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Tyrolite

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Farbište, Poniky, Banská Bystrica Co., Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia
© Martin Števko

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Formula:
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
8
 · 11H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Turquoise-blue, ...
Hardness:1½ - 2
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Falkenstein near Schwaz, Tyrol, Austria.


A secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits.

Material from the type locality is monoclinic (P2/c; polytype tyrolite-1M); a C-centred monoclinic polytype also exists at the type locality and is called tyrolite-2M (Krivovichev et al., 2006). The status of 'clinotyrolite' (published without IMA approval) is presently not fully clear although the unit cell given for clinotyrolite is close to that of tyrolite-1M.
The presence of polytypes in tyrolite was already inferred from optical properties by Wieser & Zabinski (1986).

Note: Not all "tyrolites" may contain CO3 groups (see also Church, 1895) and some may be identical with the closely related fuxiaotuite (which contains no carbonate but sulphate instead).

Tyrolite may be confused with theisite and claraite.



Classification of Tyrolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.54-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DM.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
M : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.4.3.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.4.5

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
4 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with carbonate
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Type Occurrence of Tyrolite

Type Locality:Falkenstein, Falkenstein District, Schwaz, Brixlegg - Schwaz area, Inn valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Year of Discovery:1845

Physical Properties of Tyrolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Aggregates silky at times; pearly on {001}.
Colour:Turquoise-blue, blue-green; light bluish green in transmitted light.
Streak:Paler than unpowdered colour.
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
In [001], well-defined.
Density (measured):3 - 3.2 g/cm3
Comment:3.25 (Tintic material).

Crystallography of Tyrolite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 27.562(3) Å, b = 5.5682(7) Å, c = 10.4662(15) Å
β = 98.074(11)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 4.95 : 1 : 1.88
Unit Cell Volume:V 1590.3 ų
Morphology:Crystals tiny pseudo-hexagonal twinned aggregates flattened on {010} and bounded laterally by {100}. Radiated groups, columnar; dendritic forms; commonly as fan-shaped and closely foliated aggregates; crusts and reniform masses with a radiated foliaceous structure and a drusy surface; divergent fibrous.
Twinning:On {101}, repeated, yielding pseudo-hexagonal aggregates.
Comment:Space group P2/c (1M-polytype); cell parameters of 2M-polytype (C2/c) are: a = 54.520(6), b = 5.5638(6), c = 10.4647(10) Å, beta = 96.432(9)°, V = 3154.4(6) Å3.

Optical Data of Tyrolite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.694 nβ = 1.726 nγ = 1.730
2V:Measured: 33° to 39°, Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.036

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:relatively strong
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X = b = Pale grass-green
Y = c = Pale yellowish green
Z = a = Pale grass-green

Chemical Properties of Tyrolite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
8
 · 11H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, C, Ca, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:As, C, Ca, Cu, H, O
Common Impurities:S,O

Relationship of Tyrolite to other Species

Common Associates:
MalachiteLimoniteErythriteCupriteChrysocolla
AzuriteAurichalcite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DM.05Morinite
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)F
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DM.05Esperanzaite
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)F
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DM.10Clinotyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,O)
 
10
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.DM.15Betpakdalite-CaCa
[Ca
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
17
Ca(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][Mo
6+
8
As
5+
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
36
(OH)]
8.DM.15Melkovite
[Ca
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
15
Ca(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][Mo
 
8
P
 
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
36
(OH)]
8.DM.15Betpakdalite-NaCa
[Na
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
17
Ca(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][Mo
6+
8
As
5+
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
34
(OH)
 
3
]
8.DM.20Phosphovanadylite-Ba
Ba[V
4+
4
P
 
2
O
 
8
(OH)
 
8
]·12H2O
8.DM.20Phosphovanadylite-Ca
Ca[V
4+
4
P
 
2
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
] · 12H
 
2
O
8.DM.25Yukonite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
 
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DM.30Uduminelite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DM.35Delvauxite
CaFe
 
4
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 4-6H
 
2
O not confirmed ·
8.DM.40Santafeite
(Na,Ca,Sr)
 
12
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
8
Mn
4+
8
(VO
 
4
)
 
16
(OH,O)
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.4.1Bradleyite
Na
 
3
Mg(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
22.4.2Kovdorskite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 3H
 
2
O
22.4.3Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH,O)
22.4.4Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(F,O)
22.4.6Heneuite
CaMg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
22.4.7Girvasite
NaCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
22.4.8Daqingshanite-(Ce)
(Sr,Ca,Ba)
 
3
(Ce,La)(CO
 
3
)
 
3-x
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
 
2x
22.4.9Gartrellite
Pb(Cu,Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
22.4.10Voggite
Na
 
2
Zr(PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
22.4.11Bonshtedtite
Na
 
3
Fe
2+
 
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)

Other Names for Tyrolite

Synonyms:
AphrochalciteCopper frothKupaphriteLeirochroiteTrichalcite
Other Languages:
Catalan:Tirolita
Dutch:Tyroliet
German:Aphrochalcit
Kupaphrit
Kupferschaum
Leirochroit
Tirolit
Trichalcit
Tyrolit
Italian:Tirolite
Slovak:Tirolit
Spanish:Afrocalcocita
Kupaphrita
Leirochroita
Tirolita
Trichalcita
Tyrolita

Polytypes for Tyrolite

Polytypes:
Tyrolite-1MTyrolite-2M

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in cold HCl. Soluble 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 Tyrolite

Reference List:

- +
Werner (as Kupferschaum).

Hoffmann, C.A.S. (1816) Handbuch der Mineralogie volume 3A and 3B: 3: 180 (as Kupferschaum).

Hoffmann, C.A.S. (1817) Handbuch der Mineralogie volume 4A: 19, 50 (as Kupferschaum).

Shepard C.U. (1832) Treatise on Mineralogy. First edition: vol. 1, New Haven: 1: 294 (as Kupaphrite).

Haidinger (1845) Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Vienna: 509 (as Tirolit).

Hermann (1858) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 73: 212 (as Trichalcite).

Hillebrand and Washington (1888) American Journal of Science: 35: 301.

Hillebrand and Dana (1890) American Journal of Science: 39: 273.

Church, A.H. (1895) A chemical study of some native arsenates and phosphates. Mineralogical Magazine, 11, 1-12.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 144, 147.

Hintze, Carl (1931) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4B]: 1078.

Wolfe (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 799.

Berry (1948) American Mineralogist: 33: 193 (abstract).

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.: 739-740 (as Trichalcite), 925.

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1956): 79: 7.

Wieser, T. & Zabinski, W. (1986): Copper arsenate and sulphate minerals from Miedzianka near Kielce (Poland). Mineralogica Polonica 17 (1), 17-42. [gives detailed optical property data]

Kloprogge, J. T. and Frost, R. L. (2000): Raman microscopy study of tyrolite: a multi-anion arsenate mineral. Appl. Spectrosc. 54, 517-521.

Krivovichev, S. V., Chernyshov, D. Yu., Döbelin, N., Kahlenberg, V., Tessadri, R., Armbruster, T. and Kaltenhauser, G. (2005): The crystal structure of tyrolite, Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8(H2O)10: synchrotron X-ray diffraction study. Mitt. Österr. Mineral. Ges. 151, 74.

Krivovichev, S.V., Chernyshov, D. Yu., Dobelin, N., Armbruster, Th., Kahlenberg, V., Kaindl, R., Ferraris, G., Tessadri, R., Kaltenhauser, G. (2006). Crystal chemistry and polytypism of tyrolite. American Mineralogist, 91, 1378-1384.

Internet Links for Tyrolite

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