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Sulfate

Wupatkiite

CoAl₂(SO₄)₄·22H₂O
Hardness1.5
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassSulfate
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Wupatkiite specimen

Wupatkiite Field of view: 5 mm Locality: Cameron (TL), Coconino County, Arizona, USA — Photo: Henk Smeets – tomeikminerals.com · CC BY 4.0

Wupatkiite

Wupatkiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula CoAl₂(SO₄)₄·22H₂O.

It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c). It is a member of the Halotrichite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 1.5; specific gravity 1.92; White streak; Silky in masses luster; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Wup, IMA status: approved, named in 1994.

A rare post-mine oxidation product of sooty U–Co–Ni–Mo primary mineralization (Cameron district, Arizona, USA).

It is found associated with Pickeringite, moorhouseite, nickel-boussingaultite, quartz, clay (Cameron district, Arizona, USA).

The name refers to the prehistoric Wupatki Indian pueblos, now a National Monument, nearby the Cameron district, Arizona, USA.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more W minerals or help write this entry.