Mindat Logo

Ceruleite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
Al
 
7
[(OH)
 
13
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 11.5H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Turquoise-blue.
Name:From the Latin caeruleus, for "sky-blue" in allusion to its common colour.


Incorrect spelling is céruléite (Burke, 2008).

Classification of Ceruleite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.20-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DE.25

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:42.13.6.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.1.14

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
1 : Arsenates of Cu
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-933.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Ceruleite

Type Locality:Emma Luisa Mine, Guanaco (Huanaco), Santa Catalina, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

Physical Properties of Ceruleite

Colour:Turquoise-blue.
Density (measured):2.803 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ceruleite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Morphology:Massive, compact and clay-like. Composed of extremely minute rod-like crystals.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.296 (75)
5.926 (70)
5.650 (l00)
4.877 (50)
4.760 (70)
3.545 (60)
3.235 (50)
2.984 (50)

Optical Data of Ceruleite

Type:Biaxial
Dispersion:r < v weak

Chemical Properties of Ceruleite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
Al
 
7
[(OH)
 
13
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 11.5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, As, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, As, Cu, H, O

Relationship of Ceruleite 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.20Zapatalite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
· 4H
 
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:

- +
20.1.1Lammerite
Cu
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.1.2Olivenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
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
20.1.15Chenevixite
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 Ceruleite

Synonyms:
CéruléiteCoerulite
Other Languages:
German:Ceruléit
Céruleit
Spanish:Ceruléita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in acids.
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 Ceruleite

Reference List:Dufet, M. H. (1900): Sur une nouvelle espèce minérale, la céruléite. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie 23, 147-150. (as Céruléite)

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.: 927-928.

Schmetzer, K., Berdesinski, W., Bank, H., Kroužek E. (1976): Neue Untersuchungen an Ceruleit. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, 1976, 418-425.

American Mineralogist (1987): 62: 598.

Burke, E. A. J. (2008): Tidying up Mineral Names: An IMA scheme for Suffixes, Hyphens and Diacritical Marks. Mineralogical Record, 39, 131-135.

Internet Links for Ceruleite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Ceruleite on Google
  • Look for Ceruleite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Ceruleite on Webmineral
  • Look for Ceruleite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Ceruleite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Ceruleite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Ceruleite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Ceruleite specimens
  • Find Ceruleite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Ceruleite

    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.
    (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
     
    • Western Australia
      • Pilbara Region
        • Ashburton Shire
    [MinRec 24:203]
            • Anticline prospect
    Mineralogical Record 24,203-216,218.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Santa Catalina
    No reference listed
    maurizio dini collection - quantitative analysis
    Dufet (1900) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 23: 147 (as Céruléite); 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.: 928..
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Collahuasi district
    A.Molina & M. Dini collections
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Var
        • Pradet
    [UKJMM 2:11-15 "Cap Garonne Secondary Copper and Lead - W.R. van den Berg"]
    Portugal
     
    • Évora District
      • Estremoz
    Rui Nunes September 2008 (as per Christian Rewitzer)
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Marble Hall
        • Stavoren - Mutue tin field
    Rick Turner
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Camborne - Redruth - St Day District
          • Gwennap area
            • Carharrack
              • West Clifford United Mines
    T Hardman Collection (visual identification)
    No reference listed
            • St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines)
    [Embrey & Symes, 1987, 93 - "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon"]
    No reference listed
    Lapis 11(2), 38 (1986)
          • Troon-Lanner area
            • Lanner
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 12th Oct 2009 21:22:07