Mcalpineite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Mcalpineite
Formula:
Cu3(Te6+O6)
Formula redefined as anhydrous by Carbone et al. (2013); isostructural with bixbyite, Mn2O3 = Mn3(MnO6).
Colour:
Green
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
6.65 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
For the McAlpine mine, California, the type locality.
This page provides mineralogical data about Mcalpineite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7173
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7173:0
IMA Classification of Mcalpineite
Classification of Mcalpineite
7.AB.55
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 7th ed.:
33.2.5.1
33.2.5.1
33 : SELENATES AND TELLURATES
2 : (AB)m(XO6)·xH2O, where x can equal zero
33 : SELENATES AND TELLURATES
2 : (AB)m(XO6)·xH2O, where x can equal zero
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Map | 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 Mcalpineite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Green
Streak:
Light green
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mcalpineite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
nα = 2.01
Surface Relief:
Unknown
Chemistry of Mcalpineite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3(Te6+O6)
Formula redefined as anhydrous by Carbone et al. (2013); isostructural with bixbyite, Mn2O3 = Mn3(MnO6).
Formula redefined as anhydrous by Carbone et al. (2013); isostructural with bixbyite, Mn2O3 = Mn3(MnO6).
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pb,Ni,Si
Crystallography of Mcalpineite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3(2/m3) - Diploidal
Space Group:
Ia3
Setting:
Ia3
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.555 Å
Unit Cell V:
872.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Comment:
two polytypes are known: (1) mcalpineite-1C: Ia-3, with a = 9.537(1) Å and V = 867.4(3) ų; (2) mcalpineite-2O: Pcca , with a = 9.745(3) Å, b = 9.749(2) Å, c = 9.771(2) Å and V = 928.3(4) ų (Missen et al., 2022)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020014 | Mcalpineite | Carbone C, Basso R, Cabella R, Martinelli A, Grice J D, Lucchetti G (2013) Mcalpineite from the Gambatesa mine, Italy, and redefinition of the species American Mineralogist 98 1899-1905 | 2013 | the Gambatesa mine, Val Graveglia, eastern Liguria, Italy | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.753 Å | (100) |
| 1.686 Å | (65) |
| 1.437 Å | (57) |
| 2.384 Å | (46) |
| 1.066 Å | (26) |
| 1.094 Å | (25) |
| 4.770 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Mcalpineite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Isolated 0.5 mm-sized emerald green cryptocrystalline crusts.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1992,374.
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, NMC 67163.
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, NMC 67163.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Mcalpineite
Other Language Names for Mcalpineite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 15 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Eurekadumpite | (Cu,Zn)16(TeO3)2(AsO4)3Cl(OH)18 · 7H2O |
| 15 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 8 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Xocomecatlite | Cu3(TeO4)(OH)4 |
| 3 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Jensenite | Cu3[TeO6] · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 2 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Frankhawthorneite | Cu2Te6+O4(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Khinite | Pb2+Cu2+3[Te6+O6](OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Mcalpineite associated with Dugganite | Pb3Zn3(AsO4)2(TeO6) |
| 1 photo of Mcalpineite associated with Goldfieldite | (Cu4◻2)(Cu4Cu+2)Te4S12S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.AB. | Dravertite | CuMg(SO4)2 |
| 7.AB. | Andymcdonaldite | Fe2TeO6 |
| 7.AB. | Dagenaisite | Zn3Te6+O6 |
| 7.AB.05 | Mikasaite | Fe2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AB.05 | Millosevichite | Al2(SO4)3 |
| 7.AB.05 | Koryakite | NaKMg2Al2(SO4)6 |
| 7.AB.10 | Zinkosite | ZnSO4 |
| 7.AB.10 | Chalcocyanite | CuSO4 |
| 7.AB.15 | Hermannjahnite | CuZn(SO4)2 |
| 7.AB.25 | Ottoite | Pb2TeO5 |
Other Information
Notes:
Raman data: the 1C polytype has a single strong band, ~730 cm⁻¹; the 2O polytype has a broad double maximum, with bands centred at ca. 692 and 742 cm⁻¹
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 Mcalpineite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7173.html
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References for Mcalpineite
Reference List:
Roberts, Andrew C., Scott Ercit, T., Criddle, Alan J., Jones, Gary C., Scott Williams, R., Cureton, Forrest F., Jensen, Martin C. (1994) Mcalpineite, Cu3TeO6·H2O, a new mineral from the McAlpine mine, Tuolumne County, California, and from the Centennial Eureka mine, Juab County, Utah. Mineralogical Magazine, 58 (392) 417-424 doi:10.1180/minmag.1994.058.392.07
Carbone, C., Basso, R., Cabella, R., Martinelli, A., Grice, J. D., Lucchetti, G. (2013) Mcalpineite from the Gambatesa mine, Italy, and redefinition of the species. American Mineralogist, 98 (10) 1899-1905 doi:10.2138/am.2013.4525
Missen, Owen P., Mills, Stuart J., Canossa, Stefano, Hadermann, Joke, Nénert, Gwilherm, Weil, Matthias, Libowitzky, Eugen, Housley, Robert M., Artner, Werner, Kampf, Anthony R., et al. (2022) Polytypism in mcalpineite: a study of natural and synthetic Cu3TeO6. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 78 (1). 20-32 doi:10.1107/s2052520621013032
Localities for Mcalpineite
Showing 22 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.
Italy | |
| Castellaro et al. (2021) |
| Basso Riccardo +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Fujiwara et al (2002) |
Mexico | |
| Dieter Nickolay collection. Mintreasure ... |
Norway | |
| Rumsey et al. (2018) |
USA | |
| "The Accidental Pocket" talk presented ... |
| Marek Chorazewicz (2023) +1 other reference |
| Kampf et al. (2026) |
| Kampf et al. (2018) |
| Marty | |
| EDS confirmed by Bob Housley. +1 other reference |
| Collected by and in the collections of ... +1 other reference | |
| Marek Chorazewicz (2026) | |
| Marek Chorazewicz (2026) | |
| Roberts et al. (1994) +2 other references |
| Kampf et al. (2022) |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
| Miyawaki et al. (2019) +1 other reference |
| Coolbaugh et al. (2020) | |
| Canadian Mineralogist +5 other references |
| Favreau (n.d.) |
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Centennial Eureka Mine, Eureka, Juab County, Utah, USA