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Kapellasite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Kapellasite (49)

Kapellasite Gallery Search Photos of Kapellasite

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Kapellasite

Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Kapellasite

Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany

Kapellasite

Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany

Kapellasite

Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Kapellasite

Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany

Kapellasite

Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany

Kapellasite

Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Kapellasite

Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany

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About KapellasiteHide

Formula:

Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂

Colour:

Green-blue

Lustre:

Adamantine

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

3.55

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Member of:

Atacamite Group

Name:

Named after Christo Kapellas (1938-2004), collector and mineral dealer of Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece. He was one of the foremost experts on the Lavrion minerals.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Dimorph of:

Herbertsmithite

Isostructural with:

Haydeeite

A metastable polymorph of herbertsmithite. Has been confused with botallackite ("Zn-bearing botallackite"; Wendel et al., 1999); both are visually very similar.
Also known as a synthetic compound (phase IIα of Feitknecht and Maget, 1949).

The Mg analogue of kapellasite is called haydeeite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

27446

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:27446:1

GUID
(UUID V4):

eb946cf0-37f1-4ea7-8f79-575d18a97b96

IMA Classification of KapellasiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2005

First published:

2006

Type description reference:

Krause, W., Bernhardt, H.-J., Braithwaite, R.S.W., Kolitsch, U., Pritchard, R. (2006) Kapellasite, Cu₃Zn(OH)₆CI₂, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece, and its crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 70 (3) 329-340 doi:10.1180/0026461067030336

Classification of KapellasiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

3.DA.10c

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Kap	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of KapellasiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Green-blue

Streak:

Light green-blue

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₅=200(30) kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
Parallel to {0001}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Density:

3.55(10) g/cm³ (Measured) 3.62 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Comment:

Measured by flotation in Clerici solution. Calculated from the empirical formula.

Optical Data of KapellasiteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (-)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.800(1) n_ε = 1.760(1)

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.040

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Very High

Pleochroism:

Strong

Comments:

E = pale green and O = green-blue.

Comments:

Some crystals show biaxial behavior with 2V up to 20 degrees.

Chemistry of KapellasiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂

Elements listed:

Cl, Cu, H, O, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of KapellasiteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Space Group:

P3m1

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.300 Å, c = 5.733 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.91

Unit Cell V:

197.06 Å³

Morphology:

Most crystals exhibit a bladed or needle-like irregular habit and are typically strongly distorted with elongation perpendicular to [0001]. Crystallographic forms are {0001} and {1010}.

Twinning:

None observed

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0014577	Kapellasite	Krause W, Bernhardt H J, Braithwaite R S W, Kolitsch U, Pritchard R (2006) Kapellasite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece, and its crystal structure Mineralogical Magazine 70 329-340		2006	Lavrion, Greece	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Kapellasite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Krause W'
'Bernhardt H J'
'Braithwaite R S W'
'Kolitsch U'
'Pritchard R'
_journal_name_full 'Mineralogical Magazine'
_journal_volume 70 
_journal_year 2006
_journal_page_first 329
_journal_page_last 340
_publ_section_title
;
 Kapellasite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece, and its
 crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014577
_chemical_compound_source 'Lavrion, Greece'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cu3 Zn Cl2.18 O5.82 H5.82'
_cell_length_a 6.300
_cell_length_b 6.300
_cell_length_c 5.733
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 197.058
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      3.643
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P -3 m 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '-x,-x+y,-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  'y,x,-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  'x-y,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cu   0.50000   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000   0.01650
Zn   0.00000   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000   0.01760
Cl1   0.33333   0.66667   0.13730   1.00000   0.02510
Cl2   0.35440   0.17720   0.34540   0.03000   0.01610
O-H2   0.35440   0.17720   0.34540   0.97000   0.01610
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Cu 0.01300 0.01530 0.02210 0.00760 0.00060 0.00120
Zn 0.01340 0.01340 0.02590 0.00670 0.00000 0.00000
Cl1 0.02760 0.02760 0.02000 0.01380 0.00000 0.00000
Cl2 0.01790 0.01550 0.01580 0.00900 -0.00120 0.00060
O-H2 0.01790 0.01550 0.01580 0.00900 -0.00120 0.00060

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.73 Å	(100)
2.865 Å	(11)
2.761 Å	(12)
2.730 Å	(39)
2.464 Å	(81)
1.976 Å	(32)
1.576 Å	(17)
1.519 Å	(10)

Comments:

From type description

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals]

Type Occurrence of KapellasiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

General Appearance of Type Material:

Crusts and small aggregates up to 0.5 mm, composed of bladed or needle-like indistinct crystals up to 0.2 mm long.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Mineralogical Institute, University of Bochum, Germany, catalogue number IMA-2005-009.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Formed underground in a mine, from weathering of copper- and zinc-containing ore, in the presence of chloride ions.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Smithsonite	Serpierite	Quartz	Pyrite	Plumbojarosite
Paratacamite	Ktenasite	Hydrozincite	Herbertsmithite	Gypsum
Gordaite	Glaucocerinite	Galena	Cumengeite	Calcite
Bianchite	Beaverite-(Cu)	Atacamite	Anglesite

Reference:

Krause, W., Bernhardt, H.-J., Braithwaite, R.S.W., Kolitsch, U., Pritchard, R. (2006): Kapellasite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece. Mineralogical Magazine, 70, 329-340.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/MM70_329.pdf

Synonyms of KapellasiteHide

IMA2005-009

Other Language Names for KapellasiteHide

German:Kapellasit

Relationship of Kapellasite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Atacamite Group

Other Members of this group:

Atacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Botallackite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
Clinoatacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Mon. 2/m
Gillardite	Cu₃Ni(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Haydeeite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
Herbertsmithite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Hibbingite	Fe²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Iyoite	MnCuCl(OH)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
Kempite	Mn²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Leverettite	Cu₃Co(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
Misakiite	Cu₃Mn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
Paratacamite-(Mg)	Cu₃(Mg,Cu)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
Paratacamite-(Ni)	Cu₃(Ni,Cu)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
Tondiite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide)	CuZnCl(OH)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

13 photos of Kapellasite associated with Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
10 photos of Kapellasite associated with Hemimorphite	Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂ · H₂O
4 photos of Kapellasite associated with Cumengeite	Pb₂₁Cu₂₀Cl₄₂(OH)₄₀ · 6H₂O
3 photos of Kapellasite associated with Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂
2 photos of Kapellasite associated with Woodruffite	Zn²⁺_x/2(Mn⁴⁺_1-xMn³⁺_x)O₂ · yH2O
2 photos of Kapellasite associated with Laurionite	PbCl(OH)
1 photo of Kapellasite associated with Pseudoboleite	Pb₃₁Cu₂₄Cl₆₂(OH)₄₈
1 photo of Kapellasite associated with Hydrozincite	Zn₅(CO₃)₂(OH)₆
1 photo of Kapellasite associated with Unnamed (Gordaite-related Ca-Zn Sulphate Chloride Hydrate)	Ca[Zn₈(SO₄)₂(OH)₁₂Cl₂](H₂O)₉
1 photo of Kapellasite associated with Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

3.DA.	Centennialite	CaCu₃Cl₂(OH)₆ · nH₂O (n ~ 0.7)	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
3.DA.	Muonionalustaite	Ni₃(OH)₄Cl₂ · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DA.	Parahibbingite	Fe₂(OH)₃Cl	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.DA.	Bounahasite	Cu⁺Cu²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl₂	Mon. 2/m
3.DA.05	Melanothallite	Cu₂Cl₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd
3.DA.10a	Atacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.DA.10b	Botallackite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
3.DA.10b	Clinoatacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl	Mon. 2/m
3.DA.10a	Hibbingite	Fe²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.DA.10a	Kempite	Mn²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.DA.10c	Kuliginite	Fe₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
3.DA.10c	Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
3.DA.10b	Belloite	Cu(OH)Cl	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.DA.10c	Herbertsmithite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.DA.10c	Gillardite	Cu₃Ni(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.DA.10c	Haydeeite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
3.DA.10c	Leverettite	Cu₃Co(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
3.DA.10c	Paratacamite-(Ni)	Cu₃(Ni,Cu)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3 : R3
3.DA.10c	Tondiite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.DA.10c	Misakiite	Cu₃Mn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
3.DA.10b	Iyoite	MnCuCl(OH)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
3.DA.10b	Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide)	CuZnCl(OH)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
3.DA.15	Claringbullite	Cu₄ClF(OH)₆	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
3.DA.15	Barlowite	Cu₄BrF(OH)₆	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
3.DA.20	Simonkolleite	Zn₅Cl₂(OH)₈ · H₂O	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
3.DA.25	Buttgenbachite	Cu₁₉(NO₃)₂(OH)₃₂Cl₄ · 2H₂O	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
3.DA.25	Connellite	Cu₁₉(SO₄)(OH)₃₂Cl₄ · 3H₂O	Hex. 6 m2 : P6₂c
3.DA.30	Abhurite	Sn₂₁Cl₁₆(OH)₁₄O₆	Trig. 3 2 : R3 2
3.DA.35	Ponomarevite	K₄Cu₄Cl₁₀O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
3.DA.40	Anthonyite	Cu(OH,Cl)₂ · 3H₂O	Mon. 2/m
3.DA.40	Calumetite	CaCu₄(OH)₈Cl₂ · 3.5H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
3.DA.45	Khaidarkanite	Cu₄Al₃(OH)₁₄F₃ · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DA.50	Bobkingite	Cu₅Cl₂(OH)₈ · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DA.55	Avdoninite	K₂Cu₅(OH)₄Cl₈ · H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.DA.60	Droninoite	Ni₆Fe³⁺₂(OH)₁₆Cl₂ · 4H₂O	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.DA.70	Chrysothallite	K₆Cu₆Tl³⁺Cl₁₇(OH)₄ · H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
3.DA.70	Dioskouriite	CaCu₄Cl₆(OH)₄ · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.DA.75	Feodosiyite	Cu₁₁Mg₂Cl₁₈(OH)₈ · 16H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.DA.80	Romanorlovite	K₈Cu₆Cl₁₇(OH)₃	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm

Fluorescence of KapellasiteHide

In UV light:

Not fluorescent in LW or SW UV.

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.

Internet Links for KapellasiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-27446.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Kapellasite on Webmineral

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for KapellasiteHide

Reference List:

Feitknecht, W. and Maget, K. (1949): Über Doppelhydroxyde und basische Doppelsalze. Über basische Doppelchloride des Kupfers. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 32, 1653-1667 (in German).

Wendel, W., Blaß, G., Mühlbauer, W. and Markl, G. (1999) Hilarion - Plaka - Sounion: Laurion News 1997-1999. Lapis, 24(7), 64-67 (in German).

(2023) Kapellasite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for KapellasiteHide

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 ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


France
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Var Toulon Le Pradet Cap Garonne Mine ⓘ North mine	Georges Favreau collection +1 other reference

Germany
Lower Saxony Goslar District Langelsheim Astfeld ⓘ Herzog Julius smelter slag locality	Krause et al. (2006)

Greece (TL)
Attica East Attica Lavreotiki Lavrion mining district Sounion Cato Sounio mines ⓘ Sounion Mine No. 19 (TL)	Krause et al. (2006)

Italy
Sardinia South Sardinia Province Nuxis Monte Tamara mining area ⓘ San Pietro Mine	Lecca G.C. et al. (2022)

Spain
Andalusia Almería Pechina Baños de Alhamilla ⓘ Mina Casualidad	Rewitzer et al. (part2)

Kapellasite

About KapellasiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of KapellasiteHide

Classification of KapellasiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of KapellasiteHide

Optical Data of KapellasiteHide

Chemistry of KapellasiteHide

Crystallography of KapellasiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of KapellasiteHide

Synonyms of KapellasiteHide

Other Language Names for KapellasiteHide

Relationship of Kapellasite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of KapellasiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for KapellasiteHide

References for KapellasiteHide

Localities for KapellasiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide