OLIVENITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous arsenates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Cu2(AsO4)(OH)
    Rarity : Uncommon

Olivenite is an uncommon secondary phosphate from the oxidation zone of arsenic-rich copper deposits. The partial replacement of copper by zinc gives rise to an imperfect but complete series with adamite, and that of phosphorus by arsenic, to another solid solution, much more limited, with libethenite to which olivenite closely resembles. Olivenite occurs in short or slightly elongated prismatic crystals, sometimes in regular pseudo-octahedra when the shapes of the vertical prism and the horizontal prism have comparable developments. It also tends to form acicular crystals, frequently grouped into spherolitic aggregates. Olivenite has a vivid luster, vitreous to adamantine, and a typical olive green to blackish green color to which it owes its name.


Main photo : Olivenite from Bussang, Vosges, France © Thierry Brunsperger

Olivenite from Tsumeb, Namibia © Jeff Scovil
Olivenite from Wheal Gorland, St Day, Cornwall, United Kingdom © Rob Lavinsky
Twinned olivenite from Clara Mine, Germany © Gianfranco Ciccolini
Olivenite from Cap Garonne, Var, France © Christophe Boutry

Olivenite in the World

The most beautiful crystals known are dark green to grass green centimeter specimens, measuring up to 4 cm and gradually changing to adamite, from the Tsumeb mine (Namibia). The Moroccan mine of Touissit produced acicular crystals reaching 1.5 cm, assembled into magnificent aggregates. In the classic deposits of English Cornwall (Gwennap, Linkinhorne, etc...) millimetric olivenite crystals are assembled into fibroradiated aggregates, constituting centimeter-thick incrustations. It is also reported in the German mine of Dernbach. Olivenite is known in good specimens from the American copper mines of Utah (Mammoth, American Eagle) and Arizona (Last Chance).

Olivenite in France

In France, olivenite is known in the small copper mine of Cap Garonne (Var), it is also reported in La Verrière and Chessy (Rhône), in Bussang and Faymont (Vosges), in Villefranche-de-Rouergue (Aveyron), at Franciman (Tarn), at the Tistoulet mine (Aude) and at Vaulry (Haute-Vienne).

Twinning

A twin is known on {010}.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3
Density : 4.46
Fracture : Irregular to conchoidal
Streak : Green to brown

TP : Translucent to opaque
RI : 1.747 to 1.865
Birefringence : 0.082 to 0.085
Optical character : Biaxial (+/-)
Pleochroism : Low
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Acids, ammonia

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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