Delafossite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Delafossite
Gabriel Delafosse
Formula:
Cu+Fe3+O2
Colour:
Black, brown-white in reflected light
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
5.41
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1873 by Charles Friedel in honor of Gabriel Delafosse [February 24, 1796 St. Quentin, France - October 13, 1878] Paris, France, French mineralogist noted for making advances in understanding crystal chemistry and establishing a distinction between empirical and molecular formulas.
A not too uncommon member of the Delafossite Group.
Often associated with cuprite, copper and limonite.
Various synthetic analogues are known (Köhler & Jansen, 1986).
Often associated with cuprite, copper and limonite.
Various synthetic analogues are known (Köhler & Jansen, 1986).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1248
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1248:1
IMA Classification of Delafossite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu1+Fe3+O2
First published:
1873
Classification of Delafossite
4.AB.15
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
7.1.1.1
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
1 : ABX2
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
1 : ABX2
7.3.6
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Del | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Del | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Delafossite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black, brown-white in reflected light
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
imperfect {1011}
imperfect {1011}
Density:
5.41 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.52 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Delafossite
Type:
Uniaxial
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 18.4% | 22.2% |
| 420nm | 18.6% | 22.3% |
| 440nm | 18.8% | 22.4% |
| 460nm | 19.0% | 22.6% |
| 480nm | 19.0% | 22.9% |
| 500nm | 18.9% | 23.2% |
| 520nm | 19.0% | 23.4% |
| 540nm | 19.0% | 23.4% |
| 560nm | 19.1% | 23.2% |
| 580nm | 19.2% | 23.0% |
| 600nm | 19.3% | 23.0% |
| 620nm | 19.6% | 23.2% |
| 640nm | 20.0% | 23.5% |
| 660nm | 20.6% | 23.8% |
| 680nm | 21.1% | 24.2% |
| 700nm | 21.8% | 24.8% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 24.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Rose brown-white
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
O = light golden-brown
E = darker rose-brown
E = darker rose-brown
Chemistry of Delafossite
Mindat Formula:
Cu+Fe3+O2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Delafossite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Setting:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.04 Å, c = 17.12 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 5.632
Unit Cell V:
137.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals tabular {0001} to equant, with {0001} and {1011} as dominant forms. Rarely prismatic to acicular. Botryoidal crusts and rounded aggregates of subparallel tabular crystals.
Twinning:
Contact twins on {0001} noted.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010862 | Delafossite | Kohler B U, Jansen M (1983) Synthesis and crystal structure of 2H-CuAlO2 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 165 313-314 |  | 1983 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0000018 | Delafossite | Pabst A (1938) Crystal structure and density of delafossite American Mineralogist 23 175-176 | 1938 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.508 Å | (100) |
| 1.512 Å | (40) |
| 2.86 Å | (35) |
| 1.658 Å | (35) |
| 2.238 Å | (25) |
| 1.434 Å | (20) |
| 2.58 Å | (18) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Delafossite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
secondary mineral near the base of the oxidized zone of copper
deposits
deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Delafossite
Other Language Names for Delafossite
Varieties of Delafossite
| Dokuchaevite (of Sumin) | Originally described as "Earthy cryptocrystalline concretions up to 5 cm in diameter composed by delafossite with admixture of clay mineral described from Mednorudyansk". |
Relationship of Delafossite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Delafossite Group:
| Mcconnellite | CuCrO2 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
Structurally related to group(s):
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 98 photos of Delafossite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 48 photos of Delafossite associated with Native Copper | Cu |
| 25 photos of Delafossite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 21 photos of Delafossite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 11 photos of Delafossite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 10 photos of Delafossite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 8 photos of Delafossite associated with 'Limonite' | |
| 8 photos of Delafossite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 6 photos of Delafossite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 5 photos of Delafossite associated with Covellite | CuS |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.AB. | 'Carbon Monoxide Ice' | CO |
| 4.AB.05 | Crednerite | Cu+Mn3+O2 |
| 4.AB.10 | Tenorite | CuO |
| 4.AB.15 | Mcconnellite | CuCrO2 |
| 4.AB.20 | Bromellite | BeO |
| 4.AB.20 | Zincite | ZnO |
| 4.AB.25 | Bunsenite | NiO |
| 4.AB.25 | Periclase | MgO |
| 4.AB.25 | Lime | CaO |
| 4.AB.25 | Manganosite | MnO |
| 4.AB.25 | Monteponite | CdO |
| 4.AB.25 | Wüstite | FeO |
| 4.AB.30 | Palladinite | PdO |
| 4.AB.35 | 'Hongquiite' | TiO |
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 Delafossite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1248.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Delafossite
Reference List:
Wiedersich, H., Savage, J. W., Muir, A. H., Swarthout, D. G. (1968) On the composition of delafossite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (281) 643-650 doi:10.1180/minmag.1968.036.281.05
Hey, M. H. (1968) On the composition of natural delafossite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (281) 651-653 doi:10.1180/minmag.1968.036.281.06
Köhler, B. U., Jansen, M. (1986) Darstellung und Strukturdaten von "Delafossiten" CuMO2 (M = Al, Ga, Sc, Y). Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 543 (12). 73-80 doi:10.1002/zaac.19865431209
Benko, F.A., Koffyberg, F.P. (1987) Opto-electronic properties of p- and n-type delafossite, CuFeO2. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 48. 431-434 doi:10.1016/0022-3697(87)90103-x
Effenberger, H. (1991) Structure of hexagonal copper(I) ferrite. Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 47 (12) 2644-2646 doi:10.1107/s0108270191006790
Marquardt, Meagen A., Ashmore, Nathan A., Cann, David P. (2006) Crystal chemistry and electrical properties of the delafossite structure. Thin Solid Films, 496 (1). 146-156 doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.316
Localities for Delafossite
Showing 200 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.
Argentina | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Singer et al. (2008) | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Singer et al. (2008) | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Honnorez-Guerstein (1971) +1 other reference |
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Bonatti et al. (1976) |
Australia | |
| Sielecki (1988) |
| |
| Kolitsch et al. (1999) |
| Ex-S Rust collection |
| |
| Ralph Bottrill et al in prep. +1 other reference |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) | |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Ettinger et al. (1993) | |
| ETTINGER et al. (1993) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2014) |
| Auer (2023) |
| R.Poeverlein (2016) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2016) |
| Auer (2021) |
| G.Gesselbauer (2020) | |
| Auer (2023) |
| Auer (2023) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2022) |
Azerbaijan | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Belgium | |
| Michel Blondieau. +1 other reference |
| Van Der Meersche (1998) +1 other reference |
| Van Tassel (1979) +1 other reference | |
| Blondieau (2005) | |
| Blondieau (2005) | |
Canada | |
| personal correspondence with Giles ... |
| Mielke (n.d.) |
China | |
| De Ascenção Guedes (2023) |
| Collection of NHM |
| www.smartminerals.com (2004) |
| Dunmo Cheng et al. (1982) +1 other reference |
| Gu et al. (2003) |
Cyprus | |
| Adamides (2010) |
| Constantinou (1975) | |
Czech Republic | |
| Velebil +5 other references |
France | |
| Wittern et al. (1997) |
| Forner et al. (1997) |
| Favreau et al. (2003) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... +1 other reference |
| Ambert et al. (2014) |
| BERBAIN et al. (2010) |
| Christian BERBAIN collection - Georges ... |
| erbain +2 other references | |
| Jean-Marie LAURENT collection |
| desescaut.jy@voila.fr |
| R. Pierrot |
Germany | |
| [Wittern (1995) +1 other reference |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Hanneberg et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Rank (1985) |
| |
| Gröbner et al. (2011) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Henrich (2008) |
| Der Aufschluss 2000 (2) |
| Johannes Markus Henrich +2 other references |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Lapis (12) |
| Henrich et al. (2008) |
| Hucko et al. (2009) |
| www.mineralienatlas.de (2025) |
| Rolf Golze +3 other references | |
| Schachner (1961) |
| Habel et al. (2009) |
| Golze et al. (2013) |
| Graf (1992) |
| Wittern (2001) +1 other reference |
| Henrich et al. (2024) |
| Weiß (1990) +1 other reference |
| Schnorrer et al. (2000) | |
| Emser Hefte 1987 (4) |
| Henrich (2007) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Hensel (2024) |
| Hensel (2024) | |
| Hensel (2024) | |
| Graf (1991) |
| Personal message from Holger Adelmann |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Der Aufschluss Vol.55 |
| Gröbner et al. (2011) |
| H. Knoll +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| ko.jansen |
| Branko Rieck analysis | |
| ko.jansen +1 other reference | |
| PXRD by Alfredo Petrov +2 other references | |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec. |
India | |
| S. G. Tenainkai et al. (1991) |
| Sarkar et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
Indonesia | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Iran | |
| Henley (1970) |
| Nezafatis (2006) |
Ireland | |
| Ixer |
Israel | |
| Galuskin et al. (2015) |
| Krzątała et al. (2018) |
| Pekov et al. (2022) | |
Italy | |
| Adorni F. (1997) |
| M.E. Ciriotti (2005) |
| Camarda et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
| Britvin S. et al. (2003) |
| Vergani et al. (2020) |
| Vergani et al. (2020) |
| Vergani et al. (2020) | |
| Bedognè et al. (2006) |
| - (n.d.) | |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Preite et al. (2006) |
| Ciriotti et al. (2019) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Caboni et al. (2018) |
| Ferretti et al. (2018) |
| Bonotti et al. (2012) |
| Libvrna N°5 - 2022 |
| Franzini et al. (1992) +2 other references |
Japan | |
| Minakawa & Dehara (2005) |
Kazakhstan | |
| webmineral.ru (n.d.) |
Luxembourg | |
| Philippo et al. (2007) |
Mexico | |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Hoffmann (1968) +1 other reference |
| Berrocal-Lopez +1 other reference |
| Dana 7:I:674. |
Mongolia | |
| Soloviev et al. (2022) |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Morocco | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
| Nghoongoloka et al. (2024) |
| now in the Paul Bongaerts collection |
| von Bezing (2007) |
Pakistan | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Poland | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
Portugal | |
| Marques de Sá et al. (2010) |
| Orlando da Cruz Gaspar - O Jazigo de ... |
| Alves (n.d.) |
| Alves (n.d.) |
Romania | |
| Szakáll (2002) |
Russia | |
| Savva et al. (2023) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Shadchin et al. (2024) |
| Gongalsky et al. (2019) |
Slovakia | |
| Pauliš et al. (2002) |
| Háber et al. (SGR) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Števko M. (2022) |
| Varček (1959) |
| Števko M. et al. (2017) |
South Africa | |
| Atanasova et al. (2016) |
| Sorrell (n.d.) |
| Species list by Dr. Hans Börner |
Spain | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection and EDX ... |
| Dana 7:I:674. |
| Analyzed by XRD by Dr. Joan Vinals (Barcelona) +1 other reference |
| Calvo Rebollar (2009) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2009) |
| Joan Rosell et al. (2022) |
| Castillo-Oliver et al. (2019) |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet (2012) |
| Ansermet (2012) |
UK | |
| Day (1999) |
USA | |
| - (2008) |
| Rogers (1913) +1 other reference |
| various added photos |
| Luetcke (n.d.) | |
| Luetcke (n.d.) |
| Galbraith (1959) | |
| MRDS database Dep. ID file #10046248 |
| MRDS database Dep. ID file #10096107 |
| Luetcke (n.d.) |
| MRDS database Dep. ID #10026888 |
| Jones et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Wise (1993) |
| Dana 7:I:675. |
| Rocks & Minerals. Nov. 1999. |
| Rocks & Minerals. Nov. 1999. |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Rogers (1922) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Gibbs (1989) |
| Gibbs (1989) |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany