Rosasite
Mineral (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
About it
Small blue-green balls of radiating fibres, a little bluer than malachite, in zinc-copper oxide zones. Named for the Rosas mine, Sardinia; Mapimí, Mexico, and Arizona have fine examples.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate, rosasite group
- Formula
- (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4
- Specific gravity
- 4–4.2
- Streak
- light blue
- Lustre
- silky, vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- blue-green, sky blue, green
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in two directions
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.