Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Reichenbachite

Big Photo

Point 5.0, Borstein, Reichenbach, Bensheim, Odenwald, Hesse, Germany
© 2006 D. Schläfli

Show Reichenbachite Photos (27)
Formula:
Cu
 
5
[OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark green
Lustre:VitreousHardness:3½
Name:Named after its discovery locality.
This page provides mineralogical data about Reichenbachite.

Classification of Reichenbachite

IMA status:Approved 1985
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.11-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BD.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.4.3.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.2.3

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3385.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Reichenbachite

Type Locality:Point 8.0, Borstein, Reichenbach, Bensheim, Odenwald, Hesse, Germany
Year of Discovery:1987

Physical Properties of Reichenbachite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Dark green
Hardness (Mohs):3½

Crystallography of Reichenbachite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.186(2) Å, b = 10.684(2) Å, c = 4.461(2) Å
β = 92.31(1)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.86 : 1 : 0.418
Unit Cell Volume:V 437.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Lancet-shaped crystals.
Comment:SG P21/a

Optical Data of Reichenbachite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.782 nβ = 1.833 nγ = 1.867
2V:Measured: 76° , Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.085

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

Chemical Properties of Reichenbachite

Formula:
Cu
 
5
[OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, P

Relationship of Reichenbachite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.BD.05Cornubite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.05Cornwallite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.05Ludjibaite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.05Pseudomalachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.10Arsenoclasite
Mn
2+
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.10Gatehouseite
Mn
2+
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BD.15Parwelite
(Mn,Mg,Ca)
 
5
Sb(As,Si)
 
2
O
 
12
8.BD.20Reppiaite
Mn
2+
5
[(OH)
 
2
|VO
 
4
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.2.1Libethenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.2.2Cornetite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
19.2.4Ludjibaite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.5Pseudomalachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.6Nissonite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.2.7Zapatalite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.8Turquoise
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.9Sieleckiite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.2.10Planerite
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4 H
 
2
O
19.2.11Hentschelite
CuFe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.13Chalcosiderite
Cu(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.14Phosphofibrite
KCuFe
3+
15
(PO
 
4
]
 
12
(OH)
 
12
 · 12H
 
2
O ?

Other Names for Reichenbachite

Synonyms:
IMA1985-044
German names:
Reichenbachit
Spanish names:
Reichenbachita

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 Reichenbachite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 115-121.

Sieber, N.H.W., Tillmanns, E. and Medenbach, O. (1987) Hentschelite, CuFe2(PO4)2(OH)2, a new member of the lazulite group, and reichenbachite, Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4, a polymorph of pseudomalachite, two new copper phosphate minerals from Reichenbach, Germany. American Mineralogist 72, 404-408.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1991): 281.

Braithwaite, R. S. W. and Ryback, G. (1994): Reichenbachite from Cornwall and Portugal. Mineral. Mag., 58, 449-454.

Articles/Blogs about Reichenbachite

Internet Links for Reichenbachite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Reichenbachite on Google
  • Look for Reichenbachite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Reichenbachite on Webmineral
  • Look for Reichenbachite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Reichenbachite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Reichenbachite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Reichenbachite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Reichenbachite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for Reichenbachite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Find Reichenbachite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Search for Reichenbachite on minvision.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Search for - Reichenbachite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Reichenbachite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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
     
    • Northern Territory
      • Alligator Rivers Region
        • Rum Jungle
    		Museum Victoria collection
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
            • Kipushi
    		No reference listed
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Gengenbach
          • Haigerach valley
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Hesse
      • Odenwald
        • Bensheim
          • Gadernheim
    		Am Min 79:764-765.
          • Reichenbach
            • Borstein
    		P Haas collection (specimen no. 72-170)
    No reference listed
            • Hohenstein
    		Lapis 25(2), 13-30 (2000)
    No reference listed
      • Taunus Mts
        • Emmershausen
    		www.haldengraeber.de/Homepage/Fundstellen/Deutschland/Taunus/Silbergaut/Silbergaut.html
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Siegerland
        • Gebhardshain
          • Kausen
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundstellen in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony
      • Vogtland
        • Falkenstein
          • Bergen
    		T. Witzke (1994) Lapis 19(10), 36-39
    Portugal
     
    • Évora District
      • Évora
      • Vila Viçosa
    		Braithwaite, R. S. W. and Ryback, G. (1994): Reichenbachite from Cornwall and Portugal. Mineral. Mag., 58, 449-454.
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Western Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Ľubietová (Libetbánya; Libethen) ore belt
    		No reference listed
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Namaqualand
        • Okiep Copper District
          • Springbok
    		Leon Hupperichs collection
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Callington District
          • Gunnislake Area
    		Braithwaite, R. S. W. and Ryback, G. (1994): Reichenbachite from Cornwall and Portugal. Mineral. Mag., 58, 449-454; [R.Tayler pers. comm.]
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Bradshaw Mts (Bradshaw Range)
          • Agua Fria District
            • Mayer
    		Grant, Raymond W., Bideaux, R.A., and Williams, S.A. (2006) Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995-2005: 7.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.