Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Covellite
| Covellite | |
|---|---|
| Picture needed | |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | copper(II) sulfide:CuS |
| Identification | |
| Color | Indigo blue (tarnished to purple or black) |
| Crystal habit | thin platy hexagonal crystals also massive to granular. |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal 6/m2/m2/m |
| Cleavage | Perfect in one direction |
| Fracture | flakey |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 1.5 - 2 |
| Luster | metallic |
| Refractive index | opaque |
| Pleochroism | N/A |
| Streak | lead gray to black |
| Specific gravity | 4.6 - 4.8 |
| Fusibility | 2.5 |
| Solubility | ? |
| Other Characteristics | micaceous cleavage |
| Major varieties | |
Covellite (also know as covelline) is a crystalline form of copper(II) sulfide (CuS). In appearance it is an enchanting indigo blue. It is associated with chalcosite in zones of secondary enrichment (supergene) of copper sulfide deposits. Commonly found with and as coatings on chalcocite, chalcopyrite, bornite, enargite , pyrite, and other sulfides. Often occurs as pseudomorphic replacements after other minerals. Very rare occurrence as a volcanic sublimate at Mount Vesuvius the site of its discovery or first description by N. Covelli (1790 - 1829).
References and external links
- Dana's Manual of Mineralogy ISBN 0471032883
- Mineralgalleries.com
- Webmineral
- Mindat.org
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details