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Chalcophanite

Big Photo

Glory Hole, Gold Hill Mine (Western Utah Mine), Gold Hill, Gold Hill District (Clifton District), Deep Creek Mts, Tooele Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

Show Chalcophanite Photos (26)
Formula:
(Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Bluish-black, iron-black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½
Name:From the Greek χαλκός, brass, and φαίυεσθαι, to appear in allusion to the change of color on ignition.


Pseudo-octahedral habits may be confused with hetaerolite.

Classification of Chalcophanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/F.11-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FL.20

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:7.8.2.1

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
8 : AB3X7
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.5.8

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
5 : Oxides of Zn, Cd and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Chalcophanite

Type Locality:Passaic Pit (Marshall Mine; Passaic Mine), Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1875

Physical Properties of Chalcophanite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Bluish-black, iron-black
Streak:Dark brown
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001}
Density (measured):3.9 - 4.1 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chalcophanite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:R3
Cell Parameters:a = 7.541Å, c = 20.824Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.761
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,025.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Minute crystals tabular {0001}, or with {0001} and {10_11} equally developed, exhibiting a pseudo-octahedral habit. Commonly in drusy, botryoidal or stalactitic crusts with the tabular crystals arranged on edge. Massive; dense, granular, or platy fibrous.

Optical Data of Chalcophanite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.720 nε = 2.720
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Extremely high
Colour in reflected light:White
Internal Reflections:Deep red
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:O = nearly opaque
E = deep red

Chemical Properties of Chalcophanite

Formula:
(Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mn, O, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, Mn, O, Zn

Relationship of Chalcophanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.FL.05Woodallite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
(OH)
 
16
Cl
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Iowaite
Mg
 
4
Fe(OH)
 
8
OCl·4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Jamborite
(Ni
2+
 
,Ni
3+
 
,Co,Fe)(OH)
 
2
(OH,S,H
 
2
O)
4.FL.05Meixnerite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
18
·4H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Muskoxite
Mg
 
7
Fe
 
4
O
 
13
·10H
 
2
O
4.FL.05Fougèrite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
18
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.FL.10Hydrocalumite
Ca
 
2
Al(OH)
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
4.FL.15Kuzelite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2.4
(OH)
 
12.8
(SO
 
4
)·6H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Aurorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ag,Ca)Mn
4+
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Ernienickelite
NiMn
 
3
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
4.FL.20Jianshuiite
(Mg,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
4.FL.25Woodruffite
Zn(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
5
O
 
10
·3½H
 
2
O
4.FL.30Asbolane
(Ni,Co)
 
2-x
Mn
4+
 
(O,OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
4.FL.35Buserite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
14
O
 
27
 ·21H
 
2
O
4.FL.40Ranciéite
(Ca,Mn)Mn
 
4
O
 
9
·3H
 
2
O
4.FL.40Takanelite
(Mn,Ca)Mn
 
4
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
4.FL.45Birnessite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.5
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
4
 · 1.5H
 
2
O
4.FL.55Cianciulliite
Mn(Mg,Mn)
 
2
Zn
 
2
(OH)
 
10
·2-4H
 
2
O
4.FL.60Jensenite
Cu
 
3
[TeO
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
4.FL.65Leisingite
Cu(Mg,Cu,Fe,Zn)
 
2
[TeO
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
4.FL.70Akdalaite
4Al
 
2
O
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
4.FL.75Cafetite
(Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)
 
2
Ti
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
4.FL.80Mourite
UMo
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
10
4.FL.85Deloryite
Cu
 
4
(UO
 
2
)(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.5.1Zincite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
7.5.2Sweetite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.3Ashoverite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.4Wülfingite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.5Gahnite
ZnAl
 
2
O
 
4
7.5.6Hetaerolite
ZnMn
 
2
O
 
4
7.5.7Hydrohetaerolite
ZnMn
 
2
O
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.5.9Woodruffite
Zn(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
5
O
 
10
·3½H
 
2
O
7.5.10Franklinite
Zn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
O
 
4
7.5.11Monteponite
CdO
7.5.12Montroydite
HgO

Other Names for Chalcophanite

Synonyms:
Chalcophane
Other Languages:
German:Chalcophanit
Russian:Халькофанит
Spanish:Chalcophanita

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 Chalcophanite

Reference List:Moore (1875), Am. Chem.: 6: 1.

Penfield and Kreider (1894), American Journal of Science: 48: 141.

Ford (1914), American Journal of Science: 38: 502.

Orcel and Pavlovitch (1932), Bull. soc. min.: 54: 108.

Ramdohr (1938), Zbl. Min.: 134.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 739-740.

Wadsley, A.D. (1955), The crystal structure of chalcophanite, ZnMn3O7·3H2O: Acta Crystallographica: 8: 165-172.

Post, J.E., and D.E. Appleman (1988), Chalcophanite, ZnMn3O7·3H2O: New crystal-structure determinations: American Mineralogist: 73: 1401-1404.

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    Localities for Chalcophanite

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