Cupalite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al
Colour:
Steel yellow
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
5.12 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for its chemical constituents, copper and aluminium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cupalite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1171
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1171:2
Similar Names
| Copalite | A synonym of 'Copal' | |
| Coppaelite | A synonym of 'Kalsilite-phlogopite melilitite' | |
| Cucalite | A rock subtype | |
| Upalite | A valid IMA mineral species | Al(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2O |
IMA Classification of Cupalite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CuAl
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1985
Classification of Cupalite
1.AA.20
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.1.23.1
1.1.15.1
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1.23
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cup | 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 Cupalite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel yellow
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=272 - 318 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
5.12 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cupalite
Anisotropism:
Weak from light gray to gray.
Bireflectance:
Very weak, gray to dark gray
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 440nm | 66.8% |
| 480nm | 65.3% |
| 520nm | 63.7% |
| 560nm | 62.1% |
| 600nm | 60.4% |
| 640nm | 58.9% |
| 680nm | 57.7% |
| 720nm | 56.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.8%.
Chemistry of Cupalite
Mindat Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cupalite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.94 Å, b = 4.12 Å, c = 10.14 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.684 : 1 : 2.461
Unit Cell V:
289.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
10
Morphology:
Grains to 35 microns
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020058 | Cupalite | El-Boragy M, Szepan R, Schubert K (1972) Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r) Journal of the Less-Common Metals 29 133-140 | 1972 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020057 | Cupalite | El-Boragy M, Szepan R, Schubert K (1972) Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r) Journal of the Less-Common Metals 29 133-140 | 1972 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.07 Å | (10) |
| 4.12 Å | (8) |
| 3.59 Å | (2) |
| 2.83 Å | (1) |
| 2.607 Å | (1) |
| 2.316 Å | (1) |
| 2.023 Å | (1) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Type Occurrence of Cupalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Myrmekitic and dendritic droplike grains to 5x35 um within khatyrkite and as rounded or irregular grains from to 10x20 um in cracks and interstices in khatyrkite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, number 1688/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Placers derived from serpentine.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Cupalite
Other Language Names for Cupalite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AA. | Jonlarsenite | Al4Cu9 |
| 1.AA. | Pratesiite | AgCuTe2 |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Lead | Pb |
| 1.AA.05a | Auricupride Subgroup | |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Nickel | Ni |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Silver | Ag |
| 1.AA.05 | 'UM2004-08-E:AuCuPd' | Cu2PdAu |
| 1.AA.05 | 'UM1991-06-E:AuCu' | Au3Cu |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Aluminium | Al |
| 1.AA.05 | Steinhardtite | Al0.38Ni0.32Fe0.30 |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Gold | Au |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Copper | Cu |
| 1.AA.05 | Copper Group | |
| 1.AA.10a | Cuproauride | Cu3Au |
| 1.AA.10b | Tetra-auricupride | AuCu |
| 1.AA.10a | Auricupride | Cu3Au |
| 1.AA.10 | Nickel Group | |
| 1.AA.15 | Anyuiite | AuPb2 |
| 1.AA.15 | Novodneprite | AuPb3 |
| 1.AA.15 | 'UM1985-02-E:AlZn' | (Zn,Cu)Al2 |
| 1.AA.15 | Khatyrkite | (Cu,Zn)Al2 |
| 1.AA.25 | Hunchunite | Au2Pb |
| 1.AA.30 | Stolperite | AlCu |
| 1.AA.35 | Hollisterite | Al3Fe |
| 1.AA.40 | Icosahedrite | Al63Cu24Fe13 |
| 1.AA.45 | Kryachkoite | (Al,Cu)6(Fe,Cu) |
| 1.AA.50 | Proxidecagonite | Al34Ni9Fe2 |
Other Information
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 Cupalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1171.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Cupalite
Reference List:
El-Boragy, Mohamed, Szepan, Reiner, Schubert, Konrad (1972) Kristallstruktur von Cu3Al2+ (h) und CuAl (r). Journal of the Less Common Metals, 29 (2). 133-140 doi:10.1016/0022-5088(72)90183-x
Ivanova, Marina A., Lorenz, Cyril A., Borisovskiy, Sergey E., Burmistrov, Andrey A., Korost, Dmitriy V., Korochantsev, Alexander V., Logunova, Maria N., Shornikov, Sergei I., Petaev, Michail I. (2017) Composition and origin of holotype Al-Cu-Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 52 (5) 869-883 doi:10.1111/maps.12839
Andronicos, C. L., Bindi, L., Distler, V. V., Hollister, L. S., Lin, C., MacPherson, G. J., Steinhardt, P. J., Yudovskaya, M. (2018) Comment on “Composition and origin of holotype Al-Cu-Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite” by M. Ivanova et al. (2017) Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 53 (11) 2430-2440 doi:10.1111/maps.13125
Localities for Cupalite
Showing 2 localities.
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.
Russia (TL) | |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Steffen Möckel analysis |
Quick NavTopUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
