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Faustite

Big Photo

Unnamed quarry, Waimes (Weismes), Malmédy, Liège Province, Belgium
© JDehove

Show Faustite Photos (26)
Formula:
(Zn,Cu)Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Apple-green
Lustre:Waxy, DullHardness:5½
Name:For Dr. George Tobias Faust (1908-1985), mineralogist USGS


Turquoise Group. The zinc analogue of Turquoise.

Classification of Faustite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.15-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DD.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.9.3.3

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.6.10

19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
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Type Occurrence of Faustite

Type Locality:Copper King mine, Schroeder Mt, Maggie Creek District, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA
Year of Discovery:1953

Occurrences of Faustite

Geological Setting:Argillized shales

Physical Properties of Faustite

Lustre:Waxy, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Apple-green
Streak:White to pale yellow-green
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.92 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Faustite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.44Å, b = 9.89Å, c = 7.67Å
α = 107.75°, β = 115.65°, γ = 69.65°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.752 : 1 : 0.776
Unit Cell Volume:V 468.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Fine grained massive, nuggets, veins.

Optical Data of Faustite

Type:Biaxial (+)
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Faustite

Formula:
(Zn,Cu)Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, P, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cu, H, O, P, Zn

Relationship of Faustite to other Species

Member of Group:
Turquoise Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DD.05Chenevixite
Cu
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.DD.05Luetheite
Cu
 
2
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.DD.10Akrochordite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DD.10Guanacoite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
(Mg
 
0.5
Cu
 
0.5
)[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DD.15Aheylite
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DD.15Chalcosiderite
Cu(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DD.15Planerite
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4 H
 
2
O
8.DD.15Turquoise
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DD.20Childrenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DD.20Eosphorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Al[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DD.20Ernstite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)Al[(OH,O)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.6.1Tarbuttite
Zn
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.6.2Spencerite
Zn
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.6.3Hopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
19.6.4Parahopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
19.6.5Veszelyite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
Zn(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
19.6.6Kipushite
(Cu,Zn)
 
5
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.6.7Scholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
19.6.8Parascholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
19.6.9Ehrleite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
3
Zn
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
6
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.6.11Aheylite
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.6.12Jungite
Ca
 
2
Zn
 
4
Fe
3+
8
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
9
 · 16H
 
2
O
19.6.13Schoonerite
ZnMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.6.14Phosphophyllite
Zn
 
2
Fe(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Faustite

Other Languages:
German:Faustit
Russian:Фаустит
Spanish:Faustita
Varieties:
Cuprofaustite

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 Faustite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 38: 964-972.

U. Kolitsch and G. Giester (2000): The crystal structure of faustite and its copper analogue turquoise. Mineralogical Magazine: 64: 905-913.

Internet Links for Faustite

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    Localities for Faustite

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