Bonattite Locality: Raul Mine, Lima Department, Peru Light blue crust of Bonattite (analysed). Field of view 7 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bonattite
Bonattite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Cu(SO₄)·3H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group Cc).
Key properties: specific gravity 2.663; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Bon, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1957.
Found as a secondary mineral in a pyrite deposit (Capo Calamita, Elba, Italy).
It is found associated with Chalcanthite, pyrite (Capo Calamita, Elba, Italy); quartz, gypsum, pyrite, poitevinite, scorodite (Avoca claim, Canada).
The mineral was named to honor Stefano Bonatti (1902–1968), Italian petrologist, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.