Eriochalcite

eriochalcite

melanothallite

euchlorine

dolerophanite

Images

Formula: CuCl2.2H2O
Chloride
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 2.47 measured, 2.55 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Colour: Bluish green, greenish blue, yellowish tint at times
Solubility: Readily soluble in water to a pale blue solution and in NH4OH to an intense blue solution (Mindat)
Environments

Hydrothermal environments
Volcanic fumeroles

Localities

At the Queténa Mine, Toki Cu deposit, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile, eriochalcite occurs as a product of weathering in a copper sulphide deposit in an arid climate. Associated minerals include atacamite and bandylite (HOM).

At the type locality, Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Campania, Italy, eriochalcite occurs as an encrustation around active volcanic fumaroles. Associated minerals include melanothallite, euchlorine, chalcocyanite and dolerophanite (HOM).

At the Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, eriochalcite is associated with euchlorine, chalcocyanite, dolerophanite, melanothallite, tenorite and tolbachite (HOM).

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