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Formula: (Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14.7H2O
Hydrated carbonate containing hydroxyl, arsenic-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 3.35 measured, 3.34 calculated
Hardness: 2
Colour: Turquoise blue
Common impurities: Zn
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Clara mine, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany,
claraite is a rare secondary mineral in the oxidised
copper-zinc deposit. It forms blue
spherules associated with malachite,
azurite, olivenite,
baryte, fluorite and
quartz
(AM 68.471, HOM). At one locality in the vein an assemblage of claraite,
malachite and theisite formed in
the vicinity of partly limonitised
ankerite
(CM 57.427-456).
The mine exploits a polyphase hydrothermal unconformity vein-type deposit. It is the type locality for 13 minerals,
and more than 400 different mineral species have been described from this occurrence, making it one of the top five
localities for mineral diversity on Earth
(CM 57.427-456).
Claraite from the Clara Mine - Image
At the Andrássy I. Mine, Rudabánya, Kazincbarcika District, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary, claraite is
associated with malachite,
devilline and gypsum
(HOM).
At the Tintic Mining District, Juab County, Utah, USA, claraite is known on one specimen collected from the
upper dumps of the North Star mine; it occurs as tiny bright blue intergrown rhombohedral crystals in a vug in
quartz
(MinRec 55.2.193).
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