|
Click on a
letter above to view the list of gems. |
|
|
|
| Rosasite
is named after its discovery locality, the Rosas Mine, Sulcis, Sardinia,
Italy.
| Discovered
in 1908;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
|
Chemistry
|
|
|
Chemical
Formula: |
Cu,Zn2(CO3)(OH)2
|
|
Copper Zinc Carbonate Hydroxide
|
Molecular
Weight: |
222.04 gm |
Composition: |
Zinc |
14.72 % |
Zn |
18.33 % |
ZnO |
|
Copper |
42.93 % |
Cu |
53.74 % |
CuO |
|
Hydrogen |
0.91 % |
H |
8.11 % |
H2O |
|
Carbon |
5.41 % |
C |
19.82 % |
CO2 |
|
Oxygen |
36.03 % |
O |
|
|
|
|
100.00 % |
|
100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
|
|
Classification
|
|
|
Mineral
Classification: |
Carbonates
|
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
|
5/C.01-80
|
Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
|
5.BA.10
|
|
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES) B : Carbonates with
additional anions, without H2O A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn,
Mg, Mn
|
Related
to: |
Rosasite
Group
|
Varieties: |
Nickeloan
Rosasite
|
Synonyms: |
Parauricalcite-I
|
|
|
Crystal
Data
|
|
|
Crystallography:
|
Monoclinic
- Prismatic
|
Crystal
Habit:
|
Crystals
are acicular, to 0.5 mm; in radial or divergent sprays
or globular; compact mammillary to botryoidal crusts
and masses, typically fibrous and with warty surfaces.
|
Twinning:
|
On
{100}
|
|
|
Physical
Properties
|
|
|
Cleavage: |
Distinct/Good
in two directions at right angles.
|
Fracture: |
Splintery - Thin, elongated fractures produced by intersecting good
cleavages or partings.
|
Tenacity:
|
Brittle
|
Moh's
Hardness: |
4.5
|
Density:
|
4.00
- 4.20 (g/cm3)
|
Luminescence:
|
None
|
Radioactivity:
|
Not
Radioactive
|
Other: |
Soluble
in acids
|
|
|
Optical
Properties
|
|
|
Color: |
Blue, Blue-Green to Green, sky-Blue; Colorless to light blue in
transmitted light.
|
Transparency: |
Translucent
|
Luster: |
Vitreous,
Silky
|
Refractive
Index: |
1.672
- 1.831 Biaxial ( - )
|
Birefringence: |
0.139
- 0.140
|
Dispersion: |
Strong;
r > v
|
Pleochroism: |
Strong; X
= pale emerald-green; Z
= dark emerald-green
|
|
|
Occurances
|
|
|
Geological
Setting: |
An
uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of Cu–Zn-bearing
deposits, typically formed by zinc-bearing solutions
on primary copper minerals; may be of post-mine origin.
|
Common
Associations: |
Malachite,
Aurichalcite, Smithsonite, Cerussite, Hydrozincite,
Hemimorphite |
Common
Impurities: |
Mg,
Fe |
Type
Locality: |
Rosas Mine, Narcao,
Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Sardinia, Italy |
Year
Discovered: |
1908
|
View
mineral photos: |
Rosasite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
|
|
More
Information
|
|
|
|
Mindat.org
Webmineral.com
|
|
|
Rosasite
forms in the oxidation zones of zinc-copper deposits
and typically found as crusts and botryoidal masses or nodules.
Crystals are an attractive bluish-green and fibrous. Because of this, gems are
rare and are usually opaque or translucent at best but
still very attractive because of the bright color and
pearly, fibrous structure.
Rosasite
is found in a number of localities worldwide including
the type locality of Rosas mine, Sulcis, Sardinia, Italy.
At a number of places in England, such as Caldbeck Fells,
Cumbria, and mines in Cornwall. Fine examples from Tsumeb,
Namibia. In the USA, from the Kelly mine, Magdalena,
Socorro County, New Mexico; fine specimens from the
Silver Bill mine, Gleeson, and at Bisbee, Cochise County,
in the 79 mine, Gila County, and a number of other places
in Arizona; from the Mohawk mine, San Bernardino County,
California; at Leadville, Lake County, Colorado; from
Majuba Hill, Pershing County, Nevada; in the Hidden
Treasure mine, Ophir district, Tooele County, Utah.
Abundant specimens from the Ojuela mine, Mapimí, Durango,
Mexico. In small amounts from additional localities.
|
Rosasite
gems for sale:
We
have not photographed our Rosasite gems. Please
check back soon.
|
|