ATACAMITE - Uses: as a minor ore of copper and as mineral specimens.
CHEMISTRY: Cu2Cl(OH)3, Copper chloride hydroxide.
CLASS: Halides
CRYSTALOGRAPHY: Orthorhombic; 2/m2/m2/m
Crystal Habits include slender striated crystals that can be accicular to fiberous.
COLOR: Dark green.
HARDNESS: 3 - 3.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: approximately 3.75+ (above average)
Luster is vitreous. Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction. Fracture is splintery.
Streak is pale green.
Other Characteristics: crystals are vertically striated.
Associated Minerals are limonite, chyrsocolla, cuprite and malachite.
Notable Occurrences include Atacama Desert, Chile; Mexico; Vesuvious Italia and Australia.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations and localities.
Atacamite is deep green, and is often associated with other colorful minerals such as chrysocolla, cuprite and malachite. Some of these specimens can be quite beautiful, with a combination of blue, green, and red hues.
Healing Uses:
- Genitals; VD; thyroid; parasympathetic ganglia.
