Faustite Mineral Data

Faustite Mineral Data +

General Faustite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Zn,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 823.92 gm

Aluminum 19.65 % Al 37.13 % Al₂O₃

Zinc 6.35 % Zn 7.90 % ZnO

Copper 1.54 % Cu 1.74 % Cu₂O

Phosphorus 15.04 % P 34.46 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.08 % H 18.59 % H₂O

Oxygen 55.34 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 99.81 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Zn_0.8Cu_0.2Al₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4.5(H₂O)

Environment:

In argillized shales associated with copper mineralization.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1953

Locality:

Copper King mine, about 16 km northwest of Carlin, Maggie Creek district, Eureka County, Nevada, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for George Tobias Faust (1908-1985), mineralogist and geologist, U. S. Geological Survey.

Faustite Image

Images:

Faustite

Comments: White botryoidal faustite on matrix.
Location: Rain Mine, Eureka County, Nevada, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Faustite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.7522:1:0.7755

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.44, b = 9.89, c = 7.67, Z = 1; alpha = 107.2°, beta = 115.6°, gamma = 69.65° V = 455.86 Den(Calc)= 3.00

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.68(1), 2.89(0.8), 6.7(0.7),

Crystal Structure:

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Kolitsch U , Giester G , Mineralogical Magazine , 64 (2000) p.905-913, The crystal structure of faustite and its copper analogue turquoise, Locality: Iron Monarch iron ore deposit, South Australia

Physical Properties of Faustite

Cleavage:

[???] Indistinct

Color:

Apple green.

Density:

2.92

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Nodular - Tuberose forms having irregular protuberances over the surface.

Habit:

Nuggets - Irregular lumps produced by stream transport of malleable metals.

Hardness:

5.5 - Knife Blade

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

greenish white

Optical Properties of Faustite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.044 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.07 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2043,KPDmeas= 0.2099,KC= 0.2196

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), b=1.613

Calculated Properties of Faustite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.93 gm/cc
note: r_Faustite=2.92 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00287
Boson Index = 0.99713

Photoelectric:

PE_Faustite= 5.02 barns/electron
U=PE_Faustite x r_electron= 14.68 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Faustite is Not Radioactive

Faustite Classification

Dana Class:

42.9.3.3 (42)Hydrated Phosphates, etc., Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(42.9)where (A)3 (XO4)2 Zq · x(H2O)

(42.9.3)Dana Group

42.9.3.1 Turquoise CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

42.9.3.2 Coeruleolactite (Ca,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4-5(H2O) P1 1

42.9.3.3 Faustite (Zn,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

42.9.3.4 Chalcosiderite CuFe6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

42.9.3.5 Aheylite (Fe,Zn)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

42.9.3.6 Planerite Al6(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

Strunz Class:

VII/D.15-50 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/D - Water-bearing phosphates with unfamiliar anions, cations of medium size: Cu, Zn, Mn, Al, Fe

VII/D.15 - Turquoise group

VII/D.15-10 Planerite Al6(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.15-20 Coeruleolactite (Ca,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4-5(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.15-30 Aheylite (Fe,Zn)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.15-40 Turquoise CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.15-50 Faustite (Zn,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

VII/D.15-60 Chalcosiderite CuFe6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O) P1 1

Other Faustite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic4) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic4)

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Faustite

(Zn,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8·4(H2O)
Dana No: 42.9.3.3 Strunz No: VII/D.15-50
Locality:

Notes: