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Formula: K4Cu4O2(SO4)4.(Na,Cu)Cl
Anhydrous sulphate containing halogen
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 3.09 to 3.11 measured, 3.0 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: Yellowish green
Colour: Emerald green, dark green, black
Solubility: Decomposed by water, forming a residue. Readily soluble in dilute acids
Environments
Localities
At the Vesuvius fumaroles, Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Campania, Italy, piypite is associated
with paratacamite
(HOM).
At the type locality, the Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, piypite forms
moss-like aggregates of imperfect long-columnar or acicular crystals up to 3 cm long and l mm across, often empty
inside, in 500oC fumarole incrustations. It is associated with
aphthitalite, dolerophanite, euchlorine, chalococyanite
and tenorite
(AM 70.437-438). Other associated minerals include halite,
sylvite, langbeinite,
hematite, tolbachite,
urusovite, ponomarevite,
cotunnite, sofiite,
averievite, fedotovite,
alarsite,
alumoklyuchevskite,
nabokoite and lammerite
(HOM).
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