Herbertsmithite

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Herbertsmithite

San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

Formula:

Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂

Colour:

light green, blue-green, emerald green

Lustre:

Vitreous

Hardness:

3 - 3½

Specific Gravity:

3.85 - 3.95

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Member of:

Atacamite Group

Name:

Honouring Dr. G. F. Herbert Smith (1872-1953) of the Natural History Museum, London, England, who discovered the mineral paratacamite.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Los Tres Presidentes Mine, Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

Isostructural with:

Gillardite

Atacamite Group.
A polymorph of (metastable) kapellasite.
Closely related to paratacamite and easily confused with twinned clinoatacamite.
On heating paratacamite reversibly transforms into herbertsmithite between 353 and 393 K (Welch et al., 2014).

The Zn analogue of gillardite and leverettite.

This mineral gained attention in March 2007 when it was reported that it has very specific and unusual physical properties that make it behave as a new type of matter (see references).

Classification of Herbertsmithite

IMA status:

Approved

Approval Year:

2003

Strunz 8th ed.:

3/D.01-57

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:

3.DA.10c

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

Physical Properties of Herbertsmithite

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

light green, blue-green, emerald green

Streak:

light green

Hardness:

3 - 3½ on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
on {10_11}

Density:

3.85 - 3.95 g/cm³ (Measured) 3.76 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Chemical Properties of Herbertsmithite

Formula:

Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂

Elements listed:

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

Crystallography of Herbertsmithite

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Space Group:

R3m

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.834 Å, c = 14.075 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 2.06

Unit Cell V:

569.28 Å³

Morphology:

Platy, pseudohexagonal crystals to 0.5 mm (Iran); rhombohedrons and pseudo-octahedra to 1.5 mm (Chile).

X-Ray Powder Diffraction

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.466	(55)
4.702	(14)
2.899	(11)
2.764	(100)
2.730	(13)
2.266	(36)
1.820	(13)
1.709	(18)

Comments:

XRD pattern quite similar to those for atacamite, clinoatacamite and paratacamite, but herbertsmithite is readily distinguished from these by infrared spectroscopy and SXRD

Type Occurrence of Herbertsmithite

Type Locality:

ⓘ Los Tres Presidentes Mine, Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

General Appearance of Type Material:

Rhombohedrons to 1.5 mm across.

Synonyms of Herbertsmithite

Anarakite

IMA2003-041

Other Language Names for Herbertsmithite

German:Anarakit

Italian:Herbertsmithite

Simplified Chinese:氯羟锌铜石

Spanish:Anarakita

Traditional Chinese:氯羥鋅銅石

Relationship of Herbertsmithite to other Species

Member of:

Atacamite Group

Other Members of this group:

Atacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl
Botallackite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl
Clinoatacamite	Cu₂(OH)₃Cl
Gillardite	Cu₃Ni(OH)₆Cl₂
Haydeeite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂
Iyoite	MnCuCl(OH)₃
Kapellasite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂
Leverettite	Cu₃Co(OH)₆Cl₂
Misakiite	Cu₃Mn(OH)₆Cl₂
Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂
Paratacamite-(Mg)	Cu₃(Mg,Cu)(OH)₆Cl₂
Paratacamite-(Ni)	Cu₃(Ni,Cu)(OH)₆Cl₂
Tondiite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂
Unnamed (Cu-Zn Chloride Hydroxide)	CuZnCl(OH)₃

Common Associates

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Wulfenite	16 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Wulfenite on mindat.org.
Christelite	10 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Christelite on mindat.org.
Linarite	7 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Linarite on mindat.org.
Malachite	7 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Malachite on mindat.org.
Chrysocolla	7 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Chrysocolla on mindat.org.
Coronadite	7 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Coronadite on mindat.org.
Cerussite	7 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Cerussite on mindat.org.
Quartz	2 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Quartz on mindat.org.
Bobkingite	2 photos of Herbertsmithite associated with Bobkingite on mindat.org.
Gordaite	1 photo of Herbertsmithite associated with Gordaite on mindat.org.

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping

3.DA.05	Melanothallite	Cu₂Cl₂O
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	Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂
3.DA.10b	Belloite	Cu(OH)Cl
3.DA.10c	Kapellasite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂
3.DA.10c	Gillardite	Cu₃Ni(OH)₆Cl₂
3.DA.10c	Haydeeite	Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂
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	Cu(OH,Cl)₂ · 2H₂O
3.DA.45	Khaidarkanite	Na_0.34Cu₄Al₃(OH)₁₄F₃ · 2H₂O
3.DA.50	Bobkingite	Cu₅Cl₂(OH)₈ · 2H₂O
3.DA.55	Avdoninite	K₂Cu₅(OH)₄Cl₈ · H₂O
3.DA.60	Droninoite	Ni₆Fe²⁺₃(OH)₁₆Cl₂ · 4H₂O

Fluorescence of Herbertsmithite

In UV light:

none

Other Information

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 Herbertsmithite

Reference List:

Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)

Braithwaite, R.S.W., Mereiter, K., Paar, W.H., Clark, A.M. (2004) Herbertsmithite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new species, and the definition of paratacamite. Mineralogical Magazine: 68: 527-539.

Mandarino, J.A. (2004) New minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist: 42: 1901-1927.

Weiß, S. (2004) Lapis: 29(12): 38-39.

Jambor, J.L., Grew, E.S., Roberts, A.C. (2005) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 90: 518-522.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19325954.200

Helton, J.S., Matan, K., Shores, M.P., Nytko, E.A., Bartlett, B.M., Yoshida, Y., Takano, Y., Suslov, A., Qiu, Y., Chung, J.-H., Nocera, D.G., Lee, Y.S. (2007) Spin Dynamics of the Spin-1/2 Kagomé Lattice Antiferromagnet ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. Physical Review Letters: 98: 107204. [http://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0610539v4]

Misguich, G., Sindzingre, P. (2007) Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice and experimental data on ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. The European Physical Journal B: 59: 305-309.

Bert, F., Olariu, A., Zorko, A., Mendels, P., Trombe, J.C., Duc, F., de Vries, M.A., Harrison, A., Hillier, A.D., Lord, J., Amato, A., Baines, C. (2009) Frustrated magnetism in the quantum Kagome Herbertsmithite ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2 antiferromagnet. Journal of Physics: Conf. Ser. 145, 012004.

Freedman, D.E., Han, T.H., Prodi, A., Müller, P., Huang, Q.Z., Chen, Y.S., Webb, S.M., Lee, Y.S., McQueen, T.M., Nocera, D.G. (2010) Site specific X-ray anomalous dispersion of the geometrically frustrated Kagomé Magnet, herbertsmithite, ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. Journal of the American Chemical Society: 132: 16185-16190.

Ofer, O., Keren, A., Brewer, J.H., Han, T.H., Lee, Y.S. (2011) The Herbertsmithite Hamiltonian: μSR measurements on single crystals. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter: 23: 164207.

Mendels, P., Bert, F. (2011) Quantum kagome antiferromagnet : ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. Journal of Physics: Conf. Ser.: 320: 012004.

Shaginyan, V.R., Msezane, A.Z., Popov, K.G., Japaridze, G.S., Stephanovich, V.A. (2012) Identification of strongly correlated spin liquid in herbertsmithite. EPL: 97: 5600.

Nilsen, G.J., de Vries, M.A., Stewart, J.R., Harrison, A., Rønnow, H.M. (2013) Low-energy spin dynamics of the s = 1/2 kagome system herbertsmithite. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter: 25: 106001.

Welch, M.D., Sciberras, M.J., Williams, P.A., Leverett, P., Schlüter, J., Malcherek, T. (2014) A temperature-induced reversible transformation between paratacamite and herbertsmithite. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 41: 33-48.

Internet Links for Herbertsmithite

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-26600.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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Localities for Herbertsmithite

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.

(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.


Australia
Western Australia Leonora Shire Eulaminna (Murrin Murrin mining centre) ⓘ Murrin Murrin Ni-Co Mine (Anaconda Nickel mine)	Matthew Joseph Sciberras (2013) SUBSTITUTION IN BASIC SECONDARY Cu(II) CHLORIDE MINERALS. PhD thesis, University of Western Sydney
ⓘ Nangaroo copper Mine

Chile
Antofagasta Region Antofagasta Province Antofagasta ⓘ Capricornio vein system	Arfè, G., Boni, M., Mondillo, N., Aiello, R., Balassone, G., Arseneau, V. and Soyk, D. (2016): Supergene alteration in the Capricornio Au-Ag epithermal vein system, Antofagasta Region, Chile. Can. Mineral. 54, 681-706.
Cerro Palestina Estación Cerro Negro Magallanes district ⓘ Covadonga mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.
ⓘ Magallanes mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.
Sierra Gorda District Caracoles ⓘ Herminia Mine	S. Weiß: Lapis (2004): 29(12): 38-39.
ⓘ La Poderosa Mine	S. Weiß: Lapis 29(12):38-39 (2004); Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal structure refinement)
ⓘ Los Tres Presidentes Mine (TL)	R. S. W. Braithwaite et al.: Mineralogical Magazine 68(3):527-539 (2004)
ⓘ San Francisco Mine (Beatrix Mine)	S. Weiß: Lapis 29(12):38-39 (2004); Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal structure refinement)
ⓘ La Compañia Mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.
Tarapacá Region El Tamarugal Province Challacollo ⓘ Lolon Mine (Challacollo Mine)	maurizio dini collection - analysed material
Pampa del Tamarugal ⓘ Victoria Segunda mine	sample analysed by Tony Kampf, senior curator of NHM of LAC, California
Quebrada Maní ⓘ Capona mine	Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter (Hamburg University), Germany.

Greece
Attikí Prefecture (Attica; Attika) Lavrion District (Laurion; Laurium) Lavrion District Mines Sounion area Sounion Mines ⓘ Sounion Mine No. 19 ("Chloridstollen")	W. Krause, H.-J. Bernhardt, R. S. W. Braithwaite, U. Kolitsch and R. Pritchard (2006): Kapellasite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece. Mineralogical Magazine 70, 331-342; Kolitsch, U., Rieck, B., Brandstätter, F., Schreiber, F., Fabritz, K. H., Blaß, G. & Gröbner, J. (2014): Neufunde aus dem altem Bergbau und den Schlacken von Lavrion (I). Mineralien-Welt 25 (1), 60-75 (in German).

Iran
Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province) Nain County (Nayin County) Anarak District ⓘ Chah Khouni Mine (Chah Khoni Mine; Tschah Khuni Mine; El Khun Mine)	S. Weiß: Lapis 29(12):38-39 (2004); Bariand, P. 1963. Contribution à la minéralogie de l’lran. Bulletin de la Société Française de minéralogie et de cristallographie, 86: 17-64. [Locality description in brief and mineralogical list with photographs] Bariand, P. 2003. Un apercu général sur la Minéralogie de I'Iran. Le Règne Minéral, 54: 41-51.
ⓘ Kali Kafi Mine (Kale Kafi Mine)	S. Weiß: Lapis 29(12):38-39 (2004)
South Khorasan Province Nehbandan ⓘ Qaleh-Zari Mine (Ghale Zari Mine)	Vachik Hairapetian collection

Namibia
Karas Region Lüderitz District Rosh Pinah ⓘ Skorpion Mine	Bezing, L. von., Bode, R., and Jahn, S., (2014) Namibia Minerals and Localities I. Edition Krüger-Stiftung, Bode Verlag GmbH, Salzhemmendorf, Germany, 608 pp (in English)

USA
Arizona Maricopa Co. Big Horn Mts Osborn District Tonopah Belmont Mountain ⓘ Tonopah-Belmont Mine (East Vulture Mine; Belmont-McNeil Mine; Economy Mining Co. Mine)	Analyzed by the University of Arizona.

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