Chalcanthite

Chalcanthite

Description

A rare, azure blue mineral composed of hydrous sulfate 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.)

Raman

Other Properties

Triclinic, short prismatic crystals. Fracture = conchoidal. Luster = vitreous. Streak = white

Soluble in water.

Composition	CuSO4 - 5H2O
Mohs Hardness	2.5
Density	2.286

Hazards and Safety

Ingestion is toxic.

Additional Information

Mineralogy Database: Chalcanthite

Additional Images

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  Chalcanthite

Authority

• G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 235

• Henry Hodges, Henry Hodges, Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology, Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988

• C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcanthite (Accessed Sept 2 2005; spec. grav=2.12-2.3 )

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• Random House, Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997