Mineralpedia Details for Sampleite
Sampleite
Named to honor Mat sample, a Mine Superintendent for the Chile Exploration Company at Chuquicamata, Chile. Found in few localities in oxidized portions of copper deposits of arid climates, as well as in caves as a result of the reaction between copper sulfides in the walls and phosphate from bat guano. Localities include, additionally, Australia, Namibia, and South Africa, among others.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/sampleite.pdf
- Formula
- NaCaCu5(PO4)4Cl·5H2O
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Rosette, Lath, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Good, Good
- Luster
- Pearly
- Color
- bluish green, light blue
- Streak
- bluish white
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Hardness
- 4
- WebMineral
- View Sampleite
- Mindat
- View Sampleite
Sampleite from Santa Catalina mine, Sierra Gorda, Atacama prov., Chile
Tiny blue rosette to about 1mm composed of glassy plates associated with Atacamite (green).
Sampleite from Chuquicamata mine, El Loa Prov., Antofagasta, Chile
Bright blue platy crystals in aggregates to about 5mm across associated with green, acicular crystals of probable Olivenite.
Sampleite from Engaño Feliz mine, Cerro Pinato, Copiapo, Atacama, Chile
Neon blue platy rosettes to 1.5mm.
Sampleite from Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Sky blue thin platy crystals less than 0.5mm throughout matrix.
Sampleite from Endeavor 26, North Parkes Mine, New South Wales, Australia
Neon blue Sampleite plates in clusters to 2.5mm.
