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Conichalcite & Chrysocolla

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GND128315

Conichalcite & Chrysocolla

Classic Locality

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Dome Rock Copper Mine, Boolcoomatta Reserve, Olary Province, South Australia, Australia
Size Range: 
Small cabinet (7-10 cm)
Size: 
8.2 × 6.5 × 2.2 cm
Description

A very interesting specimen from this well known outback locality. It seems probable that a fair amount of pseudomorphing by chrysocola has gone on at various stages.

On one side is a large patch of lime green globules of conichalcite with large areas of black heterogenite and some crusts of white calcite. Some minor chrysocolla is present which seems to be pseudomorphing a possible earlier generation of conichalcite.

The reverse side mainly features sky blue chrysocolla which seems to have pseudomorphed malachite, with a little residual material remaining.

Conichalcite was named in1849 from the Greek "konis" (powder) and "chalkos" (copper) in relation to the appearance of the mineral at times.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Conichalcite

Formula: 
CaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Strunz: 
8.BH.35
Crystal System: 
Orthorhombic
Hardness: 
4.5
Type Locality: 
Hinojosa del Duque, Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain

Chrysocolla

Formula: 
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4·nH2O (x < 1)
Strunz: 
9.ED.20
Crystal System: 
Monoclinic
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.5
Gondwana Minerals