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Chrysocolla

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About ChrysocollaHide

Formula:
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Colour:
Green, bluish green, blue, blackish blue to black, or brown and rarely yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Hardness:
2½ - 3½
Specific Gravity:
1.93 - 2.4
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
The name was first used by Theophrastus in 315 B.C. and comes from the Greek "chrysos", meaning "gold," and "kolla", meaning "glue," in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold. André-Jean-François-Marie Brochant de Villiers revived the name in 1808.
A mineral of secondary origin, commonly associated with other secondary copper minerals, it is typically found as glassy botryoidal or rounded masses or bubbly crusts, and as vein fillings. Any acicular or fibrous chrysocolla "crystals" are all pseudomorphs.

Copper-bearing allophane may look similar.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1040
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1040:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
ca881f3a-d957-43e6-a420-bedb10ceefda

IMA Classification of ChrysocollaHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Cu2-xAlx)H2-xSi2O5(OH)4 · nH2O

Classification of ChrysocollaHide

9.ED.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 7th ed.:
74.3.2.1
74.3.2.1

74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
14.2.5

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
CclIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
CclKretz (1983)Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279.
CclSiivolam & Schmid (2007)Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download
CclWhitney & Evans (2010)Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371
CclThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of ChrysocollaHide

Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Green, bluish green, blue, blackish blue to black, or brown and rarely yellow
Comment:
Please see: https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,6,371164,371218#msg-371218 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,7,377608,377668#msg-377668 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,106,353156
Streak:
Light green (unknown for black or yellow varieties)
Hardness:
2½ - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
1.93 - 2.4 g/cm3 (Measured)    

Optical Data of ChrysocollaHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.575 - 1.585 nβ = 1.597 nγ = 1.598 - 1.635
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.023 - 0.050
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate

Chemistry of ChrysocollaHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1

Crystallography of ChrysocollaHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.7 Å, b = 8.9 Å, c = 6.7 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.64 : 1 : 0.753
Unit Cell V:
339.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Most often found as cryptocrystalline to amorphous botryoidal aggregates and crusts. Crystals reported as fine acicular to fibrous, very rare.
Twinning:
None reported.
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
17.9 Å(80)
7.9 Å(60)
4.45 Å(20)
4.07 Å(60)
2.90 Å(80)
2.56 Å(70)
1.602 Å(40)
1.486 Å(100)
Comments:
Broad, low-intensity peaks. Weaker lines often diffuse. The pattern is fairly characteristic.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals]
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins<0.4
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55)
Geological Setting:
Found in the oxidation zone of copper deposits, often encrusting or replacing earlier secondary minerals.

Synonyms of ChrysocollaHide

Other Language Names for ChrysocollaHide

Varieties of ChrysocollaHide

Aluminian ChrysocollaAn Al-bearing variety of chrysocolla.
Aluminian Ferrian ChrysocollaAn Al- and Fe-bearing variety of chrysocolla.
Cornuite (of Rogers)Described as "Amorphous equivalent of chrysocolla."
CyanochalcitePhosphorus rich
PilariteAl-bearing variety of chrysocolla.
TraversoiteAl-bearing variety of chrysocolla.

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1,824 photos of Chrysocolla associated with MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
1,243 photos of Chrysocolla associated with QuartzSiO2
453 photos of Chrysocolla associated with CupriteCu2O
416 photos of Chrysocolla associated with AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
280 photos of Chrysocolla associated with CalciteCaCO3
231 photos of Chrysocolla associated with DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
187 photos of Chrysocolla associated with WulfenitePb(MoO4)
177 photos of Chrysocolla associated with TenoriteCuO
167 photos of Chrysocolla associated with AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
161 photos of Chrysocolla associated with HeterogeniteCo3+O(OH)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.ED.ClinochrysotileMon. 2/m
9.ED.05DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4Mon. m : Bb
9.ED.05KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
9.ED.05NacriteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4Mon. m : Bb
9.ED.05Odinite(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)2.4((Si,Al)2O5)(OH)4Mon. m : Bm
9.ED.10HalloysiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4Mon. m : Bb
9.ED.10HisingeriteFe3+2(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2OMon.
9.ED.10HydrohalloysiteAl2Si2O5(OH)4 · 2H2OMon. m
9.ED.15AmesiteMg2Al(AlSiO5)(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
9.ED.15AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4Mon. m : Bm
9.ED.15Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4Mon. m : Bm
9.ED.15Brindleyite(Ni,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4Mon.
9.ED.15CaryopiliteMn2+3Si2O5(OH)4Mon.
9.ED.15CronstedtiteFe2+2Fe3+((Si,Fe3+)2O5)(OH)4Trig. 3m : P3 1m
9.ED.15Fraipontite(Zn,Al)3((Si,Al)2O5)(OH)4Mon.
9.ED.15Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4Mon.
9.ED.15KellyiteMn2+2Al(AlSiO5)(OH)4Hex. 6 : P63
9.ED.15LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4Trig. 3m : P3 1m
9.ED.15ManandoniteLi2Al4(Si2AlB)O10(OH)8Orth. 2 2 2 : C2 2 21
9.ED.15NépouiteNi3Si2O5(OH)4Orth.
9.ED.15PecoraiteNi3(Si2O5)(OH)4Mon.
9.ED.15GuidottiiteMn2Fe3+(Fe3+SiO5)(OH)4Hex. 6 : P63
9.ED.15 vaChromoamesiteMg2(Al,Cr)(AlSiO5)(OH)4
9.ED.20Allophane(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2OAmor.
9.ED.20ImogoliteAl2SiO3(OH)4
9.ED.20Neotocite(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO3 · H2OAmor.
9.ED.25BismutoferriteFe3+2Bi(SiO4)2(OH)Mon. m : Bm
9.ED.25ChapmaniteFe3+2Sb3+(Si2O5)O3(OH)Mon. m : Bm
9.ED.30PianliniteAl2Si2O6(OH)2Orth.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
A very minor ore of copper.

Internet Links for ChrysocollaHide

References for ChrysocollaHide

Reference List:

Localities for ChrysocollaHide

This 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.

Locality ListShow

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