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

Zapatalite

Big Photo

Miguel Vacas Mine, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
© Brent Thorne

Show Zapatalite Photos (19)
Formula:
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Pale blue
Hardness:1½
Name:Named after Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919), peasant hero of the Mexican revolution. He was the Mexican rebel leader who stated that "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." He was a former sharecropper who organized and led peasants during the battles of the Mexican Revolution.


Zapatalite Group

Classification of Zapatalite

IMA status:Approved 1971
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.20-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DE.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 3:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.5.3.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)7(XO4)3Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.2.7

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-4386.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Zapatalite

Type Locality:Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1972

Physical Properties of Zapatalite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Pale blue
Streak:Pale blue
Hardness (Mohs):1½

Crystallography of Zapatalite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 15.22Å, c = 11.52Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.757
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,668.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Zapatalite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.646 nε = 1.635
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

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

Chemical Properties of Zapatalite

Formula:
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Cu, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cu, H, O, P

Relationship of Zapatalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.DE.05Senegalite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DE.10Fluellite
Al
 
2
[F
 
2
|OH|PO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DE.15Bulachite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|AsO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DE.25Ceruleite
Cu
 
2
Al
 
7
[(OH)
 
13
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 11.5H
 
2
O
8.DE.35Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
11
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 32H
 
2
O
8.DE.40Juanitaite
Bi(Cu,Ca,Fe)
 
10
[(OH)
 
11
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.2.1Libethenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.2.2Cornetite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
19.2.3Reichenbachite
Cu
 
5
[OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
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
19.2.8Turquoise
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 Zapatalite

Synonyms:
IMA1971-023
German names:
Zapatalit
Spanish names:
Zapatalita

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 Zapatalite

Reference List:Williams, S. A. (1972): Zapatalite, a new mineral from Sonora, Mexico. Mineralogical Magazine: 38: 541-544.

American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 1911-1912.

Articles/Blogs about Zapatalite

Internet Links for Zapatalite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Zapatalite on Google
  • Look for Zapatalite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Zapatalite on Webmineral
  • Look for Zapatalite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Zapatalite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Zapatalite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Zapatalite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Zapatalite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Search for Zapatalite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Find Zapatalite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Zapatalite specimens
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
    • 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 Zapatalite

    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
     
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • South Flinders Ranges
          • Wilmington
    		P. Elliott & U. Kolitsch (X-ray powder diffraction + SEM-EDS)
    Austria
     
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Brixlegg - Schwaz area
    		Lapis 19(7/8):13-78 (1994)
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
    		No reference listed
      • Cerro Morita
    		[Min Mag 38 (1972), 541; Am. Min., 57, 1911-1912 (1972) ; MinRec 5:40]
    Portugal
     
    • Évora District
      • Vila Viçosa
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
        • Snowstorm Mountains District
    		Photos in mindat galleries. Material collected 2007 by Jim McGlasson.
      • Lander Co.
    		NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    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.