| Tenorite | |
|---|---|
A sample of tenorite |
|
| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
| Chemical formula | CuO |
| Strunz classification | 04.AB.10 |
| Unit cell | a = 4.6837(5) Å, b = 3.4226(5) Å, c = 5.1288(6) Å; β = 99.47°; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Steel-gray, iron-gray, black |
| Crystal habit | Lathlike crystals, curved, scaly, dendritic; commonly pulverulent, earthy, massive |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/c |
| Twinning | Common on {011}, forming stellate groups; lamellar |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
| Tenacity | Brittle; flexible and elastic in thin scales |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3.5 - 4 |
| Luster | Metallic to earthy |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 6.5 |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Tenorite is a copper oxide mineral with the simple formula CuO.
Tenorite occurs in the weathered or oxidized zone associated with deeper primary copper sulfide orebodies. Tenorite commonly occurs with chrysocolla and the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite. The dull grey-black color of tenorite contrasts sharply with the often intergrown blue chrysocolla. Cuprite, native copper and Fe–Mn oxides also occur in this environment.[1]
In addition to the hydrothermal, tenorite also occurs as a volcanic sublimate from Vesuvius, Campania, and Etna, Sicily, Italy. As a sublimate it occurs with copper chlorides, alkali chlorides and cotunnite.[1]
Tenorite was named for the Italian botanist Michele Tenore (1780-1861).[3]