Kernowite

Kernowite
Unit cell of kernowite, based on X-ray crystallography of the isostructural mineral liroconite. [1]
General
Category	Arsenate minerals
Formula	Cu2Fe(AsO4)(OH)4·4H2O
Crystal system	Monoclinic

Kernowite is a mineral which was first described in 2020. It is named for Cornwall, which in the Cornish language is Kernow.

Description

Kernowite is a complex arsenate mineral with the composition Cu₂Fe(AsO₄(OH))₄·4H₂O. ^[2] It was first described in 2020, and is closely related to liroconite, containing iron in the place of aluminium, making it green rather than blue. ^{[3] [4]} Its name is derived from Kernow, the name of Cornwall in the Cornish language, after being discovered in a rock mined c.1800 in the Wheal Gorland mine, St Day, Cornwall. ^{[3] [5]}

See also

• Cornwall portal

• Cornwallite – a mineral also named after Cornwall

References

1. P. C. Burns; R. K. Eby; F. C. Hawthorne (1991). "Refinement of the structure of liroconite, a heteropolyhedral framework oxysalt mineral". Acta Crystallogr. C . 47 (5): 916–919. Bibcode:1991AcCrC..47..916B. doi:10.1107/S0108270190010939.
2. "Kernowite". mindat.org . Retrieved 24 December 2020.
3. "Kernowite: New mineral found on rock mined in Cornwall". BBC News. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
4. "Beautiful new emerald-green mineral described from Cornwall". Natural History Museum . Retrieved 23 December 2020.
5. "Kernowite: New mineral species discovered on rock mined in Cornwall 220 years ago". Sky News. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

Further reading

• Rumsey, M. S.; Welch, M. D.; Spratt, J.; Kleppe, A.; Števko, M. (15 December 2020). "Newsletter 58". Mineralogical Magazine. 84 (6). Cambridge University Press: 971–975. Bibcode:2020MinM...84..971M. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2020.93 .