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Chalcocyanite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

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Photos of Chalcocyanite (11)

Chalcocyanite Gallery Search Photos of Chalcocyanite

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Chalcocyanite, etc.

Treschina fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Ronneburg U deposit, Thuringia, Germany

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Treschina fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Ronneburg U deposit, Thuringia, Germany

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Treschina fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Chalcocyanite, etc.

Ronneburg U deposit, Thuringia, Germany

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About ChalcocyaniteHide

Formula:

CuSO₄

Colour:

Colourless, light green, brownish, yellowish, sky-blue; colourless in transitted light

Hardness:

3½

Specific Gravity:

3.65

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

From the Greek for "copper" and "azure-blue" in allusion to the composition and the property of its turning blue when exposed to moist air.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Campania, Italy

Soluble in H2O and very hygroscopic, altering to chalcanthite.

Chemically and structurally related to dravertite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

963

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:963:6

GUID
(UUID V4):

eb3268b2-4740-4863-a9da-b2a2880d2543

IMA Classification of ChalcocyaniteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

Cu(SO₄)

First published:

1873

Type description reference:

Scacchi (1873) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Att., Naples: 5: 26 (as Idrociano).

Classification of ChalcocyaniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

7.AB.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H₂O
B : With medium-sized cations

Dana 8th ed.:

28.3.3.1

28 : ANHYDROUS ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : AXO₄

Hey's CIM Ref.:

25.2.1

25 : Sulphates
2 : Sulphates of Cu and Ag

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
Ccy	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 ChalcocyaniteHide

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Colourless, light green, brownish, yellowish, sky-blue; colourless in transitted light

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Density:

3.65(5) g/cm³ (Measured) 3.89 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of ChalcocyaniteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.724(3) n_β = 1.733(3) n_γ = 1.739(3)

2V:

Measured: 70° , Calculated: 78°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.015

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

Surface Relief:

High

Dispersion:

r > v medium

Comments:

2V (measured) is large

Chemistry of ChalcocyaniteHide

Mindat Formula:

CuSO₄

Elements listed:

Cu, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of ChalcocyaniteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.709(1) Å, b = 8.409(1) Å, c = 4.833(1) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.798 : 1 : 0.575

Unit Cell V:

272.66 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Crystals frequently tabular {010} and slightly elongated [001].

Comment:

Space Group: P nmb

Crystallographic forms of ChalcocyaniteHide

Crystal Atlas:

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Chalcocyanite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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)
0014619	Chalcocyanite	Wildner M, Giester G (1988) Crystal structure refinements of synthetic chalcocyanite (CuSO4) and zincosite (ZnSO4) Mineralogy and Petrology 39 201-209		1988	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Chalcocyanite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Wildner M'
'Giester G'
_journal_name_full 'Mineralogy and Petrology'
_journal_volume 39 
_journal_year 1988
_journal_page_first 201
_journal_page_last 209
_publ_section_title
;
 Crystal structure refinements of synthetic
 chalcocyanite (CuSO4) and zincosite (ZnSO4)
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014619
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cu S O4'
_cell_length_a 8.409
_cell_length_b 6.709
_cell_length_c 4.833
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 272.658
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      3.888
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P n m a'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cu   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.00970
S   0.18363   0.25000   0.44979   0.00710
O1   0.12930   0.25000   0.73530   0.01170
O2   0.36460   0.25000   0.43850   0.00920
O3   0.13280   0.06740   0.30830   0.01110
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 0.00920 0.00890 0.01080 0.00160 -0.00360 -0.00270
S 0.00620 0.00820 0.00700 0.00000 -0.00030 0.00000
O1 0.01120 0.01520 0.00890 0.00000 0.00370 0.00000
O2 0.00370 0.00960 0.01430 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
O3 0.01030 0.00980 0.01310 -0.00060 -0.00410 -0.00220

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.549 Å	(100)
2.62 Å	(95b)
4.187 Å	(75)
2.42 Å	(50b)
1.775 Å	(30)
1.433 Å	(20)
1.430 Å	(18)

Comments:

Synthetic

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates]
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals]
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere	<0.6
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals	<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)

Geological Setting:

Sublimates near volcanic fumaroles.

Type Occurrence of ChalcocyaniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Campania, Italy

General Appearance of Type Material:

Sublimates

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Active volcanic fumaroles.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Scacchi (1873) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Att., Naples: 5: 26 (as Idrociano).

Synonyms of ChalcocyaniteHide

Other Language Names for ChalcocyaniteHide

German:Chalcocyanit
Chalkocyanit
Hydrocyanit
Hydrokyanit

Russian:Халькоцианит

Simplified Chinese:水蓝晶石

Spanish:Chalcocyanita
Hydrocyanita
Hydrokyanita

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

17 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Dolerophanite	Cu₂(SO₄)O
16 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Euchlorine	KNaCu₃(SO₄)₃O
11 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Tenorite	CuO
3 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Chalcanthite	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O
3 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Fedotovite	K₂Cu₃(SO₄)₃O
2 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Klyuchevskite	K₃Cu₃(Fe³⁺,Al)(SO₄)₄O₂
2 photos of Chalcocyanite associated with Eriochalcite	CuCl₂ · 2H₂O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

7.AB.	Dravertite	CuMg(SO₄)₂	Mon. 2/m
7.AB.	Dagenaisite	Zn₃Te⁶⁺O₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.AB.	Andymcdonaldite	Fe₂TeO₆	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4₂/mnm
7.AB.05	Mikasaite	Fe₂(SO₄)₃	Trig. 3 : R3
7.AB.05	Millosevichite	Al₂(SO₄)₃	Trig. 3 : R3
7.AB.05	Koryakite	NaKMg₂Al₂(SO₄)₆	Trig. 3 : R3
7.AB.10	Zinkosite	ZnSO₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
7.AB.15	Hermannjahnite	CuZn(SO₄)₂	Mon. 2/m
7.AB.25	Ottoite	Pb₂TeO₅	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.AB.55	Mcalpineite	Cu₃(Te⁶⁺O₆)	Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Ia3

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Extremely hygroscopic. Readily soluble in water. Turns blue on exposure and may crumble to a powder of chalcanthite.

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 ChalcocyaniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-963.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Chalcocyanite on Webmineral

Look for Chalcocyanite on Wikipedia

Look for Chalcocyanite on Mineralien Atlas

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 ChalcocyaniteHide

Reference List:

Scacchi (1873) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Att., Naples: 5: 26 (as Idrociano).

Dana, Edward Salisbury (1892) A System of Mineralogy (6th ed.)

Posnjak, E., Tunell, G. (1929) The system cupric oxide-sulphur trioxide-water. American Journal of Science: 18: 1-34 (27).

Zambonini, Ferruccio (1935) Mineralogia Vesuviana, second edition with Quercigh, 463 pp., Naples: 158.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.429-430

Wildner, M. and Giester, G. (1988) Crystal structure refinements of synthetic chalcocyanite (CuSO4) and zincosite (ZnSO4). Mineralogy and Petrology: 39: 201-209.

Anthony, John Williams, Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy Vol. 5 - Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, Arizona.p.129

Buzgar, N., Buzatu, A., Sanislav, I.V. (2009) The Raman study on certain sulfates. Annalele Stiintifice ale Universitatii, 55, 5-23.

Ibrahim, M.A., Boeré, R.T. (2022) The copper sulfate hydration cycle. Crystal structures of CuSO4 (Chalcocyanite), CuSO4·H2O (Poitevinite), CuSO4·3H2O (Bonattite) and CuSO4·5H2O (Chalcanthite) at low temperature using non-spherical atomic scattering factors. New Journal of Chemistry, 46(12), 5479-5488.

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

Localities for ChalcocyaniteHide

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.


Bulgaria
Plovdiv Province Rodopi Municipality ⓘ KCM smelter slag locality	Atanassova et al. (2009)

DR Congo
Haut-Katanga Kambove Territory ⓘ Luishia Mine	Gécamines (1977)
Pweto Territory ⓘ Dikulushi Mine	Haest et al. (2009)

El Salvador
Sonsonate Department ⓘ Izalco Volcano	Stoiber et al. (1974) +1 other reference

Germany
Thuringia Greiz District Kauern ⓘ Lichtenberg Absetzer dump	T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8)

Indonesia
Special Region of Yogyakarta ⓘ Fumaroles	Symonds (1993)

Italy
Aosta Valley Brusson ⓘ Brusson Mine	· Maletto et al. (2016)
Campania Naples Somma-Vesuvius Complex ⓘ Mount Vesuvius (TL)	Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference
ⓘ Vesuvius fumaroles	Pelloux (1927) +2 other references
Sardinia South Sardinia Province ⓘ Furtei	Fernando Caboni et al. (2024)
ⓘ Furtei mine ?	Fernando Caboni et al. (2024)

Poland
Silesian Voivodeship Wodzisław County Radlin ⓘ Marcel mine heap ?	Kruszewski et al. (2019)

Russia
Chelyabinsk Oblast ⓘ Chelyabinsk coal basin	Cesnokov et al. (1998)
Kamchatka Krai Milkovsky District Tolbachik Volcanic field ⓘ Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture)	Pekov (1998)
Northern Breakthrough (North Breach) ⓘ First scoria cone	Pekov (1998)
Second scoria cone ⓘ Arsenatnaya fumarole	Pekov et al. (2018)
ⓘ Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumarole (Major Tenorite)	Pekov et al. (2015)
ⓘ Treschina fumarole	Bykova E Y et al. (1998)
ⓘ Yadovitaya fumarole	Pekov et al. (2014)
Plosky Tolbachik Volcano ⓘ 2012-2013 Fissure Tolbachik Eruption site	Sharygin et al. (2018)

USA
Nevada White Pine County ⓘ Ward Mining District	Castor et al. (2004)

Chalcocyanite

About ChalcocyaniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of ChalcocyaniteHide

Classification of ChalcocyaniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ChalcocyaniteHide

Optical Data of ChalcocyaniteHide

Chemistry of ChalcocyaniteHide

Crystallography of ChalcocyaniteHide

Crystallographic forms of ChalcocyaniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of ChalcocyaniteHide

Synonyms of ChalcocyaniteHide

Other Language Names for ChalcocyaniteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for ChalcocyaniteHide

References for ChalcocyaniteHide

Localities for ChalcocyaniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide