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Parnauite

Big Photo

Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Parnauite Photos (53)
Formula:
Cu
 
9
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale blue, green, dark ...
Name:After John L. Parnau (1906-1990), American mineral collector, of Campbell, California, USA, who made contributions to knowledge of the type locality.


An uncommon secondary Cu-sulphate-arsenate. Fibrous varieties and crusts may be confused with strashimirite.

Parnauite, which has a still unknown crystal structure, may in fact contain some carbonate (U. Kolitsch, comment 2/08):
1) The original description states "The mineral dissolves readily in dilute HCl with the evolution of CO2 bubbles."
2) Lai et al. (1997) suggest an ideal chemical formula of "Cu9(AsO4)2(SO4)(CO3)(OH)8.6H2O."
3) See 'Debaoite'.

Classification of Parnauite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.20-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DF.35

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
F : With only medium-sized cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 > 3:1
Dana 8th edition ID:43.5.13.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.3.1

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
3 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphates
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Type Occurrence of Parnauite

Type Locality:Majuba Hill Mine (Mylar Mine), Antelope District, Pershing Co., Nevada, USA
Year of Discovery:1978

Physical Properties of Parnauite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Pale blue, green, dark green, blue-green, yellow-green
Density (measured):3.09(4) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.09 g/cm3

Crystallography of Parnauite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 14.98Å, b = 14.22Å, c = 6.01Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.053 : 1 : 0.423
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,280.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Lath-like crystals (subparallel), bowties, rosettes, scales, compact crusts.

Optical Data of Parnauite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.680 nβ = 1.704 nγ = 1.712
2V:Measured: 60° (5), Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.032

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v strong
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X= pale green
Y= yelow-green
Z= blue-green

Chemical Properties of Parnauite

Formula:
Cu
 
9
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, Cu, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:As, Cu, H, O, S

Relationship of Parnauite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DF.05Hotsonite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
21
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 16H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Bolivarite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · 4-5H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Evansite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Liskeardite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DF.10Rosièresite
(Pb, Cu, Al, P, O, H)
8.DF.15Rusakovite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
9
|(VO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DF.20Liroconite
Cu
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DF.25Sieleckiite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DF.30Chalcophyllite
Cu
 
18
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
9
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 33H
 
2
O
8.DF.40Gladiusite
Fe
 
2
(Fe,Mg)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
11
(H
 
2
O)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.3.2Ardealite
Ca
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
22.3.3Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
AsO
 
4
(AsO
 
3
OH)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·15H
 
2
O
22.3.4Clinotyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
[(OH,O)
 
10
|(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 10H
 
2
O
22.3.5Peisleyite
Na
 
3
Al
 
16
[SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
5
]
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O
22.3.6Chalcophyllite
Cu
 
18
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
9
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 33H
 
2
O
22.3.7Woodhouseite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.8Schlossmacherite
(H
 
3
O,Ca)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
22.3.9Svanbergite
SrAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.10Kemmlitzite
(Sr,Ce)Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.11Sanjuanite
Al
 
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
] · 9H
 
2
O
22.3.12Kribergite
Al
 
5
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
22.3.13Hotsonite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
21
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 16H
 
2
O
22.3.14Weilerite
22.3.15Tsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.16Arsentsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.17Hinsdalite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.18Hidalgoite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.19Orpheite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
] (?)
22.3.20Coconinoite
Fe
3+
2
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 20H
 
2
O
22.3.21Sasaite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
14
[(OH)
 
7
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
11
] · 83H
 
2
O
22.3.22Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
22.3.23Corkite
PbFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
22.3.24Beudantite
PbFe
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
22.3.25Diadochite
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)(OH)·5H
 
2
O
22.3.26Sarmientite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.3.27Bukovskýite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.3.28Zýkaite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 15H
 
2
O
22.3.29Tooeleite
Fe
3+
6
(AsO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
· 4H
 
2
O
22.3.30Pitticite
[Fe, SO
 
4
, AsO
 
4
, H
 
2
O] ?
22.3.31Xiangjiangite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 22H
 
2
O

Other Names for Parnauite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-014
Other Languages:
German:Parnauit
Spanish:Parnauita
Varieties:
Debaoite

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 Parnauite

Reference List:Wise, W. S. (1978): Parnauite and goudeyite, two new copper arsenate minerals from the Majuba Hill Mine, Pershing County, Nevada. American Mineralogist 63, 704-708.

Walenta, K. (1981): Parnauit von Fundorten im Schwarzwald. Aufschluss 32, 135-140. (in German).

Lairen Lai, Yi Li, and Nicheng Shi (1997): Discovery and Study of Parnauite. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica 16(1), 50-55 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Riviéra Scientifique (1997): 3-58.

Internet Links for Parnauite

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    Localities for Parnauite

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