Mineral - Ajoite
Ajoite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Silicates
Toxicity
none
Formula
(K,Na)Cu₇[(OH)₆|AlSi₉O₂₄]·3H₂O
Unit Cell
a=13.63 b=13.69 c=14.52 α=111° β=107° γ=106° Z=3
Physical Properties
Hardness
1 - 10
Streak
whitegreengreen white
Density
Normal (2-3,5)
Cleavage
Perfect after {010}
Fracture
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
greenblue
Birefringence
0.091
Luster
Vitreous
Transparency
translucent
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
triclinic
Point Group
triclinic-pinacoidal - 1
Space Group
P 1 (2)
Habit
fibrous
Formation
Oxidation zone of copper deposits
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Ajoite
Composition
Elements
Mass
SiO₂
41.20
Al₂O₃
3.81
FeO
0.11
MnO
0.02
CuO
42.20
CaO
0.04
Na₂O
0.84
K₂O
2.50
H₂O
8.35
Arizona (Schaller & Vlisidis 1958)
Name and first discovery : Named after the type locality in "Ajo", Arizona, USA, where the mineral was discovered in 1958.
Chemistry :
Synonyms :
Varieties :
Abbreviation : Aj
literature
Schaller, W. T., & Vlisidis, A. C. (1958). Ajoite, a new hydrous aluminum copper silicate. American Mineralogist: Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials , 43 (11-12), 1107-1111.