brochantite

[ broh-shahn-tahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, hydrous copper sulfate, Cu 4 (OH) 6 SO 4 , occurring in green fibrous masses and similar in physical properties to antlerite: formerly a major ore of copper.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brochantite¹

1860–65; named after A. Brochant de Villiers (1773–1840), French mineralogist; -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The oxide group of minerals—including the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite; the silicate, chrysocolla; the oxide, cuprite; the sulphates, chalcanthite and brochantite; and some native copper associated with these minerals—probably supplies another 5 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

Several varieties, differing somewhat in crystalline form, have been distinguished, some of them having originally been described as distinct species, but afterwards proved to be essentially identical with brochantite; these are k�nigine from the Urals, brongniartine from Mexico, krisuvigite from Iceland, and warringtonite from Cornwall.

From Project Gutenberg

Of other localities, mention may be made of Roughten Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumberland, where small brilliant crystals are associated with malachite and chrysocolla in a quartzose rock; R�zb�nya in the Bihar Mountains, Hungary; Atacama in Chile, with atacamite, which closely resembles brochantite in general appearance; the Tintic district in Utah.

From Project Gutenberg

A microscopical examination of the green copper ores of secondary origin in the Clifton and Morenci district of Arizona proves brochantite to be of extremely common occurrence mostly intergrown with malachite which effectually masks its presence: it is not unlikely that the malachite of other localities will on examination be found to be intergrown with brochantite.

From Project Gutenberg