Natrochalcite Mineral Data

General Natrochalcite Information

Chemical Formula:

NaCu2(SO4)2(OH)•(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 377.23 gm

Sodium 6.09 % Na 8.21 % Na₂O

Copper 33.69 % Cu 37.93 % Cu₂O

Hydrogen 0.80 % H 7.16 % H₂O

Sulfur 17.00 % S 42.45 % SO₃

Oxygen 42.41 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 95.76 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

NaCu₂(SO₄)₂(OH)•(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary mineral in arid climates.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1908

Locality:

Chuquicamata, Antofagasta, Chile. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the compositon, NATRium (Na), and CHALCos, (Cu).

Name Pronunciation:

Natrochalcite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 73265

PDF 19-1189

Natrochalcite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Natrochalcite Image

Natrochalcite Krohnkite

Comments: Royal blue krÃ¶hnkite and green natrochalcite.
Location: Chiquicamata, Chile. Scale: 3.5 x 2 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Natrochalcite

Comments: Green, transparent crystals of natrochalcite on dark green atacamite.
Location: Chuquicamata, Antofagasta, Chile. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Natrochalcite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.3522:1:1.2077

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.33, b = 6.16, c = 7.44, Z = 2; beta = 112.9° V = 351.68 Den(Calc)= 3.56

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: I2/m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.797(1), 3.44(0.8), 6.57(0.8),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 7 1 2) ( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 1 0 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Giester G , Zemann J , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 179 (1987) p.431-442, The crystal structure of the natrochalcite-type compounds Me+Cu2(OH)(zO4)2*H2O

Physical Properties of Natrochalcite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect

Color:

Emerald green.

Density:

3.49

Diaphaneity:

Transparent

Fracture:

Brittle - Uneven - Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Hardness:

4.5 - Between Fluorite and Apatite

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

greenish white

Optical Properties of Natrochalcite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.055 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.073 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.189,KPDmeas= 0.1927,KC= 0.2039
Ncalc = 1.71 - 1.73

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.649, b=1.655, g=1.714, bire=0.0650, 2V(Calc)=38, 2V(Meas)=36.8. Dispersion r < v strong.

Calculated Properties of Natrochalcite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.40 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Natrochalcite =3.49 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0014798355
Boson Index = 0.9985201645

Photoelectric:

PE_{Natrochalcite}= 15.71 barns/electron
U=PE_{Natrochalcite} x rElectron Density= 53.49 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Natrochalcite is Not Radioactive

Natrochalcite Classification

Dana Class:

31.08.01.01 (31)Hydrated Sulfates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(31.08)where (A+ B++)3 (XO4)2 Zq·x(H2O)

(31.08.01)Dana Group

31.08.01.01 Natrochalcite NaCu2(SO4)2(OH)•(H2O) I2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

07.DF.15 07 - SULFATES (SELENATES, TELLURATES)

07.D - Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O

07.DF -With large and medium-sized cations

07.DF.15 Natrochalcite NaCu2(SO4)2(OH)•(H2O) I2/m 2/m

Other Natrochalcite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Natrochalcite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - GeoScienceWorld
4 - Google Images
5 - Google Scholar
6 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
7 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
8 - MinDAT
9 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
10 - Online Mineral Museum
11 - QUT Mineral Atlas
12 - Ruff.Info
13 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Natrochalcite Specimen Label here :

Natrochalcite

NaCu2(SO4)2(OH)•(H2O)
Dana No: 31.08.01.01 Strunz No: 07.DF.15
Locality:

Notes: