Kinoite

Kinoite is a copper that is rather rare that is found in only a few localities around the world. Some of the best specimens result from the Christmas mine in Gila County, Arizona. It is usually linked and covered with small crystals of Apophyllite which will give a specimen a very sparkle that is nice. Cyrstals have become tiny, frequently just about 1.5 mm, therefore the gems that are merely are druzy design cabochons. Massive examples of Kinoite might be a lighter color that is blue minute, individual crystals may be a darker color much like Azurite or Linarite. Kinoite can be found as very rosette that is small that will be comparable in appearance to clusters of Cavansite. Kinoite is also highly pleochroic showing colors from pale blue or pale greenish blue to blue that is deep.

Distribution: In the USA, in Arizona, between Helvetia and Rosemont, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, and in the Christmas copper mine, Gila County; in the Bawana mine, about six km northwest of Milford, Beaver County, Utah; as well as in Michigan, in the Laurium and La Salle mines, Calumet, Houghton County and also at the Northwestern mine, Keweenaw County. In Japan in the Fuka mine, Bitchu-cho (Bicchu-cho), Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, Chugoku Region, Honshu Island.

Chemical Formula: Ca2Cu2Si3O8(OH)4  or  Ca2Cu2Si3O10 • 2H2O
Calcium Copper Silicate Hydroxide   or  Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate
Molecular Weight: 487.53 gm
Composition: Calcium 16.44 % Ca 23.00 % CaO
Copper 26.07 % Cu 32.63 % CuO
Silicon 17.28 % Si 36.97 % SiO2
Hydrogen 0.83 % H 7.39 % H2O
Oxygen 39.38 % O
  100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

 

Crystallography: Monoclinic – Prismatic
Crystal Habit: As well-formed crystals, to 1.5 mm, tabular on [100], somewhat elongated along [001]; also in veinlets, massive.
Twinning: None

 

Cleavage: Excellent on {010}; distinct on {100} and {001}
Fracture: n/a
Tenacity: Brittle
Moh’s Hardness: 4.0 – 5.0
Density: 3.13 – 3.19 (g/cm3)
Luminescence: Not Fluorescent
Radioactivity: Not Radioactive

 

Color: Light to deep azure-blue
Transparency: Transparent to Translucent
Luster: Vitreous
Refractive Index: 1.638 – 1.676  Biaxial ( – ) 
Birefringence: 0.038
Dispersion: Distinct to relatively weak; r < v
Pleochroism: Strong; X = pale greenish blue; Y = blue; Z = deep blue