Cornetite
Cornetite is an uncommon secondary birdwatcher that is an attractive deep blue to color that is green-blue. Crystals are tiny and typically found as flat aggregates that are radial crusts. A faceted treasure is a rarity that is correct. Mineral specimens have actually been cut as cabochons for gem enthusiasts.
Cornetite is found in several localities which can be notable from the celebrity for the Congo mine, near Lubumbashi, as well as the Kalabi and Lukini mines, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire). From the Bwana Mkubwa mine, Ndola, and Kansanshi, Zambia. At the Alaska, Mangula, and Molly mines, Lomagundi region, Zimbabwe. In the USA, within the Blue Jay and Empire-Nevada mines, Yerington district, Lyon County, Nevada; at Tyrone, Santa Rita, give County, New Mexico; on Saginaw Hill, Pima County, Arizona. From Cerro Verde, Sonora, Mexico. In Chile, at Chuquicamata, Antofagasta; the Manto Ruso mine, about 85 kilometre north of Copiapó, Atacama; together with Brillador mine, La Serena, near Coquimbo. From the Blockade mine, 60 kilometre east of Mount Isa, and also at Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia.
| Category: | Phosphate minerals |
| Chemical Formula: | Cu3(PO4)(OH)3 |
| Copper Phosphate Hydroxide | |
| Molecular Weight: | 336.63 gm |
| Composition: | Copper | 56.63 % | Cu | 70.89 % | CuO |
| Phosphorus | 9.20 % | P | 21.08 % | P2O5 | |
| Hydrogem | 0.90 % | H | 8.03 % | H2O | |
| Oxygen | 33.27 % | O | |||
| 100.00 % | 100.00 % | = TOTAL OXIDE |
| Crystallography: | Orthorhombic – Dipyramidal |
| Crystal Habit: | As crystals, short prismatic on [001], {210} rounded, also showing large {021}, {221}, with a number of other forms known, to 1 cm; as flat radial aggregates and crusts. |
| Twinning: | On {h0l}. |
| Cleavage: | None observed |
| Fracture: | n/a |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 4.5 |
| Density: | 4.1 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | None |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Other: | Soluble in cold HCl. |
| Color: | Dark Blue to Green-Blue; Green-Blue in transmitted light. May exhibit colour zoning in shades of green-blue. |
| Transparency: | Translucent to Transparent |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Refractive Index: | 1.765 – 1.820 Biaxial ( – ) |
| Birefringence: | 0.0550 |
| Dispersion: | Strong; r < v |
| Pleochroism: | None |
