Theoparacelsite

FormulaCu3As2O7(OH)2

Origin of name: For the Swiss scientist Paracelse (1493-1541), who was Philippus Theophrastus van Hohenheim. Paracelse is a Greek-Roman translation of Hohenheim.

 

Crystal system: Hexagonal

Crystal class: 3 2/m

Twinning: 

Unit cell: 

 

Colour: Emerald-green to blue-green, dark pistachio green

Diaphaneity: Translucent

Luster: Vitreous-adamantine

Habit: In minute crystals, platy or finely parallel fibrous, in botryoidal crusts, to 0.5 cm; may be interstratified with other layer-structure minerals.

Hardness: 3.5

Specific gravity: 4.00

Cleavage: 1, {0001} perfect

Tenacity: Conchoidal fracture, brittle

Streak: Pale green, yellowish green

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: Found included in cuprite and pseudomorphous after olivinite. Related to olivinite.

 

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