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Libethenite

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Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Libethenite

Miguel Vacas Mine, Conceição, Vila Viçosa, Évora District, Portugal
Dumps of Podlipa

Podlipa deposit, Ľubietová, Banská Bystrica Co., Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia
Formula:
Cu2(PO4)(OH)
System:
Orthorhombic
Colour:
Light to dark green, ...
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Hardness:
4
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1823 by August Breithaupt after the type locality - Ľubietová (Libethen in German, Libetbánya in Hungarian), Slovak Republic. Prior to 1919, the locality was in the territory of Hungary.
Polymorph of:
Paradamite, Tarbuttite
Isostructural with:
Adamite, Eveite
Olivenite Group. Libethenite-Olivenite Series.
Compare zincolibethenite.

Libethenite is a secondary copper phosphate mineral found in the oxidized zone of copper ore deposits. The phosphate is often derived from the weathering of apatite and other rock-forming phosphates such as monazite and xenotime.
A rare case of probable primary libethenite from a greisen deposit is reported by Sejkora et al. (2006).


Classification of Libethenite

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Strunz 8th ed.:
7/B.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:
8.BB.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
Dana 7th ed.:
41.6.6.2
Dana 8th ed.:
41.6.6.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:
19.2.1

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu

Physical Properties of Libethenite

Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Somewhat greasy on fracture surfaces.
Colour:
Light to dark green, blackish green, olive-green; bluish green to light green in transmitted light.
Streak:
Light green
Hardness (Mohs):
4
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Very indistinct on {100} and {010}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
3.97 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.972 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of Libethenite

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.701 - 1.704 nβ = 1.743 - 1.747 nγ = 1.787 - 1.790
2V:
Measured: 80° to 90°, Calculated: 88°
Birefringence:
0.080
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.086
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
strong r > v
Optical Extinction:
XYZ = bca
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X= Pale yellowish blue
Z= Pale greenish blue

Chemical Properties of Libethenite

Formula:
Cu2(PO4)(OH)
IMA Formula:
Cu2PO4(OH)
Elements listed in formula:
Cu, H, O, P - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
As

Crystallography of Libethenite

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnnm
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.062(5) Å, b = 8.384(4) Å, c = 5.881(2) Å
β = 90°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.962 : 1 : 0.701
Unit Cell Volume:
V 404.27 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic or slightly elongated [100] with wedge-shaped terminations; also equant. {110} vertically grooved or striated, and {011} striated parallel to the edge with {111}.
Twinning:
None observed.

Crystallographic forms of Libethenite

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Libethenite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Libethenite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Libethenite no.15 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
5.807 (80)
4.820 (100)
4.756 (70)
3.720 (50)
2.644 (40)
2.627 (60)
2.412 (30)
Comments:
ICDD 36-404

Occurrences of Libethenite

Type Occurrence of Libethenite

Type Locality:
ⓘ Podlipa deposit, Ľubietová (Libetbánya; Libethen), Banská Bystrica Co., Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Polymetallic hydrothermal or deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Malachite

Relationship of Libethenite to other Species

Series:
Forms a series with Olivenite (see here)
Member of:
Olivenite Group
Other Members of Group:
AdamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)
AuriacusiteFe3+Cu2+(AsO4)O
EveiteMn22+(AsO4)(OH)
OliveniteCu2(AsO4)(OH)
ZincolibetheniteCuZn(PO4)(OH)
ZincoliveniteCuZn(AsO4)(OH)
Common Associates:
Atacamite
Azurite
Limonite
Malachite
Pseudomalachite
Pyromorphite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.BB.XArsenowagneriteMg2(AsO4)F
8.BB.05AmblygoniteLiAl(PO4)F
8.BB.05MontebrasiteLiAl(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.05TavoriteLiFe3+(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.10Triplite(Mn2+,Fe2+)2(PO4)(F,OH)
8.BB.10Zwieselite(Fe2+,Mn2+)2(PO4)F
8.BB.15SarkiniteMn22+(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.15Triploidite(Mn2+,Fe2+)2(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.15Wagnerite(Mg,Fe2+)2(PO4)F
8.BB.15Wolfeite(Fe2+,Mn2+)2(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.15Stanĕkite(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+(PO4)O
8.BB.15JoosteiteMn2+(Mn3+,Fe3+)(PO4)O
8.BB.15HydroxylwagneriteMg2(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.20HoltedahliteMg2(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.20Satterlyite(Fe2+,Mg,Fe)12(PO4)5(PO3OH)(OH,O)6
8.BB.25AlthausiteMg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,☐)
8.BB.30AdamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.30EveiteMn22+(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.30OliveniteCu2(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.30ZincolibetheniteCuZn(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.30ZincoliveniteCuZn(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.30AuriacusiteFe3+Cu2+(AsO4)O
8.BB.35ParadamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)
8.BB.35TarbuttiteZn2(PO4)(OH)
8.BB.40BarbosaliteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.40HentscheliteCuFe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.40Lazulite(Mg,Fe2+)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.40ScorzaliteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.40WilhelmkleiniteZnFe23+(AsO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.45TrolleiteAl4(PO4)3(OH)3
8.BB.50NamibiteCu(BiO)2(VO4)(OH)
8.BB.55Phosphoellenbergerite(Mg,◻)2Mg12(PO4,PO3OH)6(PO3OH,CO3)2(OH)6
8.BB.60UrusoviteCuAl(AsO4)O
8.BB.65TheoparacelsiteCu3(As2O7)(OH)2
8.BB.70TuraniteCu5(VO4)2(OH)4
8.BB.75StoiberiteCu5(VO4)2O2
8.BB.80FingeriteCu11(VO4)6O2
8.BB.85AverieviteCu6(VO4)2O2Cl2
8.BB.90LipscombiteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
8.BB.90RichelliteCaFe23+(PO4)2(OH,F)2
8.BB.90ZinclipscombiteZnFe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.2.2CornetiteCu3(PO4)(OH)3
19.2.3ReichenbachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
19.2.4LudjibaiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
19.2.5PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
19.2.6NissoniteCu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 5H2O
19.2.7ZapataliteCu3Al4(PO4)3(OH)9 · 4H2O
19.2.8TurquoiseCu(Al,Fe3+)6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O
19.2.9SieleckiiteCu3Al4(PO4)2(OH)12 · 2H2O
19.2.10PlaneriteAl6(PO4)2(HPO4)2(OH)8 · 4 H2O
19.2.11HentscheliteCuFe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
19.2.13ChalcosideriteCuFe63+(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O
19.2.14Phosphofibrite(H2O,K)3.5Fe8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 5H2O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):
41.6.6.3AdamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)

Other Names for Libethenite

Synonyms:

Chinoite

Name in Other Languages:
Simplified Chinese:羟磷铜矿
Slovak:Libethenit
Spanish:Libethenita
Traditional Chinese:羥磷銅石
Varieties:

Pseudolibethenite

Zincian Libethenite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information:
Readily soluble in acids and ammonia.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Libethenite

Reference List:
Werner (1789) Bergmaennusches Journal, Freiberg (Neues Bergmannische Journal): 382, 385 (as Olivenerz).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 1036 (as Blättricher Olivenmalachite).

Leonhard, K.C. (1821) Handbuch der Oryktognosie. First edition, Heidelberg: 143 (as Octaedrisches Phosphorkupfer).

Breithaupt, A. (1823) Vollständige Characteristik etc., 1st. ed.: 267.

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 569 (as Aphérèse).

Des Cloizeaux (1858) Annales des mines: 14: 343.

Mueller (1858) Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 11: 202.

Field (1859) Chemical Gazette or Journal of Practical Chemistry, London: 17: 400.

Debray (1861) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 52: 44.

Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 563.

Friedel and Sarasin (1879) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 2: 157.

Schrauf (1880) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 4: 19.

Bergemann (1890) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 104: 190.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 786.

Melczer (1904) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 39: 288.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 149.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 100.

Strunz (1936) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 94: 60.

Heritsch (1939) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 102: 1.

Richmond (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 452.

Guillemin, G. (1956b): Contribution à la minéralogie des arséniates, phosphates et vanadates de cuivre. II. Phosphates et vanadates. Bull. Soc. franç. Minéral. Cristallogr., 79: 219-275.

Rammelsberg, C.F. (1860) Handbuch der Mineralchemie. First edition, Leipzig: 344 (as Pseudo-libethenite).

Canadian Mineralogist (1995): 33: 885-888.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 313.

Sejkora, J., Ondruš, P., Fikar, M., Veselovský, F., Mach, Z., Gabašová, A., Skoda, R. & Beran, P. (2006): Supergene minerals at the Huber stock and Schnöd stock deposits, Krásno ore District, the Slavkovský les area, Czech Republic. Journal of the Czech Geological Society 51, 57-101.

Alexei A. Belik, Hyun-Joo Koo, Myung-Hwan Whangbo, Naohito Tsujii, Pan e Naumov, and Eiji Takayama-Muromachi (2007): Magnetic properties of synthetic libethenite Cu2PO4OH: a new spin-gap System. Inorg. Chem., 46, 8684-8689.

Internet Links for Libethenite

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