Kernowite

Summary

Kernowite is a mineral which was first described in 2020. It is named for Cornwall, which in the Cornish language is Kernow.

Kernowite
Unit cell of liroconite, isostructural with kernowite
Unit cell of kernowite, based on X-ray crystallography of the isostructural mineral liroconite.[1]
General
CategoryArsenate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu2Fe(AsO4)(OH)4·4H2O
Crystal systemMonoclinic

Description edit

Kernowite is a complex arsenate mineral with the composition Cu2Fe(AsO4(OH))4·4H2O.[2] It was first described in 2020, and is closely related to liroconite, containing iron in the place of aluminium, making it green rather than blue.[3][4] Its name is derived from Kernow, the name of Cornwall in the Cornish language, after being discovered in a rock mined c.1800 in the Wheal Gorland mine, St Day, Cornwall.[3][5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ P. C. Burns; R. K. Eby; F. C. Hawthorne (1991). "Refinement of the structure of liroconite, a heteropolyhedral framework oxysalt mineral". Acta Crystallogr. C. 47 (5): 916–919. doi:10.1107/S0108270190010939.
  2. ^ "Kernowite". mindat.org. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Kernowite: New mineral found on rock mined in Cornwall". BBC News. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Beautiful new emerald-green mineral described from Cornwall". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Kernowite: New mineral species discovered on rock mined in Cornwall 220 years ago". Sky News. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

Further reading edit

  • Rumsey, M. S.; Welch, M. D.; Spratt, J.; Kleppe, A.; Števko, M. (15 December 2020). "Newsletter 58". Mineralogical Magazine. 84 (6). Cambridge University Press: 971–975. Bibcode:2020MinM...84..971M. doi:10.1180/mgm.2020.93.