- Antlerite
Infobox mineral
name = Antlerite
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formula = Copper sulfate hydroxide, Cu3(SO4)(OH)4
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color = Bright green, through darker greens to black
habit = tabular and acicular or fibrous. Also found as reniform, massive or granular specimens
system = Orthorhombic bipyramidal
twinning =
cleavage = Unidirectional
fracture = Uneven
mohs = 3.5
luster =
refractive = 1.72-1.78
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birefringence =
pleochroism = x: yellowish green
y: bluish green
z: bluish green
streak = Pale green
gravity = ~3.9
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other =Antlerite is a greenish hydrous
copper sulfate mineral , with the formula Cu3(SO4)(OH)4. It occurs in tabular, acicular, or fibrous crystals with avitreous luster. Originally believed to be a rare mineral, antlerite was found to be the primary ore of the oxidised zones in several copper mines across the world, including theChuquicamata mine inChile , and theAntler mine inArizona , USA from which it takes its name. It is chemically and optically similar in many respects to other copper minerals such asmalachite andbrochantite , though it can be distinguished from the former by a lack ofeffervescence inhydrochloric acid .
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