Copalite	A synonym of 'Copal'
Coppaelite	A synonym of 'Kalsilite-phlogopite melilitite'
Cucalite	A rock subtype
Upalite	A valid IMA mineral species	Al(UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂O(OH) · 7H₂O

IMA Classification of CupaliteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

CuAl

Approval year:

1983

First published:

1985

Type description reference:

Razin, L.V., Rudashevskij, N.S., and Vyalsov, L.N. (1985) New natural intermetallic compounds of aluminium, copper and zinc—khatyrkite CuAl2, cupalite, CuAl and zinc aluminides—from hyperbasites of dunite-harzburgite formation. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 114: 90–100 (in Russian).

Classification of CupaliteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

1.AA.20

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family

Dana 7th ed.:

1.1.23.1

Dana 8th ed.:

1.1.15.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group

Hey's CIM Ref.:

1.23

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

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 for Standard
Cup	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 CupaliteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Steel yellow

Hardness:

4 - 4½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₀=272 - 318 kg/mm² - Vickers

Density:

5.12 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of CupaliteHide

Anisotropism:

Weak from light gray to gray.

Bireflectance:

Very weak, gray to dark gray

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)
440nm	66.8%
480nm	65.3%
520nm	63.7%
560nm	62.1%
600nm	60.4%
640nm	58.9%
680nm	57.7%
720nm	56.9%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.8%.

Chemistry of CupaliteHide

Mindat Formula:

(Cu,Zn)Al

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Cu	70.195 %
Al	29.805 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Al, Cu, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of CupaliteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.94 Å, b = 4.12 Å, c = 10.14 Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.684 : 1 : 2.461

Unit Cell V:

289.93 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Grains to 35 microns

Comment:

Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d

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)
0020058	Cupalite	El-Boragy M, Szepan R, Schubert K (1972) Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r) Journal of the Less-Common Metals 29 133-140		1972	synthetic	0	293
0020057	Cupalite	El-Boragy M, Szepan R, Schubert K (1972) Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r) Journal of the Less-Common Metals 29 133-140		1972	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Cupalite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'El-Boragy M'
'Szepan R'
'Schubert K'
_journal_name_full 'Journal of the Less-Common Metals'
_journal_volume 29 
_journal_year 1972
_journal_page_first 133
_journal_page_last 140
_publ_section_title
;
 Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r)
;
_database_code_amcsd 0020058
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cu5 Al5'
_cell_length_a 12.066
_cell_length_b 4.105
_cell_length_c 6.913
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 55.04
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 280.621
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      5.357
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'C 1 2/m 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,-y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
Cu1   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000
Cu2   0.25600   0.00000   0.76000
Cu3   0.10900   0.00000   0.22800
Al1   0.00000   0.50000   0.50000
Al2   0.15500   0.00000   0.54300
Al3   0.38200   0.00000   0.01300

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.07 Å	(10)
4.12 Å	(8)
3.59 Å	(2)
2.83 Å	(1)
2.607 Å	(1)
2.316 Å	(1)
2.023 Å	(1)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration	4.566-4.550
6 : Secondary asteroid phases	4.566-4.560

Type Occurrence of CupaliteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Khatyrka meteorite, Iomrautvaam massif, Anadyrsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

General Appearance of Type Material:

Myrmekitic and dendritic droplike grains to 5x35 um within khatyrkite and as rounded or irregular grains from to 10x20 um in cracks and interstices in khatyrkite.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Mining Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, number 1688/1.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Placers derived from serpentine.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Khatyrkite

Reference:

Synonyms of CupaliteHide

IMA1983-084

Other Language Names for CupaliteHide

Dutch:Cupaliet

German:Cupalit

Spanish:Cupalita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

1.AA.	Jonlarsenite	Al₄Cu₉	Iso. 43m : P43m
1.AA.	Pratesiite	AgCuTe₂	Orth. mm2 : Pmm2
1.AA.05	Native Lead	Pb	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05a	Auricupride Subgroup
1.AA.05	Native Nickel	Ni	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05	Native Silver	Ag	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05	'UM2004-08-E:AuCuPd'	Cu₂PdAu
1.AA.05	'UM1991-06-E:AuCu'	Au₃Cu
1.AA.05	Native Aluminium	Al	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05	Steinhardtite	Al_0.38Ni_0.32Fe_0.30	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Im3m
1.AA.05	Native Gold	Au	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05	Native Copper	Cu	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AA.05	Copper Group
1.AA.10a	Cuproauride	Cu₃Au
1.AA.10b	Tetra-auricupride	AuCu	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AA.10a

Cupalite

Unique IdentifiersHide

Similar NamesHide