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Hoganite & Copper

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RSL636614

Hoganite & Copper

Rare Mineral

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Oumjrane, Alnif, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Small miniature (3-4.5 cm)
Size: 
3.7 × 3.2 × 2.5 cm
Largest Crystal: 
0.10cm
Description

Hoganite specimens we have studied form tabular to equant pseudohexagonal crystals; some of them with something similar to rhombohedron faces. Transparent to translucent, with good brilliance and curved faces and edges. Determined by Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDS. They are disposed on the copper and "limonite" matrix and accompanied by light green globular aggregates of a unidentified copper chloride similar to atacamite. These chloride is partially covering hoganite crystals.
The origin of these hoganite crystals is not completely known. "Natural" hoganite specimens are formed, as we said before, from decomposing vegetable matter, like leaves or mine wooden beams. But in this case, we propose that these crystals could be formed, in dry conditions, from acids (vinegar) and solutions, those miners are using to clean native copper specimens. But the presence of the copper chloride covering hoganite is a point to investigate.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Hoganite

Formula: 
Cu(CH3COO)2·H2O
Strunz: 
10.AA.35
Hardness: 
0.0
Streak: 
pale blue
Type Locality: 
Perilya Potosi Mine (Potosi Mine), Broken Hill, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia

Copper

Formula: 
Cu
Strunz: 
1.AA.05
Crystal System: 
Isometric
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.0