Devilline
Devilline is a sulfate mineral with the chemical formula CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6•3H2O. The name originates from the French chemist's name, Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville (1818–1881).
Devilline | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Sulfate minerals |
Formula (repeating unit) | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) |
IMA symbol | Dev[1] |
Strunz classification | 7.DD.30 |
Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
Space group | P21/c |
Unit cell | a = 20.870, b = 6.135 c = 22.91 [Å], β = 102.73° V = 2,861.23 Å3 |
Identification | |
Color | green, blueish green; green in transmitted light |
Crystal habit | prismatic, lamellar, platy pseudohexagonal crystals |
Twinning | On {010} |
Cleavage | perfect (001) distinct (110) and (101) |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 |
Luster | vitreous, pearly |
Streak | light green |
Density | measured- 3.13 g/cm3 calculated- 3.084 g/cm3 |
Optical properties | biaxial negative |
Refractive index | nα=1.585, nβ=1.649, nγ=1.660 |
Birefringence | δ=0.075 |
Pleochroism | visible |
2V angle | 42° |
Solubility | Insoluble in water and concentrated H2SO4. Completely soluble in HNO3. |
References | [2][3] |
Devilline crystallizes in the monoclinic system.[4] Crystallographically, it contains three vectors of unequal lengths and two pairs of vectors are perpendicular while the other pair makes an angle other than 90°. Devilline is prismatic and belongs to the crystal class 2/m. This mineral belongs to the space group P 21/c. Devilline is an anisotropic mineral, meaning that the mineral has different properties in different directions. Optically, this mineral is biaxial negative, meaning that it contains two optic axes. Devilline has a moderate mineral relief. Mineral relief refers to the way a mineral appears to stand out when viewed under polarized light and it is dependent on the mineral's index of refraction.
Devilline is a rare and unusual secondary mineral found in the oxidized portions of copper sulfide ore deposits.[5] Because Devilline occurs in such oxidation zones, this mineral often is of post-mining origin. Devilline is found in mines all around the world.
Devilline group
Devilline group minerals are monoclinic sulfates.[6]
Mineral | Chemical formulae | Crystal system |
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Campigliaite | Cu4Mn2+(SO4)2(OH)6·4H2O | Monoclinic |
Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·3H2O | Monoclinic |
Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6·4H2O | Triclinic |
Ktenasite | Zn(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·6H2O | Monoclinic |
Lautenthalite | PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·3H2O | Monoclinic |
Serpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3H2O | Monoclinic |
References
- Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- "Devilline on Mindat".
- "Devilline Mineral Data - Webmineral".
- Back, M., and Mandrine, J. (2008) Fleischer's Glossary of Mineral Species 2008. 58 p. Mineralogical Record, Tuscan, Arizona
- Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Devilline" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- Back, Malcolm E. (2014). Fleischer's Glossary of Mineral Species (11 ed.). Tucson AZ: Mineralogical Record Inc. p. 434.