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Chalcocyanite

Big Photo

Treschina fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough (North Breach), Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Chalcocyanite Photos (7)
Formula:
CuSO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, light green, ...
Hardness:3½
Name:From the Greek for "copper" and "azure-blue" in allusion to the composition and the property of its turning blue when exposed to moist air.
This page provides mineralogical data about Chalcocyanite.

Classification of Chalcocyanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/A.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.AB.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:28.3.3.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : AXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.2.1

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag
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Occurrences of Chalcocyanite

Geological Setting:Sublimates near volcanic fumaroles.

Physical Properties of Chalcocyanite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, light green, brownish, yellowish, sky-blue; colourless in transitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Density (measured):3.65(5) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.89 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chalcocyanite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.709(1) Å, b = 8.409(1) Å, c = 4.833(1) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.798 : 1 : 0.575
Unit Cell Volume:V 272.66 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals frequently tabular {010} and slightly elongated [001].
Crystal Atlas:
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Chalcocyanite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Chalcocyanite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.724(3) nβ = 1.733(3) nγ = 1.739(3)
2V:Measured: 70° , Calculated: 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.015

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v medium
Comments:2V (measured) is large

Chemical Properties of Chalcocyanite

Formula:
CuSO
 
4
Essential elements:Cu, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, O, S
Analyical Data:Very hygroscopic. Readily soluble in water.
Relationship of Chalcocyanite to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
7.AB.05Mikasaite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AB.05Millosevichite
(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
7.AB.10Zinkosite
ZnSO
 
4
7.AB.10Ferrotellurite
FeTeO
 
4 
(?)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
25.2.2Bonattite
CuSO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.3Chalcanthite
CuSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.2.4Boothite
CuSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.2.5Dolerophanite
Cu
 
2
[O|SO
 
4
]
25.2.6Antlerite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.7Brochantite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
]
25.2.8Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
25.2.9Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.11Kröhnkite
Na
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.12Natrochalcite
NaCu
 
2
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.13Piypite
K
 
2
Cu
 
2
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
25.2.14Fedotovite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.15Cyanochroite
K
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.16Euchlorine
KNaCu
 
3
[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
25.2.17Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
25.2.18Leightonite
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
Cu(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
25.2.19Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.2.20Cyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
25.2.21Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
25.2.22Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.23Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
25.2.24Ransomite
CuFe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.2.26Klyuchevskite
K
 
3
Cu
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[O|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
25.2.27Poitevinite
(Cu,Fe,Zn)SO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.2.28Argentojarosite
AgFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
Other Names for Chalcocyanite
Synonyms:
HydrocyanHydrocyaniteHydrokyaniteIdrociano
Other Languages:
German:Chalcocyanit
Hydrocyanit
Hydrokyanit
Russian:Халькоцианит
Spanish:Chalcocyanita
Hydrocyanita
Hydrokyanita
Other Information
Other Information:Extremely hygroscopic. Readily soluble in water. Turns blue on exposure and may crumble to a powder of chalcanthite.
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 Chalcocyanite
Reference List:Scacchi (1873) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Att., Naples: 5: 26 (as Idrociano).



Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 912.



Posnjak and Tunell (1929) American Journal of Science: 18: 27.



Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana, second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 158.



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: 429-430.



Wildner, M. and Giester, G. (1988) Crystal structure refinements of synthetic chalcocyanite (CuSO4) and zincosite (ZnSO4). Mineralogy and Petrology: 39: 201-209.



Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 129.
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    Localities for Chalcocyanite
    






    


    

    
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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.

    El Salvador
     
    

    • Sonsonate Department
    
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 36
    Germany
     
    

    • Thuringia
    

      • Gera
    

        • Ronneburg U deposit
    
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Italy
     
    

    • Campania
    

      • Naples Province
    

        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    
    		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: 429, 552, 571.
    Russia
     
    

    • Far-Eastern Region
    

      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    

        • Tolbachik volcano
    

          • Great Fissure (Main Fracture) eruption
    

            • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
    

    






              • Second scoria cone
    

    USA
     
    

    • Nevada
    

      • White Pine Co.
    
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    

    


    

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