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Chalcomenite

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Lichtenberg open cast, Ronneburg U deposit, Gera, Thuringia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Chalcomenite Photos (27)
Formula:
Cu[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Intense blue; pale blue ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2 - 2½
Name:From the Greek χαλκος = "copper," and μήυη (for σελήυη) = the "moon."
Dimorph of:Clinochalcomenite
This page provides mineralogical data about Chalcomenite.

Classification of Chalcomenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/K.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JH.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
H : Selenites without additional anions, with H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:34.2.2.1
Dana 8th edition ID:34.2.2.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
2 : A(XO3)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.1.1

28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
1 : Selenites
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Type Occurrence of Chalcomenite

Type Locality:Cerro de Cacheuta, Sierra de Cacheuta, Mendoza, Argentina
Year of Discovery:1881

Occurrences of Chalcomenite

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in Cu-Se bearing deposits

Physical Properties of Chalcomenite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Intense blue; pale blue in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.35 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.4 g/cm3
Comment:Measured value on Hiaco Mine material.

Crystallography of Chalcomenite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):2 2 2 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:P21 21 21
Cell Parameters:a = 6.67Å, b = 9.19Å, c = 7.38Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.726 : 1 : 0.803
Unit Cell Volume:V 452.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals minute, acicular [001]. The prismatic faces are often striated or rounded.

Optical Data of Chalcomenite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.712 nβ = 1.732 nγ = 1.732
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

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

Chemical Properties of Chalcomenite

Formula:
Cu[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, Se
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, Se

Relationship of Chalcomenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.JH.10Ahlfeldite
(Ni,Co)[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
4.JH.10Clinochalcomenite
Cu[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
4.JH.10Cobaltomenite
Co[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
4.JH.15Mandarinoite
Fe
 
2
Se
 
3
O
 
9
·4H
 
2
O
4.JH.20Orlandiite
Pb
 
10
(SeO
 
4
)O
 
7
Cl
 
4
·H
 
2
O
4.JH.25Larisaite
Na(H
 
3
O)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(SeO
 
3
)O
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
28.1.2Clinochalcomenite
Cu[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
28.1.3Francisite
Cu
 
3
Bi(SeO
 
3
)
 
2
O
 
2
Cl
28.1.4Sophiite
Zn
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|SeO
 
3
]
28.1.5Molybdomenite
PbSeO
 
3
28.1.6Haynesite
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
(SeO
 
3
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
28.1.7Derriksite
Cu
 
4
UO
 
2
(SeO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
28.1.8Marthozite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(SeO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
28.1.9Guilleminite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(SeO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
28.1.10Demesmaekerite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
5
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(SeO
 
3
)
 
6
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
28.1.11Mandarinoite
Fe
 
2
Se
 
3
O
 
9
·4H
 
2
O
28.1.12Cobaltomenite
Co[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
28.1.13Ahlfeldite
(Ni,Co)[SeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
34.2.2.2Teineite
Cu[TeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Chalcomenite

Other Languages:
German:Chalcomenit
Japanese:カルコメナイト
Russian:Халькоменит
Spanish:Calcomenita
Chalcomenita

Other Information

Other Information: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 Chalcomenite

Reference List:Des Cloizeaux and Damour (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 51, 164.

Friedel and Sarasin (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 176, 225.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 980.

Groth, P. (1908) Chemische Krystallographie. Leipzig. 5 volumes: vol. 2: 300.

Goldschmidt, V. (1913) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 2: 132.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 55.

Palache, C. (1937) American Mineralogist: 22: 790, 1123.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 638-639.

Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 24: 287-298.

Internet Links for Chalcomenite

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    Localities for Chalcomenite

    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.
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    (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
     
    • La Rioja
    		Recursos Minerales de la Republica Argentina, E. O. Zappettini Ed., Buenos Aires 1999 ISSN 0328-2325
    Sarp, H. & G.Burri, Schweiz. Mineral.Petrogr. Mitt. 67, 219-223(1987)
    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: 639.
    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: 639.
        • Sierra de Cacho
    No reference listed
      • Sierra de Cacheuta
    		Des Cloizeaux and Damour (1881) Bull. Soc. Fr. Min.: 4: 51, 164; 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: 639.
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Chayanta Province
        • Pakajake Canyon (Pacajake Canyon)
    		[MinRec 32:476]
      • Quijarro Province
    		[MinRec 21:141]
    Canada
     
    • Saskatchewan
      • Beaverlodge Region
        • Goldfields District
          • Beaverlodge Lake
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    China
     
    • Hubei Province
      • Enshi (E'xi) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Enshi Co.
          • Shuanghe
    		Hanjie Wen, Carignan, J., Yuzhuo Qiu, and Shirong Liu (2006): Environmental Science and Technology 40(4), 1126-1132.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Javorník
    		Sejkora J., Škoda R., Pauliš P. 2006: Selenium mineralization of the uranium deposit Zálesí, Rychlebské Hory Mts., Czech Republic. Mineralogia Polonica - Special Papers, vol. 28, 196-198
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Western area
          • Kolwezi
    		[MinRec 20:280]
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Saint-Amant-Tallende
          • Olloix
    		H. Agrinier and J. Geffroy : "Les Minéraux Séléniés du Point Uranifère de Liauzun-en-Olloix (Puy de Dôme) : Clausthalite, Sélénium Natif, Sélénite de Plomb et Chalcoménite", Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral. Cristallogr., 1967, XC, N°3, 383-386
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Lautenthal
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Kerry
    		Francis, J.G. & Ryback, G. (1987) Mineralogical Mag., 51, 751.
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Cagliari Province
        • Villaputzu
    		Pasero M. & Perchiazzi N.(1989): Chalcomenite from Baccu Locci, Sardinia, Italy: mineral data and structure refinement. N. Jb. Miner., Mh., H. 12, 551-556 and [AmMin 85:1563]; Campostrini, I. & Gramaccioli, C. M. (2001): Selenium-rich secondary minerals from the Baccu Locci mine (Sardinia, Italy). Neues Jahrbuch fuer Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 177, 37-59.
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
        • Moctezuma
    		Panczner(1987):108-401.
    Sweden
     
    • Östergötland
      • Valdemarsvik
    		Sandström, F. (2007): Skrikerum. Litiofilen 24 (1), 22-38
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
              • Botallack Mine
    		[Golley & Williams, 1995, 15 - "Cornish Mineral Reference Manual"]
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Dragoon Mts
          • Middle Pass District
    		[MinRec 11:265]
            • Middlemarch Mine (Missouri Mine)
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 164.
    • Colorado
      • Moffat Co.
        • Skull Creek District (Blue Mountain District)
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • San Miguel Co.
        • Uravan District
    		Self collected by Brent Thorne and EDS and XRD analyzed.
    • Nevada
      • Pershing Co.
        • Antelope District
    		[MinRec 24:176, 16:63]
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • La Sal Quadrangle
    		Self collected by Brent Thorne
    Mineral and/or Locality
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