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Formula: Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2
Chloride of copper and zinc,
atacamite group, a metastable
paramorph of
herbertsmithite
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 3.55 measured, 3.62 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Light green-blue
Colour: Green-blue
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under long wave or short wave UV
Environments
Localities
At the Herzog Julius smelter slag locality, Astfeld, Langelsheim, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany,
kapellasite is associated with cumengeite,
diaboleite and gypsum
(HOM).
Kapellasite from the Herzog Julius
smelter slag locality - Image
At the type locality, the Sounion Mine No. 19, Cato Sounio mines, Sounion, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, East
Attica, Greece, kapellasite is a secondary mineral that
forms crusts and small aggregates up to 0.5 mm, composed of bladed or needle-like indistinct crystals up to 0.2 mm
long. It is formed underground in the mine, from weathering of copper- and
zinc- bearing ore, in the presence of chloride ions. Associated minerals include
anglesite, atacamite,
beaverite-(Cu), bianchite,
calcite, cumengeite,
galena, glaucocerinite,
gordaite, gypsum,
herbertsmithite,
hydrozincite, ktenasite,
paratacamite,
plumbojarosite, pyrite,
quartz, serpierite and
smithsonite
(Mindat).
Kapellasite from the Sounion Mine -
Image
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