- Aurichalcite
Infobox mineral
name = Aurichalcite
category = Carbonate mineral
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formula = (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
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color = pale green, greenish blue, sky blue
habit = Acicular to druzy encrustations
system =Monoclinic -prismatic
twinning =
cleavage = [010] Perfect
fracture = Uneven
mohs = 2
luster = Pearly
refractive = nα = 1.655 nβ = 1.740 nγ = 1.744
opticalprop = Biaxial (-)
birefringence = 0.0890
pleochroism = Weak colorless to pale green
streak = Light blue
gravity = 3.64 - 3.9
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var1 =Aurichalcite is a carbonate mineral, usually found as a secondary mineral in
copper andzinc deposits. Its chemical formula is (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6. The zinc to copper ratio is about 5:4×←×←±.Associated minerals include:
rosasite ,smithsonite ,hemimorphite ,hydrozincite ,malachite andazurite .It was first described in 1839 by Bottger who named the mineral for its zinc and copper content after the Greek όρειχαλκος, for "mountain brass" or "mountain copper", the name of a fabulous metal.
References
* [http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/aurichalcite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy]
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-422.html Mindat]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Aurichalcite.shtml Webmineral data]
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