Likasite Mineral Data

General Likasite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu3(NO3)(OH)5•2(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 373.71 gm

Copper 51.01 % Cu 63.86 % CuO

Hydrogen 2.43 % H 21.69 % H₂O

Nitrogen 3.75 % N 14.45 % N₂O₅

Oxygen 42.81 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cu₃(NO₃)(OH)₅•2(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1955

Locality:

Likasi mine, Shaba, Zaire. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Likasite

Synonym:

ICSD 30997

PDF 33-479

Likasite Image

Images:

Likasite

Comments: Blue likasite encrustation.
Location: Dzhezkazgan (Zhezkazgan) Mine, Jezkazgan Oblast', Kazakhstan. Scale: Picture size 6 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Likasite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.8609:1:3.2043

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.828, b = 6.769, c = 21.69, Z = 4; V = 855.66 Den(Calc)= 2.90

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - Pyramidal H-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: Pc21n

Physical Properties of Likasite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect

Color:

Blue.

Density:

2.96 - 2.98, Average = 2.97

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Streak:

light blue

Optical Properties of Likasite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.007 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.032 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2241,KPDmeas= 0.2189,KC= 0.2173
Ncalc = 1.63 - 1.65

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.615, g=1.685, bire=0.0700

Pleochroism (x):

blue green.

Pleochroism (z):

pale blue.

Calculated Properties of Likasite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.91 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Likasite =2.97 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.03
Boson Index = 0.97

Photoelectric:

PE_Likasite= 22.06 barns/electron
U=PE_Likasite x rElectron Density= 64.18 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Likasite is Not Radioactive

Likasite Classification

Dana Class:

19.01.05.01 (19)Nitrates - Hydroxyl or Halogen

(19.01)with miscellaneous formulae

(19.01.05)Dana Group

19.01.05.01 Likasite Cu3(NO3)(OH)5•2(H2O) Pc21n mm2

Strunz Class:

05.ND.05 05 - CARBONATES (NITRATES)

05.N - NITRATES

05.ND -With OH (etc.) and H2O

05.ND.05 Likasite Cu3(NO3)(OH)5•2(H2O) Pc21n mm2

Other Likasite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Likasite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Likasite Specimen Label here :

Likasite

Cu3(NO3)(OH)5•2(H2O)
Dana No: 19.01.05.01 Strunz No: 05.ND.05
Locality:

Notes:

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