Lavendulan Locality: Maria Josefa Mine, Rodalquilar, Níjar, Almería, Andalusia, Spain Picture width 2 mm. Collection and photograph Christian Rewitzer — Photo: Christian Rewitzer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Lavendulan
An uncommon copper arsenate famed for its intense electric-blue color — near-dimorphous with lemanskiite.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Lavendulan is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula NaCaCu₅(AsO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 3.54; Vitreous, waxy, satiny in aggregates luster; refractive index 1.7; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Lvd, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1837.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of some copper deposits.
It is found associated with Erythrite, cuprite, malachite, cobaltian wad (San Juan, Chile); chalcophyllite, cyanotrichite, parnauite, mansfieldite, olivenite, tennantite, covellite.
The name refers to its conspicuous lavender color.