Images
Formula: Cu4Al2(CO3)(OH)12.2H2O
Hydrated carbonate containing hydroxyl, cyanotrichite group,
copper mineral. There is no evidence for solid solution between
cyanotrichite and carbonatecyanotrichite
(AM 47.635-648).
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.66 measured
Hardness: 2
Colour: Pale blue
Solubility: Soluble in acids with effervescence
Environments
Carbonatecyanotrichite is a rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of
copper-bearing deposits, occurring as a weathering product of sulphides
(HOM, Webmin).
At Menzies Bay, Canada, carbonatecyanotrichite is associated with volborthite,
tangeite, malachite,
brochantite and langite
(HOM).
At Qinglong, Guizhou, China, carbonatecyanotrichite has been found in a few specimens, associated with
fluorite
(Minrec 38.1.15).
At the type locality, the Balasauskandyk V Deposit, Shieli, Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan, carbonatecyanotrichite has been
found on cleavage
surfaces and cavities in weathered vanadium-rich shale with
gypsum, variscite,
volborthite, malachite,
aurichalcite, pseudomalachite,
spangolite, gibbsite,
allophane and azurite
(Dana, HOM). It is formed later than alunite,
jarosite, brochantite, and phosphates and
vanadates
of aluminium and iron, and before azurite, malachite
and spangolite
(AM 49.441).
At the Wedding Cave Mine, Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham, Wales, UK, carbonatecyanotrichite occurs in the underground workings forming
crusts covering
areas to 5 cm2 of sandstone wall-rock, where it is a
secondary mineral in association with
secondary lead minerals, including
anglesite, cerussite and
linarite. It may be of post-mining origin
(MW).
Back to Minerals