Chalcanthite

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Chalcanthite

Description

Chalcanthite

A rare, azure blue mineral composed of hydrous Copper sulfate. Chalcanthite is found as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of copper sulfide ore deposits in Chile and the U.S.(Nevada, Tennessee, Utah). It can be transparent to translucent.

Synonyms and Related Terms

copper sulfate pentahydrate; blue vitriol; blue stone; bluestone; copper vitriol; calcantita (Esp.) 

FTIR (PMA)

Chalcanthite, PMAI0528, -R6153-1.TIF

IR-ATR (RRUFF)

Chalcanthite Infrared R050354 RRUFF.png

Raman (RRUFF)

Chalcanthite Raman R050354 RRUFF.png

Raman (RASMIN)

ChalcanthiteRS.jpg

Risks

  • Ingestion is toxic.

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Triclinic, short prismatic crystals.
  • Fracture = conchoidal.
  • Luster = vitreous.
  • Streak = white
  • Soluble in water.
Composition CuSO4 - 5H2O
Mohs Hardness 2.5
Density 2.286 g/ml

Resources and Citations

  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 235
  • Henry Hodges, Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology, Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988
  • C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
  • Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997