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Ammineite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ammineite
Formula:
[CuCl2(NH3)2]
Colour:
Deep blue to sky blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
2.34 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in allusion to being the first natural mineral species containing the ammine complex (= (NH3)) in the composition (see below).
The first approved mineral with an ammine complex (containing a metal in complex with NH3). As of September 2023 there are five ammine complex bearing minerals (ammineite, chanabayaite, joanneumite, shilovite and triazolite.)
Not to be confused with amminite ( a zinc-bearing chemical analogue, but found on burning coal dumps so is anthropogenic and not a valid species).
The mineral was first discovered in a guano quarry at Pabellón de Pica on the Chilean coast, which is the only known contact zone of a copper deposit and a young sub-maritime guano deposit which, due to its unique microbiology, supplies the nitrogen needed for the formation of the mineral.
Minerals like buttgenbachite and gerhardtite have similar compositions regarding the elements N (nitrogen) and H (hydrogen), but have a different chemical nature, since they are nitrates (NO3) containing hydroxyl (OH).
Not to be confused with amminite ( a zinc-bearing chemical analogue, but found on burning coal dumps so is anthropogenic and not a valid species).
The mineral was first discovered in a guano quarry at Pabellón de Pica on the Chilean coast, which is the only known contact zone of a copper deposit and a young sub-maritime guano deposit which, due to its unique microbiology, supplies the nitrogen needed for the formation of the mineral.
Minerals like buttgenbachite and gerhardtite have similar compositions regarding the elements N (nitrogen) and H (hydrogen), but have a different chemical nature, since they are nitrates (NO3) containing hydroxyl (OH).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
38895
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:38895:9
Similar Names
| Ambonite | A rock subtype |
| Amenite | A synonym of Amesite |
| Amminite | A synonym of 'Unnamed (Zinc-Ammine Chloride)' |
| Ammonit | A synonym of -unidentified- |
| Amneite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Ammineite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu2+Cl2(N3-H3)2
Approval year:
2008
First published:
2010
Classification of Ammineite
3.C0.
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
0 :
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
0 :
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amm | 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 Ammineite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Deep blue to sky blue
Streak:
Light blue
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} perfect, {110} good
{001} perfect, {110} good
Comment:
Tenacity described as 'weak' in type description
Density:
2.34 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Not measured due to instablity in water
Optical Data of Ammineite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.676(2) nβ = 1.715(2) nγ = 1.785(2)
2V:
Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.109
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
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
Could not be observed because of the intense blue color
Comments:
β and γ = dark blue, α = light blue
Comments:
X = c, Y = b and Z = a
Chemistry of Ammineite
Mindat Formula:
[CuCl2(NH3)2]
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Ammineite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.688 Å, b = 10.645 Å, c = 5.736 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.722 : 1 : 0.539
Unit Cell V:
469.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Elongate along [100], with the dominant form {001}
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018300 | Ammineite | Bojar H P, Walter F, Baumgartner J, Farber G (2010) Ammineite, CuCl2(NH3)2, a new species containing an ammine complex: Mineral data and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 48 1359-1371 | 2010 | Calleta Pabellon de Pica, Tarapaca region, Chile | 0 | 100 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.282 Å | (69) |
| 4.276 Å | (56) |
| 3.897 Å | (60) |
| 2.919 Å | (100) |
| 2.764 Å | (35) |
| 2.659 Å | (81) |
| 2.335 Å | (32) |
| 1.966 Å | (28) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Ammineite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Intense sky-blue hypidiomorphic grains up to 3 millimeters across. Also as powdery masses in solution cavities of halite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Universalmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria (mineralogical collection, catalogue number 84.935)
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
CuCl1.99N1.99H5.57
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Cu | 37.60 % |
|---|---|
| Cl | 41.67 % |
| N | 16.54 % |
| H | 3.32 % |
| Total: | 99.13 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Interaction between NH3 from bird guano and Cu from plutonic rocks in a dry environment.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Ammineite
Other Language Names for Ammineite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Ammineite associated with Halite | NaCl |
| 3 photos of Ammineite associated with Shilovite | Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2 |
| 2 photos of Ammineite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 2 photos of Ammineite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Ammineite associated with Chanabayaite | CuCl(N3C2H2)(NH3) · 0.25H2O |
| 1 photo of Ammineite associated with Tenorite | CuO |
| 1 photo of Ammineite associated with Bojarite | Cu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2 · 6H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.C0. | Ermakovite | (NH4)(As2O3)2Br |
Fluorescence of Ammineite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in HCl and ammonia, and in water transforms into an amorphous phase
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 Ammineite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-38895.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile