 2: 335.

    Leonhard, K.C. (1821) Handbuch der Oryktognosie. First edition: 283.

    Thomson, T. (1836) Outlines of Mineralogy, Geology, and Mineral Analysis. 2 volumes, London: 1: 614.

    Hermann (1844) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 33: 291.

    Damour (1845) Annales de chimie et de physique, Paris: 13: 412.

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie, Second edition. Göttingen:
    vol. 2, in two parts: 1025 (as Pharmacolzit).

    Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 564.

    Hillebrand (1884) Proceedings of the Colorado Scientific Society: 1: 113.

    Hillebrand and Washington (1888) American Journal of Science: 35: 298.

    Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 785.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1920) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 6: 90.

    Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 116.

    Biehl (1919) Dissertation, Münster.

    Biehl (1925) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 62: 328.

    Shannon, Earl V. (1926) “The Minerals of Idaho,” U.S. National Museum Bulletin 131: 425.

    Winchell, A. (1933) Elements of Optical Mineralogy, part 2, ”Descriptions of Minerals,” third edition, 459 pp.: 132.

    Strunz (1936) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 94: 60 (Olivenite Group).

    Heritsch (1937) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 98: 351.

    Heritsch (1938) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 99: 466.

    Jarrell (1939) American Mineralogist: 24: 632.

    Heritsch (1940) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 102: 1 (Olivenite Group).

    Richmond (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 453.

    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.: 859-861.

    Canadian Mineralogist (1995): 33: 885-888.

    Acta Crystallographica: B33: 2628-2631.

    Internet Links for Olivenite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Search for Olivenite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Olivenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Olivenite

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