Tenorite

Last updated
Tenorite
Tenorite - USGS Mineral Specimens 1083.jpg
General
Category Oxide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
CuO
IMA symbol Tnr [1]
Strunz classification 4.AB.10
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group C2/c
Unit cell a = 4.6837(5)  Å
b = 3.4226(5) Å
c = 5.1288(6) Å; β = 99.47°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorSteel-gray, iron-gray, black
Crystal habit Lathlike crystals, curved, scaly, dendritic; commonly pulverulent, earthy, massive
Twinning Common on {011}, forming stellate groups; lamellar
Cleavage Poor to indistinct
Fracture Conchoidal to uneven
Tenacity Brittle; flexible and elastic in thin scales
Mohs scale hardness3.5–4
Luster Metallic to earthy
Streak Black
Diaphaneity Opaque, thin flakes transparent
Specific gravity 6.5
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Pleochroism Distinct; light to dark brown
References [2] [3] [4]

Tenorite, sometimes also called Black Copper, is a copper oxide mineral with the chemical formula CuO. The chemical name is Copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide.

Contents

Occurrence

Tenorite with azurite from Nischne Tagilsk, Urals, Russia Kupferschwarze (Tenorit) mit Azurit - Nischne Tagilsk, Ural.jpg
Tenorite with azurite from Nischne Tagilsk, Urals, Russia

Tenorite occurs in the weathered or oxidized zone associated with deeper primary copper sulfide orebodies. Tenorite commonly occurs with chrysocolla and the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite. The dull grey-black color of tenorite contrasts sharply with the often intergrown blue chrysocolla. Cuprite, native copper and FeMn oxides also occur in this environment. [2]

In addition to the hydrothermal, tenorite also occurs as a volcanic sublimate from Vesuvius, Campania, and Etna, Sicily, Italy. As a sublimate it occurs with copper chlorides, alkali chlorides and cotunnite. [2] The Vesuvian sublimate occurrence was originally named melaconise or melaconite by F. S. Beudant in 1832. [5]

Tenorite was named in 1841 after the Italian botanist Michele Tenore (1780–1861). [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Copper oxide is any of several binary compounds composed of the elements copper and oxygen. Two oxides are well known, Cu2O and CuO, corresponding to the minerals cuprite and tenorite, respectively. Paramelaconite (Cu4O3) is less well characterized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malachite</span> Mineral variety of copper carbonate

Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This opaque, green-banded mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses, in fractures and deep, underground spaces, where the water table and hydrothermal fluids provide the means for chemical precipitation. Individual crystals are rare, but occur as slender to acicular prisms. Pseudomorphs after more tabular or blocky azurite crystals also occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bornite</span> Sulfide mineral

Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu5FeS4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (pseudo-cubic).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azurite</span> Copper carbonate mineral

Azurite is a soft, deep-blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. During the early 19th century, it was also known as chessylite, after the type locality at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France. The mineral, a basic carbonate with the chemical formula Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, has been known since ancient times, and was mentioned in Pliny the Elder's Natural History under the Greek name kuanos (κυανός: "deep blue," root of English cyan) and the Latin name caeruleum. Copper (Cu2+) gives it its blue color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuprite</span>

Cuprite is an oxide mineral composed of copper(I) oxide Cu2O, and is a minor ore of copper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysocolla</span> Phyllosilicate mineral

Chrysocolla ( KRIS-ə-KOL) is a hydrous copper phyllosilicate mineral and mineraloid with the formula Cu
2 – x
Al
x
(H
2
Si
2
O
5
)(OH)
4
nH
2
O
(x < 1) or (Cu, Al)
2
H
2
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
nH
2
O)
.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atacamite</span> Halide evaporite mineral

Atacamite is a copper halide mineral: a copper(II) chloride hydroxide with formula Cu2Cl(OH)3. It was first described for deposits in the Atacama Desert of Chile in 1802 by Dmitri de Gallitzin. The Atacama Desert is also the namesake of the mineral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volborthite</span>

Volborthite is a mineral containing copper and vanadium, with the formula Cu3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O. Found originally in 1838 in the Urals, it was first named knaufite but was later changed to volborthite for Alexander von Volborth (1800–1876), a Russian paleontologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connellite</span>

Connellite is a rare mineral species, a hydrous copper chloro-sulfate, Cu19(OH)32(SO4)Cl4·3H2O, crystallizing in the hexagonal system. It occurs as tufts of very delicate acicular crystals of a fine blue color, and is associated with other copper minerals of secondary origin, such as cuprite and malachite. Its occurrence in Cornwall, England, was noted by Philip Rashleigh in 1802, and it was first examined chemically by Prof Arthur Connell FRSE in 1847, after whom it is named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalcophyllite</span>

Chalcophyllite is a rare secondary copper arsenate mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of some arsenic-bearing copper deposits. It was first described from material collected in Germany. At one time chalcophyllite from Wheal Tamar in Cornwall, England, was called tamarite, but this name is now discredited. At Wheal Gorland a specimen exhibiting partial replacement of liriconite, Cu
2
Al(AsO
4
)(OH)
4
·(4H
2
O)
, by chalcophyllite has been found. The mineral is named from the Greek, chalco "copper" and fyllon, "leaf", in allusion to its composition and platy structure. It is a classic Cornish mineral that can be confused with tabular spangolite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calumetite</span> Mineral

Calumetite is a natural rarely occurring mineral. It was discovered in 1963 at the Centennial Mine near Calumet, Michigan, United States. Calumetite was first discovered along with anthonyite. It has a chemical formula of Cu(OH,Cl)
2
•2(H
2
O)
.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudomalachite</span>

Pseudomalachite is a phosphate of copper with hydroxyl, named from the Greek for "false" and "malachite", because of its similarity in appearance to the carbonate mineral malachite, Cu2(CO3)(OH)2. Both are green coloured secondary minerals found in oxidised zones of copper deposits, often associated with each other. Pseudomalachite is polymorphous with reichenbachite and ludjibaite. It was discovered in 1813. Prior to 1950 it was thought that dihydrite, lunnite, ehlite, tagilite and prasin were separate mineral species, but Berry analysed specimens labelled with these names from several museums, and found that they were in fact pseudomalachite. The old names are no longer recognised by the IMA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthonyite</span>

Anthonyite is a hydrous secondary copper halide mineral with chemical formula of Cu(OH,Cl)2·3(H2O).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plancheite</span>

Plancheite is a hydrated copper silicate mineral with the formula Cu8Si8O22(OH)4•(H2O). It is closely related to shattuckite in structure and appearance, and the two minerals are often confused.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strashimirite</span>

Strashimirite is a rare monoclinic mineral containing arsenic, copper, hydrogen, and oxygen. It has the chemical formula Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4·5(H2O).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramelaconite</span> Oxide mineral

Paramelaconite is a rare, black-colored copper(I,II) oxide mineral with formula CuI
2
CuII
2
O3 (or Cu4O3). It was discovered in the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee, Arizona, about 1890. It was described in 1892 and more fully in 1941. Its name is derived from the Greek word for "near" and the similar mineral melaconite, now known as tenorite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spertiniite</span>

Spertiniite is a rare copper hydroxide mineral. Chemically, it is copper(II) hydroxide with the formula Cu(OH)2. It occurs as blue to blue-green tabular orthorhombic crystal aggregates in a secondary alkaline environment altering chalcocite. Associated minerals include chalcocite, atacamite, native copper, diopside, grossular, and vesuvianite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piypite</span>

Piypite is a rare potassium, copper sulfate mineral with formula: K2Cu2O(SO4)2. It crystallizes in the tetragonal system and occurs as needlelike crystals and masses. Individual crystals are square in cross-section and often hollow. It is emerald green to black in color with a vitreous to greasy luster.

<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 3 Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. Webmineral data
  4. 1 2 Mindat
  5. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press