Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/79953
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Type: Journal article
Title: Description and crystal structure of domerockite, Cu₄(AsO₄)(AsO₃OH)(OH)₃·H₂O, a new mineral from the Dome Rock Mine, South Australia
Other Titles: Description and crystal structure of domerockite, Cu(4)(AsO(4))(AsO(3)OH)(OH)(3)(.)H(2)O, a new mineral from the Dome Rock Mine, South Australia
Author: Elliott, P.
Kolitsch, U.
Willis, A.
Libowitzky, E.
Citation: Mineralogical Magazine, 2013; 77(4):509-522
Publisher: Mineralogical Society
Issue Date: 2013
ISSN: 0026-461X
1471-8022
Statement of
Responsibility: 
P. Elliott, U. Kolitsch, A. C. Willis, and E. Libowitzky
Abstract: Domerockite, Cu₄(AsO₄)(AsO₃OH)(OH)₃·H₂O, is a new mineral from the Dome Rock Mine, South Australia. It occurs as aggregates of bluish green, equant to short prismatic and tabular crystals up to 0.3 mm long and 0.2 mm across. Domerockite is translucent, with a vitreous lustre and pale green streak. It displays no fluorescence under UV irradiation. The mineral is brittle with an uneven fracture, a Mohs hardness of ∼3 and a calculated density of 4.44 g/cm³ (based on the structure refinement). Optically, it is biaxial negative, with α = 1.798(4), β = 1.814(4), γ = 1.817(4), 2V(calc). = 46°; pleochroism is very weak; X pale greenish yellow, Y greenish blue, Z greenish blue; absorption X < Y = Z; orientation is uncertain. Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave CuO 52.04, ZnO 0.78, BaO 0.11, As₂O₅37.67, P₂O₅0.32, SiO₂0.24, H₂O 8.84, total 100.00 wt.%, with H₂O calculated by difference. The empirical chemical formula is (Cu₃.₉₄, Zn₀.₀₆)Σ₄.₀₀H₀.₉₁(As₁.₉₇, P₀.₀₃, Si₀.₀₂)Σ₂.₀₂O₈(OH)₃.₀₀˙H₂O based on 12 oxygen atoms. Domerockite is triclinic, space group P1, with a = 5.378(11), b = 8.962(18) c = 9.841(2) Å, α = 75.25(3), β = 83.56(3), γ = 79.97(3)°, V = 450.5(16) ų and Z = 2. The eight strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d (Å), (I)(hkl)]: 4.716 (30)(101, 002, 111), 3.697 (25)(121), 3.605 (30)(120, 121), 3.119 (60)(121), 3.073 (100)(121), 2.856 (40)(022, 030), 2.464 (50)(212, 113), 2.443 (40)(014). The crystal structure of domerockite has been solved by direct methods and refined to an R index of 7.44% using 2635 observed reflections. The structure comprises [Cu₄] ( = O, OH) chains of edge-sharing sharing, distorted octahedra that extend along [101] and are decorated by AsO4 tetrahedra to form sheets in the (010) plane. Dimers of edge-sharing [CuO₄(OH)(H₂O)] octahedra share corners with dimers of edge-sharing [CuO₄(OH)] square pyramids to form zigzag chains which extend along [101]. The chains lie between and link to the sheets by sharings corners of octahedra, square pyramids and tetrahedra to form a heteropolyhedral framework.
Keywords: copper arsenate
crystal structure
dome rock mine
domerockite
new mineral species
Rights: © 2013 The Mineralogical Society
DOI: 10.1180/minmag.2013.077.4.10
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2013.077.4.10
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 4
Earth and Environmental Sciences publications

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