Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Copiapite

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Category
  
Sulfate minerals

Crystal system
  
Triclinic

Strunz classification
  
7.DB.35

Space group
  
P1

Copiapite FileCopiapite199661jpg Wikimedia Commons

Formula (repeating unit)
  
Fe 2 + Fe 4 3 + ( SO 4 ) 6 ( OH ) 2 ⋅ 20 H 2 O {\displaystyle {\ce {Fe^{2+}Fe^{3+}4(SO4)6(OH)2.20H2O}}}

Crystal class
  
Pinacoidal (1) (same H-M symbol)

Copiapite meaning


Copiapite is a hydrated iron sulfate mineral with formula: Fe 2 + Fe 4 3 + ( SO 4 ) 6 ( OH ) 2 20 H 2 O Copiapite can also refer to a mineral group, the copiapite group.

Contents

Copiapite Copiapite Image

Copiapite is strictly a secondary mineral forming from the weathering or oxidation of iron sulfide minerals or sulfide-rich coal. Its most common occurrence is as the end member mineral from the rapid oxidation of pyrite. It also occurs rarely with fumaroles. It occurs with melanterite, alunogen, fibroferrite, halotrichite, botryogen, butlerite and amarantite. It is by far the most common mineral in the copiapite group.

Copiapite HP11479800602jpg

It rarely occurs as single crystals, is in the triclinic crystal system, and is pale to bright yellow. It is soluble in water, changing the water color to deep orange or orangish-red. In solution copiapite is very acidic. In high concentrations a negative pH can occur, as reported in waters draining from Richmond Mine at Iron Mountain, California. Copiapite can easily be distinguished from native sulfur because it does not give off an odor when dissolved in water. It can be distinguished from similar appearing uranium minerals, such as carnotite, by its lack of radioactivity. The only way to differentiate between the minerals in the copiapite group is by X-ray diffraction.

Copiapite FileBotryogenButleriteCopiapited051ajpg Wikimedia Commons

Copiapite was first described in 1833 for an occurrence near Copiapó, Atacama, Chile. It is sometimes known as yellow copperas. Other occurrences are in California, Nevada, and in the filled paleo sinkholes and caves of Missouri.

Copiapite httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

How to say copiapite high quality voices


References

Copiapite Wikipedia