Covellita

Características generales

Fórmula: CuS
Sistema de cristalización: Hexagonal
Lustre: Adamantino
Color: Light blue, indigo blue, dark blue or black
Dureza: 1,5-2
Rareza: raro
Características distintivas: Crystal habit, cleavage, density, iridescence and colour.

Clasificación

Estado IMA: Válido. Descrito con antelación a 1959 (pre-IMA), se considera un mineral clásico o histórico (grandfathered)

Nickel-Strunz : 02.CA.05a

2: Sulfuros y sulfosales
02.C: Sulfuros con metal, M:S = 1:1 (y similar)
02.CA: Con Cu

Dana 8th ed. : 2.8.12.1

Propiedades fisicas

Hábito: Platy, massive or foliated

Lustre: Adamantino

Transparencia: Opaco

Color: Light blue, indigo blue, dark blue or black

Color en sección fina: Incolora

Dureza (Mohs): 1,5-2

Tenacidad: Brittle, Flexible

Exfoliación::

Primera exfoliación: Perfecta en [0001]
Segunda exfoliación: Perfecta
Tercera exfoliación: Perfecta

Fractura: Irregular

Densidad: 4,6-4,8 g/cm³ (medida) | 4,68 g/cm³ (calculada)

Cristalografía

Sistema cristalino:

Hexagonal

Clase (H-M): 1m (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal dipiramidal

Grupo espacial: P6(3)/mmc

Parámetros de la celda: a=3,792Å c=16,344Å

Volumen de unidad de celda: V 203,53Å

Z: 6

Difracción de Rayos X:

Difracción de Rayos X
D(hkl)	Intensidad
2,813	100
1,896	75
3,048	65

Propiedades ópticas

Tipo: Opaco

Valores RI: n_α= 1,4 - 2,62

Dispersión: Ninguna

Anisotropismo: Fuerte

Reflectancia:

Reflectancia
D(hkl)	Intensidad
470.0	12,4
546.0	6,4
589.0	3,7
650.0	5,9

Propiedades químicas

Fórmula: CuS

Elementos químicos: Cu, S

Composición química: S: 33,54%, Cu: 66,46%,

Tests químicos

Fusibilidad: 2; Mineral tipo: Natrolita; Punto de fusión: 800ºC; Funde con mechero de gas
Color de la llama: Blue
Formación de sublimados: Se funde en glóbulos metálicos

Otras propiedades

Magnetismo: No magnético

Relaciones con otros minerales

Minerales acompañantes

Mineral	Fórmula	Sistema	Dureza	Color	Raya	Brillo
Bornita	Cu₅FeS₄	Ortorrómbico	3	En superficie reciente es de color bronce pardo, pero al ser expuesta al aire se cubre rápidamente con una pátina jaspeada, púrpura y azulada (por eso se llama también mineral de pavo), y finalmente casi negra.	Negro grisáceo	Metálico
Calcosina	Cu₂S	Ortorrómbico	2,5-3	Gris oscuro; pátina: negro mate con reflejos azules	Negro grisáceo	Metálico
Calcopirita	CuFeS₂	Tetragonal	3,5-4	Amarillo-latón, a menudo con iridiscencias	Negra verdosa	Metálico
Cuprita	Cu₂O	Cúbico	3,5-4	Rojo, rojo púrpura, rojo pardusco o negro	Roja pardusca	Adamantino
Enargita	Cu₃AsS₄	Ortorrómbico	3	Negra	Metálico
Pirita	FeS₂	Cúbico	6-6,5	Amarillo latón	Gris, parda o negra verdosa	Metálico

Yacimientos y localidades de interés

Localidades

Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Campania, Italy - Localidad tipo.
Mt. Vesuvius, Napoli, Campania, Italy - Localidad tipo.
Capillitas mine, Andalgalá, Catamarca, Argentina
132 North nickel mine, Widgiemooltha, Western Australia, Australia
Burra Burra mine, Burra, South Australia, Australia
Cygnet, Tasmania, Australia
Mt Cleveland Mine, Luina, Tasmania, Australia
Mt Isa Mine, Mt Isa, Queensland, Australia
Mt Lyell, Tasmania and Tingha, New South Wales, Australia
Proprietary mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Rauris valley, Salzburg, Austria
Rotgülden, Salzburg, Austria
Schellgaden, Salzburg, Austria
Schwaz-Brixlegg, Tyrol, Austria
Walchen slags, Öblarn, Liezen, Steiermark, Austria
El Dragón mine, Quijarro, Potosí Dept, Bolivia
Boqueirãozinho pegmatite, Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Lavra do Énio pegmatite, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
East Kemptville Tin Mine, East Kemptville, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia, Canada
Nanisivik Mine, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Canada
Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada
Alexander Gallery, Vrancice, Príbram, Stredocesky, Czech Republic
Hütte, Príbram, Stredocesky, Czech Republic
Litce nad Orlici, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic
Moldava, Teplice, Krusne Hory, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic
Nejedly I, Libusin, Kladno, Stredocesky, Czech Republic
Belstone Consols, Devon, England
Black Scar Workings, Levers Water, Cumbria, England
Brae Fell mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Brandy Gill Lead mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Buckbarrow Beck Veins, Waberthwaite, Cumbria, England
Carn Brea, Camborne, Illogan, Cornwall, England
Carrock mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Clevedon Beach, Somerset, England
Dale Head Mine, Newlands Valley, Cumbria, England
Deer Hills Baryte mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Driggith Mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Engine Vein, Alderley Edge, Shropshire, England
Geevor mine, Trewellard, St. Just, Cornwall, England
Gunheath China Clay Pit, Stenalees, St.Austell, Cornwall, England
Gunheath pit, Bugle, Hensbarrow Moor, Cornwall, England
Mount Wellington mine, Bissoe, Cornwall, England
Mt Wellington mine, Bissoe, Cornwall, England
Mulberry Stockworks, Lanivet, Cornwall, England
Old Potts Gill mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Pave York Mine, Greenburn Valley, Cumbria, England
Penberthy Croft mine, St. Hilary, Cornwall, England
Roughton Gill Mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Seathwaite Mine, Seathwaite Tarn. Conist, Cumbria, England
Shap Blue Quarry, Shap, Cumbria, England
Silver Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Thief Gills, Roughtongill, Cumbria, England
Waterbank mine, Ecton, Staffordshire, England
Wheal Kind, St. Agnes, Cornwall, England
Wheal Kine, St. Agnes, Cornwall, England
Wheal Maudlin, Lanlivery, Cornwall, England
Wheal Phoenix, Linkinhorne, Cornwall, England
Bousiéyas, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Buhulien, Côtes-du-Nord, France
Cap Garonne, Le Pradet, Var, France
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France
Falgayrolles, Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées, France
Le Vialas, Lozère, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Les Farges mine, Corrèze, Limousin, France
Monsols, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France
Tistoulet mine, Padern, Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Anton mine, Heubachtal, Wittichen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Bärensteinbruch quarry, Radautal, Bad Harzburg, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Christophstal, Freudenstadt, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Clara mine, Oberwolfach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Daniel mine, Schneeberg, Sachsen, Germany
Eberhard mine, Alpirsbach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Gangzug Prinzbach, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Geigeshalde / Falkenstein, Schramberg, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Glückauf mine, Bad Grund, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Glücksrad mine, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Hallwangen, Freudenstadt, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Hechtsberg quarry, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Herzog-Julius-Hütte, Goslar, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Hilfe Gottes mine, Wiemannsbucht, Bad Grund, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Hintertal, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Hühn mine, Trusetal, Bad Salzungen, Thüringen, Germany
Johann mine, Wittichen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Kafersteige mine, Pforzheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Kirchheimerstollen, Müllenbach, Baden-Baden, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Königswart, Freudenstadt, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Rammelsberg mine, Goslar, Harz Mts, Sachsen, Germany
Silberbrünnle mine, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mts, Niedersachsen, Germany
Uranlagerstatte Mullenbach, Baden-Baden, Germany
Wenzel mine, Oberwolfach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Hilarion adit, Agios Konstandinos, Laurion, Attica, Greece
Ilimaussaq, West Greenland
Ivigtut, Arsuk Fjord, Greenland
Silvermines district, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Calabona mine, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy
Carrara, Tuscany, Italy
Val Graveglia, Liguria, Italy
Sarbay silver mine, Rudni, Kusteni Oblast, Kazakhstan
Chaidarkan, Alai, Kyrgyzstan
Chauvay, Alai, Kyrgyzstan
Boleo, Santa Rosalia, Baja California, Mexico
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Abaneb West mine, Otavi, Namibia
Alt Bobos mine, Otavi, Namibia
Berg Aukas, Otavi, Namibia
Kombat mine, Tsumeb, Otavi, Namibia
Tschudi mine, Otavi, Namibia
Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Otavi, Namibia
Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Panasqueira mine, Panasqueira, Beira-Beixa, Portugal
Aldan Shield, Yakutiya, Siberia, Russia
Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia
Murun massif, Davan, Torgo river basin, Aldan Shield, Yakutia, Siberia, Russia
Mutnovskoe, Kamchatka, Russia
Polar Urals, Tyumen Oblast, Russia
Rodnikovoe, Kamchatka, Russia
Boyleston Quarry, Barrhead, Glasgow, Scotland
Hartfield Moss, Strathclyde, Scotland
Leadhills-Wanlockhead district, Strathclyde/Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Loanhead quarry, near Beith, Strathclyde, Scotland
Silver Glen, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Messina, Transvaal, South Africa
Horcajo mines, Ciudad Real, Spain
Rio Tinto mines, Huelva, Spain
Mürtschenalp, Glarus, Switzerland
Nikitovka deposit, Donbass, Ukraine
79 Mine, Banner District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Alice mine, Alice district, Clear Creek Co., Colorado, USA
American mine, Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah, USA
Apache Mine, near Globe, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Arlington Copper Mine, North Arlington, Bergen Co., New Jersey, USA
Barr Mine, Picher, Oklahoma, USA
Benitoite/Dallas/Victor/New Idria Mines, New Idria Mining District, San Benito & Fresno Counties, California, USA
Benson Mines, Newton Falls/Star Lake, St.Lawrence Co., New York, USA
Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Black Hawk district, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Black Hawk mine, Black Hawk district, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Bristol Copper Mine, Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA
Buckhorn mine, Red Cloud district, Gallinas Mts, Lincoln Co., New Mexico, USA
Bunker Hill mine, Kellogg, Shoshone Co., Idaho, USA
Butte General Area, Montana, USA
Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
Callahan mine, Brooksville, Hancock Co., Maine, USA
Cashin/Bitter Creek/J & J Mine etc, Paradox Valley Area/La Sal Creek, Montrose Co., Colorado, USA
Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic distr., Juab Co, Utah, USA
Christmas Mine, Hayden, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Storey Co., Nevada, USA
Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Copper River District, Kennecott, Alaska, USA
Cornwall, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania, USA
Eagle Mine, Bonanza mining district, Saguache Co., Colorado, USA
East Colusa Mine, Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
Encampment copper district, Carbon Co., Wyoming, USA
Evergreen mine, near Apex, Gilpin Co., Colorado, USA
Fat Jack mine, Lane Mt., Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Fernando Mine/etc, Darwin District, Inyo Co., California, USA
French Creek Mines, Knauertown, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
Galena/Baxter Springs/Lawton, Cherokee Co., Kansas, USA
Garret Mountain Quarries, Paterson, Passaic Co., New Jersey, USA
General Area, Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
General Area, Jasper & Newton counties, Missouri, USA
General Area, Picher/Commerce/Quapaw/Miami/Peoria, Ottowa Co., Oklahoma, USA
Gillman District, Colorado, USA
Glove Mine, San Rita Mts., Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, USA
Gold Hill mine, Tooele Co., Utah, USA
Granite Gap, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico, USA
Guston Mine etc, Red Mountain Pass Area, Ouray Co., Colorado, USA
Interstate 295 roadcut, Cranston, Providence Co., Rhode Island, USA
Jackson Canyon, Humbolt Range, Pershing Co., Nevada, USA
Kennecott, Copper river district, Alaska, USA
Keystone-Douglas Creek gold-copper district, Albany Co., Wyoming, USA
La Sal district, San Juan Co., Utah, USA
La Sal No. 2 mine, Beaver Mesa, Mesa Co., Colorado, USA
Leonard Mine etc, Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
Lewis/Adams/Washington/NezPerce/Idaho Counties, Seven Devils Mining District, Idaho, USA
Liberty Copper/Dolly Hyde Copper Mines, Libertytown, Fredrick Co., Maryland, USA
Loudville Lead Mine, Loudville, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, USA
Magdalena district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Magma Mine, Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Majuba Hill mine, Pershing Co., Nevada, USA
Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Manhan Lead Silver Mine, Southampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, USA
mica Lode/Meyers/School Section Mines/etc, Royal Gorge Area, El Paso Co., Colorado, USA
Mountain City Copper Mine, Elko Co., Nevada, USA
New Cornelia Mine, Ajo, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
New Rambler copper-gold-platinum district, Albany Co., Wyoming, USA
Old Guard Mine, Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Platteville Area, Iowa Co., Wisconsin, USA
Questa Mine, Taos Co., New Mexico, USA
Rawley Mine, Thebna, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA
Red Mountain District, Mendocino Co., California, USA
Royal Gorge Area, Fremont Co., Colorado, USA
Saginaw Hill, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Silver Crown copper district, Laramie Co., Wyoming, USA
Sneech Pond Copper mine, Cumberland, Providence Co., Rhode Island, USA
Sterling Hill and Franklin Furnace, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Stewart Mine, Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
Summitville, Rio Grande Co., Colorado, USA
Sunnyside mine, Silverton Mining District, Howardsville, San Juan Co., Colorado, USA
Tintic Standard mine, Dividend, Utah Co., Utah, USA
Twin Buttes, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Wagon Wheel Gap, Pagosa Springs del Norte, Mineral Co., Colorado, USA
White Caps/Outlaw Mines etc, Manhattan, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
White Pine mine, Ontonagan Co., Michigan, USA
Zaca Mine, Monitor-Mogal District, Alpine Co., California, USA
Bontddu trial level, Bontddu, Gwynedd, Wales
Bwlchrehennaid Mine (Level Newydd), Goginan, Tirymynach, Dyfed, Wales
Clogau St. Davids mine, Bontddu, Gwynedd, Wales
Dolyhir Quarry, Powys, Wales
Dylife Mine, Dylife, Machynlleth, Powys, Wales
Esgair Hir mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Frongoch Mine, Pontrhydygroes, Dyfed, Wales
Llechwedd Helyg mine, Tir-y-Mynach, Dyfed, Wales
Nant-y-Cagel mine (Eagle Brook), Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Nant-y-Car Mine, Rhayader, Powys, Wales
Parys Mountain mine, Anglesey, Wales
Penrhiw mine, Ystumtuen, Dyfed, Wales

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