| Herbertsmithite | |
|---|---|
Herbertsmithite from Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Tocopilla Province, Chile. Size: 4.5 x 4.4 x 2.7 cm. |
|
| General | |
| Category |
Copper minerals Zinc minerals Halide minerals |
| Chemical formula | ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2 |
| Strunz classification | 03.DA.10c |
| Identification | |
| Color | Light green, blue-green |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Cleavage | Distinct to good |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3-3½ |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | Light green |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Density | 3.76 |
Herbertsmithite is a mineral with chemical structure ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. It is named after the mineralogist Herbert Smith and was first found in 1972 in Chile. A polymorph of kapellasite and closely related to paratacamite, is generally found in and around Anarak, Iran, hence its other name, Anarakite. Herbertsmithite is associated with copper mineralizations in syenitic porphyries and granites.
Herbertsmithite has a vitreous lustre and is fairly transparent with a light-green to blue green color. Herbertsmithite has a Mohs hardness of between 3 and 3.5 and is known to have a brittle tenacity. The crystal's density has been calculated at 3.76 g/cm3.
Herbertsmithite is of some interest to solid state physics in scientific research into string-net liquids and quantum spin liquids due to its Kagome lattice structure.