Cyanotrichite

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Cyanotrichite

Radiating sprays of cyanotrichite needles on matrix from the old Grand Canyon Mine now within Grand Canyon National Park (size: 3.8 x 3.7 x 1.2 cm)
General
Category Sulfate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Cu4Al2[(OH)12|SO4]·2H2O
Strunz classification 07.DE.10
Unit cell a = 10.16 Å, b = 12.61 Å, c = 2.9 Å; Z=1
Identification
Color Sky-blue, azure-blue
Crystal habit Acicular crystals and fibrous aggregates; incrustations
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Fracture Uneven
Mohs scale hardness 1-3
Luster Silky
Streak Light blue
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 2.76
Optical properties Biaxial (+)
Refractive index nα = 1.588 nβ = 1.617 nγ = 1.655
Birefringence δ = 0.067
Pleochroism X = colorless; Y = pale blue; Z = bright blue
2V angle Measured: 82°
References [1][2][3]

Cyanotrichite is a copper aluminium sulfate mineral with formula Cu4Al2[(OH)12|SO4]·2H2O, also known as lettsomite, very similar to halotrichite, and a member of the same group. It forms velvety aggregates of extremely fine fibres and radial aggregates. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and forms translucent bright blue acicular crystal clusters or drusey coatings. The Mohs hardness is 2 and the specific gravity ranges from 2.74 to 2.95. Refractive indices are nα=1.588 nβ=1.617 nγ=1.655.

Occurrence and discovery

It is an oxidation product of primary copper mineralization in a weathering environment with abundant aluminium and sulfate. Associated minerals include brochantite, spangolite, chalcophyllite, olivenite, tyrolite, parnauite, azurite and malachite.[1]

The main deposits are Cap la Garrone in the Var (France), Romania and Arizona (USA).

It was first described in 1839 from Moldova Nouă, Banat, Romania. The name is from Greek kyaneos for "blue" and triches for "hair" referring to the typical color and habit. Its earlier name, Lettsomite, is taken from the name of William Garrow Lettsom (1804–1887), co-author of the 1858 Manual of the Mineralogy of Great Britain and Ireland.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cyanotrichite in the Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. ↑ Cyanotrichite on Mindat.org
  3. ↑ Cyanotrichite data on Webmineral
  • Palache, C., H. Berman, and C. Frondel (1951) Dana’s System of Mineralogy, (7th edition), v. II, p. 578–579. PDF file
  • Mineral galleries
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