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Paramelaconite & Likasite

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JYJ728789

Paramelaconite & Likasite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Tenke Deposit, Tenke-Fungurume, Kolwezi, Lualaba, DR Congo
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
4.8 × 3.2 × 2.7 cm
Description

Very good paramelaconite crystals in a cavity of likasite and a cuprite.

The formation of paramelaconite needs an N rich environment. Over 10 years researchers tried to synthesize paramelaconite without success until they understood that the formation is a two step reaction involving the formation of an ammonium-copper complex first in N rich environment while copper is leached. For more information visit the paramelaconite page of wiki/en. 

The mineral is predominantly found associated with native copper and dark blue likasite/buttgenbachite as an indicator mineral. This paragenesis that is compatible with the formation of paramelaconite might be limited to a very small area where the N rich formation is present and native copper impregnates the cuprite. Many specimens only host native copper in cuprite without the copper nitrates! 

 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Paramelaconite

Formula: 
Cu2Cu2O3
Strunz: 
4.AA.15
Hardness: 
4.5
Type Locality: 
Copper Queen Mine (Halero Mine), Queen Hill, Bisbee, Warren District, Mule Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA

Likasite

Formula: 
Cu3(NO3)(OH)5·2H2O
Strunz: 
5.ND.05
Crystal System: 
Orthorhombic
Hardness: 
0.0
Colour: 
Blue
Type Locality: 
Likasi Mine (Panda Mine), Likasi (Jadotville; Jadotstad), Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)