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www.mineralgallery.co.za Minerals K-O |
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Linarite |
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Name
Linarite
Chemistry
PbCuSO4(OH)2 Lead copper sulfate hydroxide
Uses
As mineral specimens and a minor ore of copper.
Color
Blue
Hardness
2.5
Specific gravity
5.2-5.4 Very heavy
Streak
Pale blue
Crystals
At Tsumeb it occurred as earthy masses but elsewhere it is found as small elongated prismatic or tabular crystals. The crystals can have multiple facets. They are often translucent.
Accompanied by:
Malachite, galena, cerussite and brochantite.
Similar to:
Azurite
Linarite is a rare but colorful secondary mineral that occurs in association with some lead copper ores. The name comes from Linares, a locality in Spain.
This is a mineral often called azurite they look very similar.
Azurite is a carbonate
Linarite represent the sulfate of copper and lead. That is why it is so heavy. Both copper and lead are heavy minerals.
They were both found in the first oxidation zone and in the green hill of Tsumeb in abundance. Here they were up to 2 cm in length. Some had associations of brochantite and calcedonite. Blue coatings on cerussite may also be linarite.
The way to test if it is azurite or linarite is to expose the crystal to diluted hydrochloric acid. If it reacts it is azurite.
The color is always an intense blue.
The fracture is conchoidal.