Campigliaite

Campigliaite
General
CategoryCopper oxysalt mineral
FormulaCu4Mn(SO4)2(OH)6·4H2O
IMA symbolCpg
Strunz classification7.DD.30
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classSpheroidal (2)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2
Unit cella = 21.7 Å, b = 6.09 Å,
c = 11.24 Å; β = 100.3°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorPale blue to pale greenish blue
Crystal habitTypically as clusters or tufts of elongated or bladed crystals
TwinningPolysynthetic, with {100} as twin plane, ubiquitous
CleavagePerfect on {100}
LusterVitreous
Specific gravity3.0
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.589 nβ = 1.645 nγ = 1.659
Birefringenceδ = 0.070
2V angle52° measured
Dispersionr < v, weak
References

Campigliaite is a copper and manganese sulfate mineral with a chemical formula of Cu4Mn(SO4)2(OH)6·4H2O. It has a chemical formula and also a crystal structure similar to niedermayrite, with Cd(II) cation replacing by Mn(II). The formation of campigliaite is related to the oxidation of sulfide minerals to form sulfate solutions with ilvaite associated with the presence of manganese. Campigliaite is a rare secondary mineral formed when metallic sulfide skarn deposits are oxidized. While there are several related associations, there is no abundant source for this mineral due to its rare process of formation. Based on its crystallographic data and chemical formula, campigliaite is placed in the devillite group and considered the manganese analogue of devillite. Campigliaite belongs to the copper oxysalt minerals as well followed by the subgroup M=M-T sheets. The infinite sheet structures that campigliaite has are characterized by strongly bonded polyhedral sheets, which are linked in the third dimension by weaker hydrogen bonds.