Parnauite Locality: Maria Josefa Mine, Rodalquilar, Níjar, Almería, Andalusia, Spain Picture width 1 mm. Collection and photograph Christian Rewitzer — Photo: Christian Rewitzer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Parnauite
A very rare secondary copper arsenate-sulfate forming thin coatings in oxidized copper deposits.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Parnauite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula Cu₉(AsO₄)₂(SO₄)(OH)₁₀·7H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2_122).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2; specific gravity 3.09; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Pna, IMA status: approved, named in 1978.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal Cu–Sn orebody in rhyolite porphyries and breccias (Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA).
It is found associated with Spangolite, chalcophyllite, chenevixite, goudeyite, malachite, azurite, brochantite, chrysocolla (Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA); cyanotrichite, brochantite.
The mineral was named to honor John L. Parnau (1906–1990), American mineral collector of Campbell, California, USA, who contributed to knowledge of the type locality at Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA.