Melanothallite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Melanothallite
Formula:
Cu2Cl2O
Colour:
Black, bluish black
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
4.08 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
From the Greek for "black" and a "young shoot," for the mineral’s property of turning green on exposure.
This page provides mineralogical data about Melanothallite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2623
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2623:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
ac80e034-fa7a-4729-ab27-c7f196715ae6
IMA Classification of Melanothallite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu2OCl2
First published:
1870
Classification of Melanothallite
3.DA.05
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
10.4.4.1
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
4 : A2(O,OH)Xq
10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
4 : A2(O,OH)Xq
8.2.7
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
2 : Halides of Cu
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
2 : Halides of Cu
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Mlth | 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 Melanothallite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black, bluish black
Comment:
Changes to green colours upon exposure.
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
One direction, perfect, probably prismatic
One direction, perfect, probably prismatic
Density:
4.08 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Melanothallite
Type:
Biaxial
Comments:
Deep brown in transmitted light.
Chemistry of Melanothallite
Mindat Formula:
Cu2Cl2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Melanothallite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Fddd
Setting:
Fddd
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.595(3) Å, b = 9.693(3) Å, c = 7.461(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.99 : 1 : 0.77
Unit Cell V:
693.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005787 | Melanothallite | Krivovichev S V, Filatov S K, Burns P C (2002) The cuprite-like framework of OCu4 tetrahedra in the crystal structure of synthetic melanothallite, Cu2OCl2, and its negative thermal expansion The Canadian Mineralogist 40 1185-1190 | 2002 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.041 Å | (100) |
2.518 Å | (77) |
2.947 Å | (44) |
2.422 Å | (20) |
2.176 Å | (19) |
2.816 Å | (17) |
1.928 Å | (16) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Melanothallite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Platy or scaly, to 1 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
n.d.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumaroles.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Scacchi A (1870) Dell'eriocalco e del melanotallo, nuove specie di minerali. Rendiconto dell'Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche (sezione della Societa reale di Napoli) 9, 86-89
Synonyms of Melanothallite
Other Language Names for Melanothallite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
5 photos of Melanothallite associated with Euchlorine | KNaCu3(SO4)3O |
5 photos of Melanothallite associated with Klyuchevskite | K3Cu3(Fe3+,Al)(SO4)4O2 |
2 photos of Melanothallite associated with Chloromenite | Cu9(SeO3)4O2Cl6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
3.DA. | Centennialite | CaCu3Cl2(OH)6 · nH2O (n ~ 0.7) |
3.DA. | Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
3.DA. | Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA. | Bounahasite | Cu+Cu2+2(OH)3Cl2 |
3.DA.10a | Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10b | Botallackite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10b | Clinoatacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10a | Hibbingite | Fe2+2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10a | Kempite | Mn2+2(OH)3Cl |
3.DA.10c | Kuliginite | Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Paratacamite | Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10b | Belloite | Cu(OH)Cl |
3.DA.10c | Herbertsmithite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Kapellasite | Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Gillardite | Cu3Ni(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Haydeeite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Leverettite | Cu3Co(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Paratacamite-(Ni) | Cu3(Ni,Cu)(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Tondiite | Cu3Mg(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10c | Misakiite | Cu3Mn(OH)6Cl2 |
3.DA.10b | Iyoite | MnCuCl(OH)3 |
3.DA.10b | Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide) | CuZnCl(OH)3 |
3.DA.15 | Claringbullite | Cu4ClF(OH)6 |
3.DA.15 | Barlowite | Cu4BrF(OH)6 |
3.DA.20 | Simonkolleite | Zn5Cl2(OH)8 · H2O |
3.DA.25 | Buttgenbachite | Cu19(NO3)2(OH)32Cl4 · 2H2O |
3.DA.25 | Connellite | Cu19(SO4)(OH)32Cl4 · 3H2O |
3.DA.30 | Abhurite | Sn21Cl16(OH)14O6 |
3.DA.35 | Ponomarevite | K4Cu4Cl10O |
3.DA.40 | Anthonyite | Cu(OH,Cl)2 · 3H2O |
3.DA.40 | Calumetite | CaCu4(OH)8Cl2 · 3.5H2O |
3.DA.45 | Khaidarkanite | Cu4Al3(OH)14F3 · 2H2O |
3.DA.50 | Bobkingite | Cu5Cl2(OH)8 · 2H2O |
3.DA.55 | Avdoninite | K2Cu5(OH)4Cl8 · H2O |
3.DA.60 | Droninoite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O |
3.DA.70 | Chrysothallite | K6Cu6Tl3+Cl17(OH)4 · H2O |
3.DA.70 | Dioskouriite | CaCu4Cl6(OH)4 · 4H2O |
3.DA.75 | Feodosiyite | Cu11Mg2Cl18(OH)8 · 16H2O |
3.DA.80 | Romanorlovite | K8Cu6Cl17(OH)3 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water. Changes to a green, more highly hydrated substance (hydromelanothallite) upon exposure.
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 Melanothallite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2623.html
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References for Melanothallite
Reference List:
Localities for Melanothallite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Iran | |
| Ali Sholeh et al. (2016) |
Italy (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Pelloux (1927) +1 other reference | |
Russia | |
| Pekov (1998) |
Pekov et al. (2013) | |
Pekov (1998) | |
Chukanov et al. (2007) |
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Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia