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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).

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Classification of HerbertsmithiteHide

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

Pronounciation of HerbertsmithiteHide

Pronounciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon & Katya Ralph	United Kingdom

Physical Properties of HerbertsmithiteHide

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 HerbertsmithiteHide

Formula:

Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂

Elements listed:

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

Crystallography of HerbertsmithiteHide

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 DiffractionHide

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 HerbertsmithiteHide

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 HerbertsmithiteHide

Anarakite

IMA2003-041

Other Language Names for HerbertsmithiteHide

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 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
Hibbingite	Fe²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth.
Iyoite	MnCuCl(OH)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
Kapellasite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
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. 3m (3 2/m)
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:

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 Hide

3.DA.	Centennialite	CaCu₃Cl₂(OH)₆ · nH₂O (n ~ 0.7)	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
3.DA.05	Melanothallite	Cu₂Cl₂O	Orth.
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.
3.DA.10a	Kempite	Mn²⁺₂(OH)₃Cl	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.DA.10c	Paratacamite	Cu₃(Cu,Zn)(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m)
3.DA.10b	Belloite	Cu(OH)Cl	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.DA.10c	Kapellasite	Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
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.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.DA.35	Ponomarevite	K₄Cu₄Cl₁₀O	Mon.
3.DA.40	Anthonyite	Cu(OH,Cl)₂ · 3H₂O	Mon. 2/m
3.DA.40	Calumetite	Cu(OH,Cl)₂ · 2H₂O	Orth.
3.DA.45	Khaidarkanite	Na_0.34Cu₄Al₃(OH)₁₄F₃ · 2H₂O	Mon.
3.DA.50	Bobkingite	Cu₅Cl₂(OH)₈ · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DA.55	Avdoninite	K₂Cu₅(OH)₄Cl₈ · H₂O	Mon. 2/m
3.DA.60	Droninoite	Ni₆Fe²⁺₃(OH)₁₆Cl₂ · 4H₂O	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m

Fluorescence of HerbertsmithiteHide

In UV light:

none

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.

References for HerbertsmithiteHide

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.

Sciberras, M.J., Leverett, P., Williams, P.A., Schlüter, J., Malcherek, T., Welch, M.D., Downes, P.J., Hibbs, D.E., Kampf, A.R. (2017): Structural and compositional variations of basic Cu(II) chlorides in the herbertsmithite and gillardite structure field. Mineral. Mag. 81, 123-134.

Internet Links for HerbertsmithiteHide

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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

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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Localities for HerbertsmithiteHide

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 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 (eg from pseudomorphs.)

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


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)

Poland
Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie) Legnica Polkowice District ⓘ Rudna Mine	Known only from one find, confirmed by several XRD.

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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