Mineral - Covellite
Covellite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Toxicity
none
Formula
CuS
Unit Cell
a=3.79 c=16.34 Z=6
Physical Properties
Hardness
1.5 - 2
Streak
gray
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {0001}
Fracture
uneven
Tenacity
Elastic-flexible
Optical Properties
Color
blackblue
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
hexagonal
Point Group
dihexagonal-dipyramidal - 6/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
P6 3 /mmc (194)
Habit
leafy, tabular
Formation
Alteration of primary copper sulfides, hydrothermal
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Covellite
Composition
Elements
Mass
Cu
66.06
Fe
0.14
S
33.87
USA (Palache et al. 1952)