Mineralpedia Details for Salesite
Salesite
Named for Reno H. Sales who was the Chief Geologist at the Anaconda Company and was responsible for the beginnings of development at the Chuquicamata, Chile where Salesite gets its type, and only, locality from. This rare mineral occurs at Chuquicamata in the oxidized portion of the copper porphyry. Salesite is associated with kaolinite and quartz.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/salesite.pdf
- Formula
- Cu(IO3)(OH)
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- blue green, dark green
- Streak
- light green
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 3
- WebMineral
- View Salesite
- Mindat
- View Salesite
Salesite from Chuquicamata mine, El Loa Prov., Antofagasta, Chile
Gemmy blue-green prismatic Salesite crystals some with pyramidal terminations to 1.5mm scattered about on matrix.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
