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| Kolwezite
is named for
its occurrence at Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) where
it was discovered at the Musonoi Mine.
| Discovered
in 1980; IMA
status:
Valid (IMA Approved 1980) |
|
Chemistry
|
|
|
Chemical
Formula: |
(Cu,Co)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
|
Copper
Cobalt Carbonate Hydroxide |
Molecular
Weight: |
218.07 gm
|
Composition: |
Cobalt |
17.84 % |
Co |
22.68 % |
CoO |
|
Copper |
39.05 % |
Cu |
48.88 % |
CuO |
|
Hydrogen |
0.92 % |
H |
8.26 % |
H2O |
|
Carbon |
5.51 % |
C |
20.18 % |
CO2 |
|
Oxygen |
36.68 % |
O |
|
|
|
|
100.00 % |
|
100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Carbonates
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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5/C.01-50
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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5.BA.10
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5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
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Related
to: |
Rosasite
Group (synonym: Malachite-Rosasite Group). Structurally related to Malachite.
|
Members
of Group: |
Rosasite
Group:
Glaukosphaerite,
Kolwezite, Mcguinnessite, Parádsasvárite,
Pokrovskite, Rosasite, Zincrosasite
|
Varieties: |
None
|
Synonyms: |
IMA1979-017,
Koluezite
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Triclinic
|
Crystal
Habit:
|
In
spherical aggregates, to 1 cm, and microcrystalline
crusts.
|
Twinning:
|
None
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Physical
Properties
|
|
|
Cleavage: |
None
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Fracture: |
n/a
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Tenacity:
|
Brittle
|
Moh's
Hardness: |
~4.0
|
Density:
|
3.97 (g/cm3)
|
Luminescence:
|
None
|
Radioactivity:
|
Not
Radioactive
|
|
|
Optical
Properties
|
|
|
Color: |
Blackish
brown to pale beige, greenish
|
Transparency: |
Semitransparent,
translucent to subopaque |
Luster: |
Vitreous
|
Refractive
Index: |
1.688
- 1.900 Biaxial
|
Birefringence: |
0.212
|
Dispersion: |
Weak, r > v |
Pleochroism: |
None |
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Occurances
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|
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Geological
Setting: |
An
uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of
some Cu–Co hydrothermal ore deposits. |
Common
Associations: |
Cobaltian
Calcite, Cobaltian Dolomite, Cobaltian Malachite, Heterogenite
|
Common
Impurities: |
None
|
Type
Locality: |
Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Kolwezi District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
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Year
Discovered: |
1980
|
View
mineral photos: |
Kolwezite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
|
|
|
|
Mindat.org
Webmineral.com
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Kolwezite is a rare mineral that occurs in some oxidized copper-cobalt
ore deposits. It is named
for its occurrence
at the famous mines at Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
where it was discovered at the Musonoi Mine. Kolwezite
belongs to the Rosasite Group of minerals that also
includes Perovskite
and Rosasite
among others. The Rosasite Group is a group of metal
hydroxide carbonate minerals. Kolwezite is similar to
the much more common Malachite.
One of the main differences between the two is that
Kolwezite contains a significant percentage of cobalt in place of some of the copper contained
in Malachite.
Kolwezite
crystals are too small for faceting but very attractive
and collectible as mineral specimens. The crystals are
found as blackish
brown to pale beige, but most often as greenish
radiating spherical aggregates and microcrystalline
crusts. The most desirable Kolwezite specimens often
resemble green cotton balls on bright
pink Cobaltoan
Calcite (as pictured above). There are only a few localities for Kolwezite
worldwide.
Distribution:
from
the Type Locality at the Musonoi and Kamoto Cu–Co mines, near Kolwezi, and
the Mupine, and Mashamba West mines, Katanga Province,
Congo (Zaire). In Germany at the Prangenhaus Quarry,
Rohdenhaus, Wülfrath, Niederberg area, North Rhine-Westphalia.
In Greece at the Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), St. Constantine, Lavrion District Mines,
Lavrion District, Attikí Prefecture. In the USA
at the Tuckerville prospects, Hinsdale County, Colorado.
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Kolwezite
gems for sale:
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gems yet. Please
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