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Glaukosphaerite

Formula:
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
System:MonoclinicHardness:3 - 4

Classification of Glaukosphaerite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.01-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BA.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
Dana 8th edition ID:16a.3.1.3

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.14.8

11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Glaukosphaerite

Type Locality:Hampton East Location 48, Kambalda Nickel deposit, Kambalda, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1974

Physical Properties of Glaukosphaerite

Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4

Crystallography of Glaukosphaerite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.34Å, b = 11.93Å, c = 3.07Å
β = 91°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.783 : 1 : 0.257
Unit Cell Volume:V 342.03 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Glaukosphaerite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.690 nβ = 1.830 nγ = 1.830
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.140

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:weak to moderate

Chemical Properties of Glaukosphaerite

Formula:
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
Essential elements:C, Cu, H, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Cu, H, Ni, O

Relationship of Glaukosphaerite to other Species

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

- +
5.BA.05Azurite
Cu
 
3
[OH|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.10Georgeite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 6H
 
2
O
5.BA.10Kolwezite
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Malachite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Mcguinnessite
(Mg,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Nullaginite
Ni
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Pokrovskite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Rosasite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Zincrosasite
(Zn,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.10Chukanovite
Fe
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BA.15Aurichalcite
(Zn,Cu)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.15Hydrozincite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.20Holdawayite
Mn
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
5.BA.25Defernite
Ca
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2-x
(SiO
 
4
)
 
x
(OH)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
 
1-2x
(x=0.5)
5.BA.25UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClH
Ca
 
10
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
7
(Cl,OH)
 
2
5.BA.30Loseyite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
7
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
5.BA.30Sclarite
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
4
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.14.1Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
11.14.2Kolwezite
(Cu,Co)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.14.3Nullaginite
Ni
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.14.4Hellyerite
NiCO
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
11.14.5Otwayite
Ni
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
11.14.6Zaratite
Ni
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
11.14.7Kambaldaite
NaNi
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
11.14.9Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
11.14.10Reevesite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.14.11Comblainite
(Ni
 
x
,Co
 
1-x
)(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
(1-x)/2
·nH
 
2
O
11.14.12Szymańskiite
Hg
 
16
(Ni,Mg)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
12
(OH)
 
12
(H
 
3
O)
 
8
·3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Glaukosphaerite

Synonyms:
GlaucosphaeriteIMA1972-028
Other Languages:
German:Glaukosphaerit
Glaukosphärit
Spanish:Glaukosphaerita

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 Glaukosphaerite

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 737-743.

Canadian Mineralogist: 14: 574-576.

Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 315-324.

Perchiazzi, N. & Merlino, S. (2006): The malachite-rosasite group: crystal structures of glaukosphaerite and pokrovskite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 18, 787-792.

Internet Links for Glaukosphaerite

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    Localities for Glaukosphaerite

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