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Conichalcite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Conichalcite
Formula:
CaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Colour:
Green, yellow-green, greenish yellow; light green to yellowish green in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Greasy, Earthy
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.33
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named by August Breithaupt and Carl Julius Fritzsche in 1849 from the Greek κουία for "konis" (powder) and χαλκος for "chalkos" (copper) in allusion to its composition and appearance of the mineral at times.
Isostructural with:
Adelite-Descloizite Group. An end member in the Austinite-Conichalcite Series, the Cobaltaustinite-Conichalcite Series, the Conichalcite-Duftite Series, and the Conichalcite-Tangeite Series.
Arsenate analogue of hermannroseite.
A secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits.
Arsenate analogue of hermannroseite.
A secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1119
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1119:4
IMA Classification of Conichalcite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaCu2+As5+O4(OH)
First published:
1849
Classification of Conichalcite
8.BH.35
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
41.5.1.2
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
20.1.12
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
1 : Arsenates of Cu
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
1 : Arsenates of Cu
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Con | 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 Conichalcite
Sub-Vitreous, Greasy, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Green, yellow-green, greenish yellow; light green to yellowish green in transmitted light.
Streak:
Light green
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.33 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.29 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Density of the fibrous material ranges down to about 4.1.
Optical Data of Conichalcite
Type:
Biaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nα = 1.778 - 1.800 nβ = 1.795 - 1.831 nγ = 1.801 - 1.846
Birefringence:
0.034
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023 - 0.046
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Dispersion:
Strong r < v to r < v moderate
Optical Extinction:
XYZ = cba
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Nearly colorless or green Y = Light greenish or yellowish green Z = Pale bluish or blue-green
Comments:
Data for pleochroism relates to Bristol (left) and Bisbee (right).
Chemistry of Conichalcite
Mindat Formula:
CaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Mg,P,V,Zn
Crystallography of Conichalcite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
222 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P212121
Setting:
P212121
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.393(1) Å, b = 9.220(1) Å, c = 5.830(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.802 : 1 : 0.632
Unit Cell V:
397.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Typically radial fibrous aggregates, botyroidal to reniform crusts, massive, rarely equant crystals are short prismatic [010].
Twinning:
Rare on {001}.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018381 | Conichalcite | Sakai S, Yoshiasa A, Sugiyama K, Miyawaki R (2009) Crystal structure and chemistry of conichalcite, CaCu(AsO4)(OH) Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 104 125-131 | 2009 | Gozaisho mine, Fukushima, Japan | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018380 | Conichalcite | Sakai S, Yoshiasa A, Sugiyama K, Miyawaki R (2009) Crystal structure and chemistry of conichalcite, CaCu(AsO4)(OH) Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 104 125-131 | 2009 | Higgins mine, Arizona, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010485 | Conichalcite | Henderson R R, Yang H, Downs R T, Jenkins R A (2008) Redetermination of conichalcite, CaCu(AsO4)(OH) Acta Crystallographica E64 i53-i54 |  | 2008 | Maria Catalina mine, Tierra Amarilla, Chile | 0 | 293 |
| 0005080 | Conichalcite | Qurashi M M, Barnes W H (1963) The structures of the minerals of the descloizite and adelite groups: IV - descloizite and conichalcite (part 2) The structure of conichalcite The Canadian Mineralogist 7 561-577 |  | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.10 Å | (50) |
| 3.14 Å | (90) |
| 2.84 Å | (100) |
| 2.59 Å | (100) |
| 2.56 Å | (50) |
| 1.720 Å | (60) |
| 1.609 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Also ICDD 37-448, 11-306
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Geological Setting:
An uncommon alteration product in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. Typically an alteration product of enargite.
Type Occurrence of Conichalcite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany, 21297.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Conichalcite
Other Language Names for Conichalcite
Dutch:Conichalciet
German:Konichalcit
Conichalcit
Conichalcit
Polish:Staszycyt
Russian:Конихальцит
Spanish:Conicalcita
Relationship of Conichalcite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Adelite-Descloizite Group:
| Adelite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Arsendescloizite | PbZn(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Austinite | CaZn(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Čechite | PbFe2+(VO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Cobaltaustinite | CaCo(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Duftite | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| 'Duftite-alpha' | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) | |
| Gottlobite | CaMg(VO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Hermannroseite | CaCu(PO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Nickelaustinite | CaNi(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| Plumbogottlobite | PbMg(VO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Pyrobelonite | PbMn2+(VO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
| 'Unnamed (Pb-analogue of Nickelaustinite)' | PbNi(AsO4)(OH) | |
| Vuagnatite | CaAl(SiO4)(OH) | Orth. 222 : P212121 |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 369 photos of Conichalcite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 188 photos of Conichalcite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 173 photos of Conichalcite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 160 photos of Conichalcite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 138 photos of Conichalcite associated with Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| 124 photos of Conichalcite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 82 photos of Conichalcite associated with Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 64 photos of Conichalcite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 60 photos of Conichalcite associated with Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 50 photos of Conichalcite associated with Cornwallite | Cu5(AsO4)2(OH)4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BH. | Peterchinite | Zn3Zn2(OH)6As[O3(OH)3] |
| 8.BH. | Reznitskyite | CaMg(VO4)F |
| 8.BH. | Plumbogottlobite | PbMg(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH. | Cuprozheshengite | Pb4CuZn2(AsO4)2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH. | Zheshengite | Pb4ZnZn2(AsO4)2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH. | Crimsonite | PbFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.05 | Thadeuite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+)3(PO4)2(OH,F)2 |
| 8.BH.10 | Panasqueiraite | CaMg(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.10 | Isokite | CaMg(PO4)F |
| 8.BH.10 | Lacroixite | NaAl(PO4)F |
| 8.BH.10 | Arsenatrotitanite | NaTi(AsO4)O |
| 8.BH.10 | Maxwellite | NaFe3+(AsO4)F |
| 8.BH.10 | Durangite | NaAl(AsO4)F |
| 8.BH.10 | Kononovite | NaMg(SO4)F |
| 8.BH.15 | Drugmanite | Pb2Fe3+(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.20 | Nigelcookite | PbFe2+2V3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Plumbojohntomaite | PbFe2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Cirrolite | Ca3Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 (?) |
| 8.BH.20 | Penikisite | Ba(Mg,Fe2+,Ca)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Perloffite | Ba(Mn2+,Fe2+)2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Bjarebyite Group | |
| 8.BH.20 | Strontioperloffite | SrMn2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Plumboperloffite | PbMn2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Johntomaite | BaFe2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Bjarebyite | (Ba,Sr)(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.20 | Kulanite | Ba(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)2(Al,Fe3+)2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BH.25 | Bertossaite | Li2CaAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 |
| 8.BH.25 | Natropalermoite | Na2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 |
| 8.BH.25 | Palermoite | Li2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 |
| 8.BH.30 | Sewardite | CaFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.30 | Carminite | PbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.35 | Adelite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Duftite | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Cobaltaustinite | CaCo(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Nickelaustinite | CaNi(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Gabrielsonite | PbFe3+(As3+O3)O |
| 8.BH.35 | Arsendescloizite | PbZn(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | 'Duftite-alpha' | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Gottlobite | CaMg(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Austinite | CaZn(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Hermannroseite | CaCu(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.35 | Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.40 | Čechite | PbFe2+(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.40 | Khorixasite | (Bi0.67◻0.33)Cu(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.40 | Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.40 | Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.40 | Pyrobelonite | PbMn2+(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BH.45 | Bayldonite | PbCu3(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.45 | Vésigniéite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.50 | Paganoite | NiBi(AsO4)O |
| 8.BH.55 | Jagowerite | BaAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BH.55 | Harrisonite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)6(PO4)2(SiO4)2 |
| 8.BH.60 | Attakolite | CaMn2+Al4(SiO3OH)(PO4)3(OH)4 |
| 8.BH.65 | Leningradite | PbCu3(VO4)2Cl |
| 8.BH.70 | Katiarsite | KTiO(AsO4) |
| 8.BH.70 | Yurgensonite | K2SnTiO2(AsO4)2 |
| 8.BH.75 | Melanarsite | K3Cu7Fe3+O4(AsO4)4 |
| 8.BH.80 | Evseevite | Na2Mg(AsO4)F |
| 8.BH.80 | Moraskoite | Na2Mg(PO4)F |
| 8.BH.85 | Piccoliite | NaCaMn3+2(AsO4)2O(OH) |
Fluorescence of Conichalcite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
Easily soluble in HCl or HNO3.
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 Conichalcite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1119.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany