Chalcocyanite

chalcocyanite

dolerophanite

melanothallite

piypite

Images

Formula: Cu(SO₄)
Anhydrous normal sulphate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.65 measured, 3.89 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, light green, brownish, yellowish, sky-blue; colourless in transitted light
Solubility: Soluble in water and very hygroscopic, altering to chalcanthite (Mindat)
Environments

Fumeroles

Localities

At the Izalco Volcano, Sonsonate Department, El Salvador, chalcocyanite is associated with stoiberite, shcherbinaite, ziesite, bannermanite and chalcanthite (HOM).

At the type locality, Mount Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Campania, Italy, chalcocyanite occurs in the active volcanic fumarole, associated with dolerophanite, melanothallite, eriochalcite and euchlorine (HOM).

At the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, chalcocyanite is associated with euchlorine, eriochalcite, dolerophanite, melanothallite, piypite, ponomarevite, cotunnite, sofiite, fedotovite and tenorite (HOM).
Chalcocyanite is also one of the minerals associated with eleomelanite at this locality (CM 58.5.625–636).

Back to Minerals