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Aubertite

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Big Photo

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

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Formula:
CuAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Azure-blue.
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2 - 3
Member of:Aubertite Group
Name:Named for J. Aubert (1929-), French geophysicist who collected the mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aubertite.

Classification of Aubertite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.07-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DB.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations; insular octahedra and finite units
Dana 7th edition ID:31.9.8.1
Dana 8th edition ID:31.9.8.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:26.9

26 : Sulphates with Halide
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Type Occurrence of Aubertite

Type Locality:Queténa Mine (Queténa Prospect), Toki Cu deposit (Toki Cluster), Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Year of Discovery:1978

Physical Properties of Aubertite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Azure-blue.
Streak:(not reported)
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3

Crystallography of Aubertite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.28Å, b = 13.23Å, c = 6.28Å
α = 91.17°, β = 94.67°, γ = 82.45°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.475 : 1 : 0.475
Unit Cell Volume:V 515.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Aubertite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.462 nβ = 1.482 nγ = 1.495
2V:Measured: 71° , Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.033

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 Aubertite

Formula:
CuAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Cl, Cu, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cl, Cu, H, O, S

Relationship of Aubertite to other Species

Member of:Aubertite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Magnesioaubertite
(Mg,Cu)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
Svyazhinite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 14H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DB.05Magnesioaubertite
(Mg,Cu)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
7.DB.05Svyazhinite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 14H
 
2
O
7.DB.10Khademite
Al(SO
 
4
)F · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.10Rostite
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.15Jurbanite
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.20Minasragrite
(V
4+
 
O)(SO
 
4
) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.20Orthominasragrite
(V
4+
 
O)(SO
 
4
) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.20Anorthominasragrite
(V
4+
 
O)(SO
 
4
) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DB.25Bobjonesite
(V
4+
 
O)(SO
 
4
) · 3H
 
2
O
7.DB.30Amarantite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 7H
 
2
O
7.DB.30Hohmannite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 8H
 
2
O
7.DB.30Metahohmannite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 4H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Aluminocopiapite
Al
 
2/3
Fe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Calciocopiapite
CaFe
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Copiapite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Cuprocopiapite
CuFe
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Ferricopiapite
Fe
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
O(OH) · 20H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Magnesiocopiapite
MgFe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
7.DB.35Zincocopiapite
ZnFe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 18H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
26.1Kogarkoite
Na
 
3
(SO
 
4
)F
26.2Sulphohalite
Na
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
FCl
26.3Schairerite
Na
 
3
(SO
 
4
)(F,Cl)
26.4Galeite
Na
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
F
 
4
Cl
26.5Connellite
Cu
 
19
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
32
Cl
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
26.6Chlorothionite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
26.7Kamchatkite
KCu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
OCl
26.8Spangolite
Cu
 
6
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
Cl · 3H
 
2
O
26.10Magnesioaubertite
(Mg,Cu)Al(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 14H
 
2
O
26.11Svyazhinite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 14H
 
2
O
26.12D'Ansite
Na
 
21
Mg(SO
 
4
)
 
10
Cl
 
3
26.13Anhydrokainite
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl
26.14Kainite
KMg(SO
 
4
)Cl · 3H
 
2
O
26.15Mosesite
(Hg
 
2
N)(Cl,SO
 
4
,MoO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
26.16Kleinite
(Hg
 
2
N)(Cl,SO
 
4
) · nH
 
2
O
26.17Wilcoxite
MgAl(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 18H
 
2
O
26.18Creedite
Ca
 
3
SO
 
4
Al
 
2
F
 
8
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
26.19Lannonite
HCa
 
4
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
9
 · 32H
 
2
O
26.20Chukhrovite-(Y)
Ca
 
3
(Y,Ce)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
26.21Chukhrovite-(Ce)
Ca
 
3
(Ce,Y)[F|SO
 
4
|(AlF
 
6
)
 
2
] · 10H
 
2
O
26.22Grandreefite
Pb
 
2
(SO
 
4
)F
 
2
26.23Pseudograndreefite
Pb
 
6
(SO
 
4
)F
 
10
26.24Sundiusite
Pb
 
10
(SO
 
4
)O
 
8
Cl
 
2
26.25Caracolite
Na
 
3
Pb
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
26.26Mammothite
Pb
 
6
Cu
 
4
AlSb
5+
 
O
 
2
(OH)
 
16
Cl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
26.27Atlasovite
K(BiO)Cu
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
O
 
3
Cl
26.28Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)Cl · 6H
 
2
O
26.29Nabokoite
KCu
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)OCl

Other Names for Aubertite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-051
Other Languages:
German:Aubertit
Russian:Обертит
Simplified Chinese:水氯铝铜矾
Spanish:Aubertita

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 Aubertite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 65: 205.

Acta Crystallographica: B50: 481-510.

Internet Links for Aubertite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Aubertite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Aubertite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Aubertite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Find Aubertite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
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  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
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    • Localities for Aubertite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • San Juan
      • La Alcaparrosa
    		Gunnar Farber
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter, Curator of Hamburg Mineralogical Museum, Germany
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
            • Toki Cu deposit (Toki Cluster)
    		Bull.Min.(1979) 102, 348-350
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Sounion Area
            • Agia Varvara Mines (St Barbara Mines)
    		No reference listed
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Medio Campidano Province
        • Furtei
    		Da Pelo, S. & Frau, F (2000):, Magnesian aubertite, (Cu,Mg)Al(SO4)2Cl·14H4O, from the gold mine of Furtei in Sardinia, Italy. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, 2000(6), 279-288.
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
              • Porto Levante
    		P.Forti, M.Panzica La Manna and A.Rossi (1994) The peculiar mineralogic site of the Alum cave (Vulcano, Sicily). Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology November 1994 p.35-44.
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Rio Marina
    		Rolf Luetcke specimen
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