Gerhardtite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Gerhardtite
Charles Frédéric Gerhardt
Formula:
Cu2(NO3)(OH)3
Colour:
Emerald Green
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.4 - 3.43
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1885 by Horace L. Wells and Samuel Lewis Penfield in honor of Charles Frédéric Gerhardt [August 21, 1816 Strassburg Germany - August 19, 1856 Strasbourg, Germany], who first prepared the artificial compound, in addition to many other achievements. Gerhardt studied organic chemistry under Justus von Liebig and Jean Baptiste Dumas. Gerhardt also worked with Auguste Cahours and Michel Eugène Chevreul in Paris. Gerhardt proposed some important changes in chemical formula notation that were controversial in the time period. After several laboratory assignments and private work as a scientific book translator (primarily of Liebig's works), Gerhardt became professor at University of Montpellier in Montpellier, France in 1844-1851. In 1854, Gerhardt became professor of chemistry in the École Polytechnique at Strassburg. Gerhardt wrote the important four volume book, Traité de chimie organique, but did not live to see its publication as he died from accidentally being poisoned by one of his experiments.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
An uncommon secondary copper nitrate.
Easy to confuse with its dimorph rouaite (both have very similar X-ray powder diffraction patterns).
Easy to confuse with its dimorph rouaite (both have very similar X-ray powder diffraction patterns).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1680
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1680:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4adc9be2-6548-4ee3-a781-d356d54b8987
IMA Classification of Gerhardtite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Gerhardtite
5.NB.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
B : With OH
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
B : With OH
Dana 7th ed.:
19.1.1.1
19.1.1.1
19 : NITRATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Anhydrous Nitrates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
19 : NITRATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Anhydrous Nitrates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
13.3
13 : Nitrates
13 : Nitrates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ghd | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gerhardtite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Emerald Green
Streak:
Light green
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001} perfect; on {100} good.
On {001} perfect; on {100} good.
Density:
3.4 - 3.43 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.389 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gerhardtite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.703 nβ = 1.713 nγ = 1.722
2V:
Measured: 85° , Calculated: 86°
Birefringence:
0.019
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.019
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
r < v very strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Green
Y = Green
Z = Blue
Y = Green
Z = Blue
Chemistry of Gerhardtite
Mindat Formula:
Cu2(NO3)(OH)3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gerhardtite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
2 2 2 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P21 21 21
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.087(2) Å, b = 13.813(4) Å, c = 5.597(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.441 : 1 : 0.405
Unit Cell V:
470.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals thick tabular {001}. Strongly striated on the pyramid zone. Faces often in oscillatory combination. Crystals flexible, with separation along {100}.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013022 | Gerhardtite | Bovio B, Locchi S (1982) Crystal structure of the orthorhombic basic copper nitrate, Cu2(OH)3NO3 Journal of Crystallographic and Spectroscopic Research 12 507-517 | 1982 | Kalabi, Jadotville, Katanga | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.91 Å | (100) |
| 4.561 Å | (10) |
| 4.351 Å | (10) |
| 4.121 Å | (50) |
| 3.950 Å | (10) |
| 3.539 Å | (50) |
| 3.454 Å | (60) |
| 3.070 Å | (10) |
| 3.038 Å | (20) |
| 3.006 Å | (20) |
| 2.939 Å | (20) |
| 2.797 Å | (60) |
| 2.785 Å | (10) |
| 2.743 Å | (30) |
| 2.669 Å | (60) |
| 2.624 Å | (80) |
| 2.595 Å | (70) |
| 2.541 Å | (10) |
| 2.520 Å | (20) |
| 2.493 Å | (50) |
| 2.391 Å | (40) |
| 2.310 Å | (80) |
| 2.174 Å | (50) |
| 2.155 Å | (20) |
| 2.114 Å | (30) |
| 2.006 Å | (5) |
| 1.973 Å | (10b) |
| 1.923 Å | (60) |
| 1.875 Å | (5) |
| 1.852 Å | (20b) |
| 1.838 Å | (5) |
| 1.780 Å | (40b) |
| 1.742 Å | (5) |
| 1.727 Å | (30) |
| 1.708 Å | (20) |
| 1.589 Å | (40) |
| 1.579 Å | (80) |
| 1.569 Å | (20) |
| 1.550 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 14-687
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Oxidation zone of copper deposits
Type Occurrence of Gerhardtite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Yale University
Other Language Names for Gerhardtite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 12 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 9 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| 8 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Likasite | Cu3(NO3)(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 8 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Buttgenbachite | Cu19(NO3)2(OH)32Cl4 · 2H2O |
| 4 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Rouaite | Cu2(NO3)(OH)3 |
| 4 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Copper | Cu |
| 2 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Gerhardtite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.NB. | Nitroplumbite | [Pb4(OH)4](NO3)4 |
| 5.NB.05 | Rouaite | Cu2(NO3)(OH)3 |
Fluorescence of Gerhardtite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in water. Soluble in dilute acids.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Gerhardtite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1680.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Gerhardtite
Reference List:
Localities for Gerhardtite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Wallace et al. (1990) +2 other references |
| Sharpe et al. (2000) | |
Chile | |
| Terry Szenics |
| Sulphides analysed by geology dep. of ... +1 other reference |
DR Congo | |
| Oswald (1961) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Personal communication from Jasun ... |
| personal communication from Jasun ... | |
France | |
| Y. Vessely collection |
| Riviéra Scientifique:85:3-12 (15 Oct 2001) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2010) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| |
Hungary | |
| Collector:Koller G.-Analysed by ... |
Italy | |
| Luigi Chiappino |
| Franzini et al. (1992) |
Kazakhstan | |
| first finds in the USSR. Novye Dannye o Mineralakh SSSR et al. (in Russian) +2 other references |
Morocco | |
| Georges Favreau collection |
Poland | |
| Nowinska (2020) |
Spain | |
| in Spanish version (Revista de Minerales) +1 other reference |
Ukraine | |
| Geologiya SSSR (The geology of USSR) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Lindgren (1904) +5 other references |
| Merritt Stephen Enders (2000) | |
| Raman analyzed at the University of ... |
| Williams (1961) +1 other reference |
| Dana 6: 1094 +4 other references |
| In the collection of Brent Thorne. |
| Ref.: Morris Jr. (1983) +2 other references |
| Journal of Geosciences (2015) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout GerhardtiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Great Australia Mine, Cloncurry, Cloncurry Shire, Queensland, Australia