Jun 11 2014
Topics Covered
Introduction to Camerolaite
Properties of Camerolaite
How to Identify Camerolaite
Global Distribution
Occurrence of Camerolaite and Useful Mineral Association
References
Introduction to Camerolaite
Chemical Formula – Cu4Al2(HSbO4,SO4)(CO3)(OH)10 •2H2O
Camerolaite was named after Michel Camerola, a French mineral collector who collected the first specimen.
Properties of Camerolaite
The following are the key properties of camerolaite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: P21/m or P21
- a = 10.765(6)
- b = 2.903(2)
- c = 12.527(8)
- β = 95.61(4)°
- Z = 1
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- Point group: 2/m or 2
- Crystals are acicular, elongated along [010], flattened on {100}, showing only {100} and {001}
- Typically in tufts or radiating aggregates, to 2mm
- X-ray powder pattern: 4.276 (100), 5.160 (90), 5.62 (50), 3.565 (40), 2.380 (35), 2.326 (35), 2.137 (30)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
| CuO |
40.56 |
| H2O |
20.00 |
| Al2O3 |
14.54 |
| Sb2O3 |
13.55 |
| CO2 |
6.26 |
| SO3 |
4.75 |
| Total |
99.66 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical class: Biaxial (+)
- Pleochroism: X = colorless; Y = pale green; Z = blue-green
- Orientation: X ⊥ {100}; Z = b
- Dispersion: r < v , strong
- α = 1.626(2); β = 1.646(2); γ = 1.682(2)
- 2V(meas.) = 77(3)°
- 2V(calc.) = 75°
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.05 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of camerolaite = 3.15 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PECamerolaite = 52.98 barns/electron
U = PECamerolaite x ρ electron density = 161.38 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.000461018
Boson index = 0.999538982 |
Radioactivity
|
Camerolaite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Camerolaite
Camerolaite can be identified in the field by its blue-green color. Its transparent form has {100} and {001} good cleavage. This mineral has a silky luster, with light green streak. The fracture on this mineral is fibrous.
The density of camerolaite is 3.1 g/cm3.
Global Distribution
Camerolaite is distributed in the following places:
- France - From the Cap Garonne mine, near le Pradet, Var, and at Ceilhes, Herault
- Switzerland - From near St.-Luc, Val d’Anniviers, Valais
- Slovakia - At Spania Dolina (Herrengrund) and Piesky
- Germany - In the Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest
Occurrence of Camerolaite and Useful Mineral Association
Camerolaite occurs in a rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of polymetallic mineral deposits.
It is often associated with minerals such as parnauite, cyanotrichite, malachite, quartz, azurite, brochantite, chalcophyllite, and mimetite.
References