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Clinoclasite

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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a rare mineral consisting of the basic copper arsenate (CuOH) 3 AsO 4. It crystallizes in the monoclinic 1 The word "climb" (O.E. climban), meaning strictly to ascend (or similarly descend) by progressive self-impulsion, with some apparent degree of laborious effort and by means of contact with the surface traversed, is connected with the same root as in "cleave" and "cling." For Alpine climbing, &c., see Mountaineering.

system and possesses a perfect cleavage parallel to the basal plane; this cleavage is obliquely placed with respect to the prism faces of the crystal, hence the name clinoclase or clinoclasite, from Gr. KXLvet y, to incline, and KNEv, to break. The crystals are deep blue in colour, and are usually radially arranged in hemispherical groups. Hardness 22-3; specific gravity 4.36. The mineral was formerly found with other copper arsenates in the mines of the St Day district of Cornwall. It has also been found near Tavistock in Devonshire, near Sayda (or Saida) in Saxony, and in the Tintic district of Utah. It is a mineral of secondary origin, having resulted by the decomposition of copper ores and mispickel in the upper part of mineral veins. The corresponding basic copper phosphate, (CuOH) 3 PO 4, is the mineral pseudomalachite, which occurs as green botryoidal masses resembling malachite in appearance.