Covellite
CuSIMA symbol: Cvgrandfathered
Covellite is a sulfide or sulfosalt mineral with the formula CuS, crystallizing in the hexagonal system. It has a Mohs hardness of 1.5-2, typically blue in color, with a dull or metallic luster, a specific gravity of 4.59-4.636. Its streak is black or gray.
Photos
.png){kind=link}
_(cropped).png){kind=link}
Crystallography
| Crystal system | hexagonal crystal systemWikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Space group | P 63/m m c |
| Cell (Å, °) | a = 3.7917, b = 3.7917, c = 16.342; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 120 |
| Cell volume | 203.472 ų, Z = 6 |
| Axial ratios | 1.0000:1:4.3099calculated from COD 9008388 |
| Source structure | COD 9008388 (Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie, 1988) — 1 of 14 structures |
Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)
| d (Å) | 2.812 | 1.896 | 3.047 | 2.724 | 1.556 | 1.735 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I/I₀ | 100 | 71.7 | 46.2 | 42.7 | 41.3 | 28.4 |
xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9008388; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.
Physical properties
| Density (calculated) | 4.682 g/cm³calculated from COD 9008388 |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 1.5-2single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Specific gravity | 4.59-4.636 g/cm3corroboratedDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Color | bluesingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Streak | black, graysingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Luster | dull, metallic, pearly, resinous, submetallicsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
Chemistry (calculated)
| Molecular weight | 95.61 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula |
|---|---|
| Composition (wt%) | Cu 66.46%, S 33.54% |
Classification
| Nickel-Strunz (10th) | 2.CA.05aWikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Nickel-Strunz (9th) | 2.CA.05aWikidata (CC0) |
| Dana (8th) | 2.8.12.1Wikidata (CC0) |