Editorial Feature

Aubertite – Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Aubertite is named after the French geophysicist J. Aubert, who was the first to collect samples of this mineral.

Properties of Aubertite

The following are the key properties of aubertite:

  • Cell Data
    • Space group: P1
    • a= 6.282(3)
    • b=13.192(5)
    • c=6.260(3)
    • α =91.85(3)° ; β =94.70(3)° ; γ = 82.46(3)°
    • Z=1
  • Crystal Data
    • Triclinic
    • Point group: 1
    • As crusts of corroded grains
    • X-ray powder pattern: 4.50 (100), 4.247 (69), 3.952 (58), 6.25 (45), 5.59 (44), 3.690 (42), 3.130 (42)
  • Chemical Composition
    Elements Content 1 Content 2
    SO3 28.30 28.07
    Al2O3 9.16 8.94
    CuO 11.80 13.95
    CaO 0.18 -
    Na2O 0.13 -
    K2O 0.05 -
    Cl 6.70 6.22
    H2O 45.50 44.22
    -O=Cl2 1.51 1.40
    Total 100.21 100
  • Optical Properties
    • Translucent
    • Color: azure blue
    • Optical Class: Biaxial (-)
    • Dispersion: r>v, moderate
    • α=1.462; β=1.482; γ=1.495
    • 2V(meas)= 71°
    • Orientation: Optic axis nearly ⊥ {010}
  • Estimated Properties
    Electron density Bulk density (electron density) = 1.89 g/cm3
    note: Specific gravity of aubertite = 1.83 g/cm3
    Photoelectric PEAubertite = 5.87 barns/electron
    U=PEAubertite x ρ electron density= 11.12 barns/cm3
    Fermion index Fermion index = 0.0011470323
    Boson index = 0.998852
    Radioactivity
    Aubertite is not radioactive

How to Identify Aubertite

Aubertite appears as an azure blue mineral, which is soluble in water.

Global Distribution

Aubertite is found in Quetena, located in the west of Calama, and in Antofagasta, Chile.

Occurrence of Aubertite and Useful Mineral Association

Aubertite occurs in the oxidized zone of a copper deposit. It is associated with minerals such as copiapite, botryogen, amarantite, parabutlerite and metahohmannite.

References

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