Paratacamite

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Paratacamite
Paratacamite-231241.jpg
Paratacamite from Cornwall, England
General
Category Halide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2
IMA symbol Pata [1]
Strunz classification III / D.01-55
Crystal system Trigonal
Crystal class Rhombohedral
Unit cell a = 13,654, c = 14,041;
Identification
Formula mass 58.433 g/mol
ColorGreen
Cleavage Very good
Fracture Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness3
Luster Vitreous
Streak Green
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 3.74
Density 3.74g/cm3
Solubility Acid-soluble
References [2]

Paratacamite is a mineral in the halide minerals category. Its chemical formula is Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2. Its name is derived from its association with atacamite. Paratacamite was first described by Herbert Smith in 1906. [3] The zincian endmember Cu3(Zn)(OH)6Cl2 is called herbertsmithite, and paratacamite is polymorphous with botallackite and atacamite. [4]


It has been found in Chile, Botallack Mine in Cornwall, Broken Hill, Australia, and in Italy at Capo Calamita on the island of Elba. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Herbertsmithite is a rhombohedral green-coloured mineral with chemical formula ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. It is named after the mineralogist Herbert Smith (1872–1953) and was first found in 1972 in Chile. It is polymorphous with kapellasite and closely related to paratacamite. Herbertsmithite has also been found near Anarak, Iran, hence its other name, anarakite.

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2
•2(H
2
O)
.

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Dicopper chloride trihydroxide refers to the compound with chemical formula Cu2(OH)3Cl. It is often referred to as tribasic copper chloride (TBCC), copper trihydroxyl chloride or copper hydroxychloride. This greenish substance is encountered as the minerals atacamite, paratacamite, and botallackite. Similar materials are assigned to green solids formed upon corrosion of various copper objectss.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindgrenite</span> Copper molybdate mineral

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rastsvetaevite</span> Mineral of the eudialyte group

Rastsveatevite is a rare mineral of the eudialyte group with the chemical formula Na27K8Ca12Fe3Zr6Si4[Si3O9]4[Si9O27]4(O,OH,H2O)6Cl2. Its structure is modular. It is only the third member of the group after andrianovite and davinciite with essential (site-dominating) potassium. Potassium and sodium enter both N4 and M2 sites. The mineral is named after Russian crystallographer Ramiza K. Rastsvetaeva.

Feodosiyite is a very rare chloride mineral, just recently approved, with the formula Cu11Mg2Cl18(OH)8•16H2O. Its structure is unique. Feodosiyite comes from the Tolbachik volcano, famous for many rare fumarolic minerals. Chemically similar minerals, chlorides containing both copper and magnesium, include haydeeite, paratacamite-(Mg) and tondiite.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euchlorine</span> Sulfate mineral

Euchlorine (KNaCu3(SO4)3O) is a rare emerald-green sulfate mineral found naturally occurring as a sublimate in fumaroles around volcanic eruptions. It was first discovered in fumaroles of the 1868 eruption at Mount Vesuvius in Campania, Italy by Arcangelo Scacchi. The name 'euchlorine' comes from the Greek word εΰχλωρος meaning "pale green" in reference to the mineral's color, other reported spellings include euclorina, euchlorin, and euchlorite.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. 1 2 "Paratacamite: Paratacamite mineral information and data". mindat.org. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  3. Smith, G.F.H.; Prior, G.T. (1906). "Paratacamite, a new oxychloride of copper". Mineralogical Magazine. 14: 170–177.
  4. Braithwaite, RSW; Mereiter, K; Paar, WH; Clark, AM (1004). "Herbertsmithite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a new species, and the definition of paratacamite" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 68: 527–539. doi:10.1180/0026461046830204.