Aubertite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aubertite
Formula:
CuAl(SO4)2Cl · 14H2O
Colour:
Azure-blue.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
1.815
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for J. Aubert (1929-), geophysicist and assistant director at the Inst. Natl. Geophysics, France, who collected the mineral in 1961.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aubertite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
416
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:416:3
Similar Names
| Albertite | A variety of 'Pyrobitumen' |
IMA Classification of Aubertite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu2+Al(S6+O4)2Cl·14H2O
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1979
Classification of Aubertite
7.DB.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations; insular octahedra and finite units
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations; insular octahedra and finite units
Dana 7th ed.:
31.9.8.1
31.9.8.1
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
26.9
26 : Sulphates with Halide
26 : Sulphates with Halide
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aub | 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 Aubertite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Azure-blue.
Streak:
(not reported)
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Perfect on {010}
Density:
1.815 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.85 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aubertite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.462 nβ = 1.482 nγ = 1.495
2V:
Measured: 71° , Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Chemistry of Aubertite
Mindat Formula:
CuAl(SO4)2Cl · 14H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Aubertite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.28 Å, b = 13.23 Å, c = 6.28 Å
α = 91.17°, β = 94.67°, γ = 82.45°
α = 91.17°, β = 94.67°, γ = 82.45°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.475 : 1 : 0.475
Unit Cell V:
515.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009692 | Aubertite | Ginderow D, Cesbron F (1979) Structure cristalline de l'aubertite, AlCuCl(SO4)2*14H2O Acta Crystallographica B35 2499-2502 |  | 1979 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.50 Å | (100) |
| 4.247 Å | (69) |
| 3.952 Å | (58) |
| 6.25 Å | (45) |
| 5.59 Å | (44) |
| 3.690 Å | (42) |
| 3.130 Å | (42) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Aubertite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Azure-blue crusts of corroded grains.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidized zone of a copper deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Aubertite
Other Language Names for Aubertite
Relationship of Aubertite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Aubertite Group:
| Magnesioaubertite | (Mg,Cu)Al(SO4)2Cl · 14H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Svyazhinite | (Mg,Mn2+,Ca)(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)2F · 14H2O | Tric. |
| Wilcoxite | MgAl(SO4)2F · 17H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Aubertite associated with Hexahydrite | Mg(H2O)6(SO4) |
| 4 photos of Aubertite associated with Halotrichite | Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 3 photos of Aubertite associated with Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| 3 photos of Aubertite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2 photos of Aubertite associated with Pickeringite | MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
| 1 photo of Aubertite associated with Jarosite | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| 1 photo of Aubertite associated with Sideronatrite | Na2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Aubertite associated with Butlerite | Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Aubertite associated with Aluminocopiapite | Al2/3Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 1 photo of Aubertite associated with Antofagastaite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 · 1.5H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DB.05 | Svyazhinite | (Mg,Mn2+,Ca)(Al,Fe3+)(SO4)2F · 14H2O |
| 7.DB.05 | Magnesioaubertite | (Mg,Cu)Al(SO4)2Cl · 14H2O |
| 7.DB.10 | Rostite | Al(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.10 | Khademite | Al(SO4)F · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.15 | Jurbanite | Al(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.20 | Minasragrite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.20 | Anorthominasragrite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.20 | Orthominasragrite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 5H2O |
| 7.DB.25 | Bobjonesite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 3H2O |
| 7.DB.27 | Karpovite | Tl2VO(SO4)2(H2O) |
| 7.DB.30 | Metahohmannite | Fe3+2(SO4)2O · 4H2O |
| 7.DB.30 | Hohmannite | Fe3+2(SO4)2O · 8H2O |
| 7.DB.30 | Amarantite | Fe3+2(SO4)2O · 7H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Calciocopiapite | CaFe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Zincocopiapite | ZnFe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 18H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Aluminocopiapite | Al2/3Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Copiapite | Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Cuprocopiapite | Cu2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Magnesiocopiapite | MgFe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
| 7.DB.35 | Ferricopiapite | Fe3+0.67Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Water soluable.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Must be kept dry.
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 Aubertite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-416.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Aubertite
Reference List:
Cesbron, Fabien, Ginderow, Daria, Sichère, Marie-Claude, Vachey, Hélène (1979) L'aubertite, un nouveau chlorosulfate hydraté de cuivre et d'aluminium. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 102 (4) 348-350 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7329
Ginderow, D., Cesbron, F. (1979) Structure cristalline de l'aubertite, AlCuCl(SO4)2·14H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 35 (11) 2499-2502 doi:10.1107/s0567740879009766
Cesbron, Fabien, Ginderow, Daria, Sichère, Marie-Claude, Vachey, Hélène (1979) L'aubertite, un nouveau chlorosulfate hydraté de cuivre et d'aluminium. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 102 (4) 348-350 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7329
Localities for Aubertite
Showing 16 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.
Argentina | |
| Färber (n.d.) |
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS by Igor V. Pekov |
| SEM-EDS by Günter Blaß | |
| Pieczonka et al. (2017) | |
| Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter | |
| Chukanov et al. (2013) | |
| |
| Bull.Min. (1979) |
| Cabestrero et al. (2022) |
Greece | |
| 90. +2 other references |
| Skarpelis et al. (2004) |
Italy | |
| Da Pelo et al. (2000) |
| P.Forti (1994) |
| Luetcke (n.d.) |
Lebanon | |
| Kruszewski (2019) |
Peru | |
| Diaby et al. (2006) |
Quick NavTopAbout AubertiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Coronel Manuel Rodríguez mine, Mejillones peninsula, Mejillones, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile