Kapellasite Locality: Sounion Mine No. 19 ("Chloridstollen"), Sounion Mines, Sounion area, Lavrion District Mines, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece Blue acicular xls of Kapellasite. Field of view 6 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kapellasite
Kapellasite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P-3m1). It is a member of the Atacamite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 3.55; Light green-blue streak; Adamantine luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Kap, IMA status: approved, named in 2005.
From weathering copper and zinc minerals in the presence of chloride ions.
It is found associated with Gypsum, paratacamite, atacamite, gordaite, beaverite, hydrozincite, smithsonite, glaucocerinite, plumbojarosite, bianchite, herbertsmithite, anglesite.
The mineral was named to honor Christo Kapellas (1938-2004), collector and mineral dealer from Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece.