Mineralpedia Details for Libethenite
Libethenite
Named for the type locality at L’ubietova in Slovakia which was formerly Libethen, Hungary, Libethenite is an uncommon mineral found in oxidized copper deposits. Typically found in small amounts in Slovakia, England, Russia, Portugal, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Australia, the United States, and Chile, among others.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/libethenite.pdf
- Formula
- Cu2PO4(OH)
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Prismatic, Druse, Globular
- Cleavage
- Indistinct, Indistinct, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Greasy
- Color
- green, dark green, blackish green, light olive green, dark olive green
- Streak
- light green
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 4
- WebMineral
- View Libethenite
- Mindat
- View Libethenite
Libethenite from KOV pit, Kolwezi, Katanga, Congo
Dark to light green pseudo-octahedral crystals to 1.5mm.
Libethenite from Snowstorm mine, Lander Co., Nevada, United States
Green acicular crystals in divergent sprays to 1mm.
Libethenite from Wheal Phoenix, Linkinhorne, Liskeard dist., Cornwall, England
Beautiful, lustrous green, pseudo-octahedral crystals to 1mm liberally spread across the vuggy Quartz matrix. Some of the Libethenite is coated with bluish green beaded Cornubite. Pseudomalachite also coats a bit of the Quartz. Wheal Phoenix was probably the premier locality for copper phosphates in Cornwall and is the type locality for Chalcosiderite.
Libethenite from South Rim pit, Tyrone Mine, Grant Co., New Mexico, United States
A thick carpet of micro crystals, less than 0.5mm.
Libethenite from Los Azules mine, Quebrada San Miguel, Copiapó Prov., Atacama, Chile
Long prismatic dark green crystals to 1mm.
Libethenite from Estremoz, Evora dist., Portugal
Dark lustrous green Libethenite crystals to 2mm perched on the edge of a thin piece of Schist matrix.
Libethenite from Mindola Pit, Kitwe, Copper Belt Province, Zambia
Deep deep green and lustrous crystals of Libethenite to 3mm in two disctinct groups of about 7mm each. This locality is probably the world's finest.
Libethenite from Kakanda, Katanga Copper Crescent, Democratic Republic of Congo
Dark green greasy looking Libethenite crystals to 1.5mm lining large area 4cm across.
Libethenite from Inspiration mine, Globe-Miami dist., Gila Co., Arizona, United States
Tiny glassy crystals with great coverage.
