Chalcanthite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Chalcanthite

Entry/Object ID

2014.1.58

Description

Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Chalcanthite Chemistry: CuSO4 - 5H2O Group: Sulfates Location: Arizona Description: Small specimen with blue crystals covering entire specimen. Physical Charateristics: •Color is a bright and deep blue. •Luster is vitreous. •Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. •Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1.•Crystal Habits include rare, individual, natural crystals showing well formed slanted prismatic, tabular or lense-shaped forms, more commonly aggregated into columnar, curved, parallel growth structures. Also found as encrusting, stalactitic and granular masses and as vein filling deposits.•Cleavage is poor (basal). •Fracture is conchoidal. •Hardness is 2.5 •Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 - 2.3 (noticeably below average). •Streak is pale blue to colorless.•Other Characteristics: Is very soluble in water. A fact that is a detriment to most collection specimens as they may absorb water from the air and deteriorate over time. The taste has a sweet metallic character, but do not do this test often or with more than just a tip-of-the-tongue technique and only if needed to confirm an identification as chalcanthite is poisonous! •Associated Minerals are brochantite, calcite , melanterite, aragonite, malachite and chalcopyrite. •Notable Occurrences include Chuquicamata and El Teniente (Sewell), Chile; Minas de Rio Tinto, Spain; England; Germany and Ireland and in the United States, Bigham Canyon, Utah; Ducktown, Tennessee; Imlay, Pershing County, Nevada; Arkansas; California; New Mexico and Arizona.•Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, low density, associations, solubility in water, taste and color. Hardness: 7 Quartz Rock Type: Sedimentary

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2014.1

Source or Donor

Crater Rock Museum (unknown donors)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

Other Number: 78.63.28

Dimensions

Height

2-3/4 in

Width

1-1/4 in

Length

2-11/16 in

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-11

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent

Moved By

Curtis Gardner

Date

May 25, 2023

Notes

Added current location