Kapellasite

kapellasite

cumengeite

diaboleite

gordaite

Images

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

Hydrothermal 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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