LAVENDULAN

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated arsenates
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl 5H2O
    Rarity : Uncommon to fairly common

Lavendulan (or lavendulanite) is a complex arsenate from the oxidation zone of certain copper deposits. It is also found in industrial slag. It is a fairly common mineral which is systematically associated with other secondary copper minerals (brochantite, malachite, cuprite, etc...) and with sulphides in the process of alteration, notably tennantite. Its name refers to its lavender color. Lavendulan closely resembles sampleite : flattened to lamellar crystals not exceeding 3 mm, frequently grouped in rosettes or radiated spherolites, of a beautiful light greenish blue to deep blue color. Lavendulanite also constitutes botryoidal encrustations.

Main photo : Lavendulan from Preamimma Mine, Callington, Australia © Jean-Pierre Barral

Lavendulan from María Josefa Mine, Almería, Spain © Pascal Chollet
Lavendulan from Clara Mine, Germany © Michael Förch
Lavendulan from Preamimma Mine, Callington, Australia © Gianfranco Ciccolini
Lavendulan from Cap Garonne, Var, France © Pascal Chollet

Lavendulan in the World

Lavendulan was discovered in abundance in the upper part of the polymetallic veins of Jachymov (Czech Republic), the copper porphyry of Chuquicamata (Chile) and Talmessi, near Anarak (Iran). Beautiful crystallizations were also extracted near Mazarron and Murcia (Spain). But occasional lavendulanite deposits are numerous. Examples include the copper deposits of South and Western Australia, the copper veins of English Cornwall, and the inevitable Tsumeb deposit in Namibia.

Lavendulan in France

In France, lavendulan has been reported in Cap Garonne (Var), Rabejac (Hérault) as well as in the Salsigne gold mine (Aude).

Twinning

Twins are common for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2.5
Density : 3.54
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Blue

TP : Translucent
RI : 1.660 to 1.734
Birefringence : 0.074
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Visible
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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