Rruffite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Rruffite
Formula:
Ca2Cu(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
Colour:
Pale blue, light blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.79
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for the Rruff Project - http://rruff.info - which was in turn named after Michael Scott's cat, Rruff.
This page provides mineralogical data about Rruffite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
39845
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39845:1
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Rruffite
Classification of Rruffite
8.CG.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
40.2.4.5
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ruf | 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 Rruffite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale blue, light blue
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}.
On {010}.
Density:
3.79(3) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.77(2) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rruffite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.725(1) nβ = 1.734(1) nγ = 1.740(1)
2V:
Measured: 80° (2), Calculated: 78°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
Weak, r < v
Chemistry of Rruffite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Cu(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Rruffite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.8618(2) Å, b = 12.7854(5) Å, c = 5.7025(2) Å
β = 109.425(2)°
β = 109.425(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.458 : 1 : 0.446
Unit Cell V:
403.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
In granular or blocky aggregates and druses.
Twinning:
Common on (100)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018388 | Rruffite | Yang H, Jenkins R A, Downs R T, Evans S H, Tait K T (2011) Rruffite, Ca2Cu(AsO4)2*2H2O, a new member of the roselite group, from Tierra Amarilla, Chile The Canadian Mineralogist 49 877-884 | 2011 | the Maria Catalina mine, Tierra Amarilla, Chile | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.087 Å | (42) |
| 4.177 Å | (59) |
| 3.800 Å | (41) |
| 3.377 Å | (92) |
| 3.190 Å | (56) |
| 2.983 Å | (89) |
| 2.827 Å | (100) |
| 2.114 Å | (49) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Rruffite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Secondary mineral.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineral Museum, University of Arizona, Arizona, USA (18813).
The RRUFF project, Tucson, Arizona, USA (R070431).
The RRUFF project, Tucson, Arizona, USA (R070431).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
The oxydation zone of a Cu-As orebody.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rruffite
Other Language Names for Rruffite
Relationship of Rruffite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Brandtite Group:
| Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Wendwilsonite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Zincroselite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Rruffite associated with Mansfieldite | AlAsO4 · 2H2O |
| 8 photos of Rruffite associated with Conichalcite | CaCu(AsO4)(OH) |
| 6 photos of Rruffite associated with Pharmacoalumite | KAl4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6.5H2O |
| 3 photos of Rruffite associated with Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Rruffite associated with Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CG. | Fluckite | CaMn2+(AsO3OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG. | Dondoellite | Ca2Fe(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG. | 'Ca-Huréaulite' | CaMn5(PO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CG. | Alumolukrahnite | Ca[CuAl](AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2 |
| 8.CG.05 | Parabrandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Talmessite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Collinsite | Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Messelite | Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Gaitite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Anorthoroselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Cassidyite | Ca2Ni(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Fairfieldite | Ca2Mn2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | Hillite | Ca2Zn(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.05 | 'Unnamed (Fe2+-analogue of Parabrandtite)' | Ca2Fe2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.10 | Zincroselite | Ca2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.10 | Roselite | Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.10 | Wendwilsonite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.10 | Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.10 | 'Unnamed (Fe2+-analogue of Brandtite)' | Ca2Fe2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Mawbyite | PbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Thometzekite | PbCu2+2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Yancowinnaite | PbCuAl(AsO4)2OH · H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Schneebergite | BiCo2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Cabalzarite | CaMg2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Nickelschneebergite | BiNi2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Lotharmeyerite | CaZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Nickeltsumcorite | Pb(Ni,Fe3+)2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Magnesiofluckite | CaMg(AsO3OH)2(H2O)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Krettnichite | PbMn3+2(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Cobalttsumcorite | PbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Manganlotharmeyerite | CaMn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Tsumcorite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Ferrilotharmeyerite | CaZnFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Cobaltlotharmeyerite | CaCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.15 | Mounanaite | PbFe3+2(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.CG.15 | Nickellotharmeyerite | CaNi2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.20 | Lukrahnite | CaCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH,H2O)2 |
| 8.CG.20 | Helmutwinklerite | PbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.20 | Phosphogartrellite | PbCuFe3+(PO4)2(OH,H2O)2 |
| 8.CG.20 | Gartrellite | PbCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O |
| 8.CG.20 | Zincgartrellite | PbZn2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2 |
| 8.CG.20 | Rappoldite | PbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.25 | Pottsite | (Pb3xBi4-2x)(VO4)4 · H2O (0.8 < x < 1.0) |
| 8.CG.25 | Armellinoite-(Ce) | Ca4Ce4+(AsO4)4 · H2O |
| 8.CG.35 | Nickeltalmessite | Ca2Ni(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CG.55 | Irhtemite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O |
Fluorescence of Rruffite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Isoluble in water, acetone and HCl.
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 Rruffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-39845.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Rruffite
Localities for Rruffite
Showing 5 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.
Chile | |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Anthony Kampf +2 other references |
| Yang et al. (2011) |
Spain | |
| Mineralogía de la concesión San Rafael |
| issuu.com (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| issuu.com (n.d.) +1 other reference |
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Jote Mine, Pampa Larga mining district, Tierra Amarilla, Copiapó Province, Atacama, Chile