Sampleite
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Description
A rare copper phosphate mineral with a chemical composition of NaCaCu5(PO4)4Cl-5H2O. Sampleite occurs naturally in deposits in Chile and has been found in caves formed from the sulfides and phosphates in bat guano. Sampleite was identified as a corrosion product on Egyptian copper alloys (Fabrizi et al. 1989).
Physical and Chemical Proerties
- Description: light blue to blue-green prismatic crystals or aggregates
- Hardness = 4
- Luster = pearly
- Density = 3.2 g/ml
Resources and Citations
- M.Fabrizi, H.Ganiaris, S.Tarling, D.Scott, "The Occurrence of Sampleite, a Complex Copper Phosphate, as a Corrosion Product on Copper Alloy Objects from Memphis, Egypt" Studies in Conservation, 34:45-51, 1989.
- Wikipedia: Sampleite Accessed Dec 2022
- Mindat: Sampleite Accessed Dec 2022
- Webmineral: Sampleite Accessed Dec 2022