Conichalcite
Conichalcite is a copper that is a rare mineral that is situated in really striking colours of green. It is typically found as radial aggregates that are fibrous botryoidal to reniform crusts or massive. Conichalcite is occasionally found mixed in with Calcite or Quartz. Whenever this occurs, gorgeous cabochons are made. This incident is quite rare.
There are many localities that are minor Conichalcite but fine crystals are extremely rare. A couple feasible sources of Conichalcite mixed in with Calcite or Quartz are Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona and Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia.
| Category: | Arsenate minerals | |
| Formula: | CaCu(AsO4)(OH) | |
| Color: |
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| Crystallography: | Orthorhombic – Disphenoidal | |
| Crystal Habit: | Rarely as euhedral crystals, equant to short prismatic along [010], to 3 mm, terminated by many forms, both left- and right-handed; typically in radial fibrous aggregates, as botryoidal to reniform crusts, massive. | |
| Twinning: | Rare on [001] |
| Cleavage: | None Observed |
| Fracture: | Irregular/Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Hardness (Mohs): | 4.5 |
| Density: | 4.33 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | None |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Other: | Easily soluble in HCl or HNO3 |
