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Roger Warin
Joined: 23 Jan 2013
Posts: 1176
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Posted: Jan 29, 2013 14:46 Post subject: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Another very rare mineral, even emblematic, the buttgenbachite from Katanga.
It appears on cuprite, and is sometimes accompanied by silver.
Roger.
Description: |
Buttgenbachite Mine Panda, Likasi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. xls about 15 mm within massive cuprite |
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gemlover
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Posts: 211
Location: Easley, SC
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Posted: Jan 29, 2013 16:18 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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so fantastic, beautiful specimen. thanks for sharing
john
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John Atwell Rasmussen, Ph.D.. AJP
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John Medici
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
Posts: 124
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Jan 30, 2013 11:50 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Roger, great contrasting group of Cu minerals!
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Peter
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 346
Location: Sweden / Luxembourg
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Posted: Feb 18, 2013 18:44 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Wonderful beauty and rarity captured!
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Roger Warin
Joined: 23 Jan 2013
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Posted: Feb 19, 2013 02:12 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Many thanks, Peter.
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Pierre Joubert
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
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Location: Western Cape
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Posted: Feb 19, 2013 02:25 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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That, Roger, is a STUNNER!!!
_________________ Pierre Joubert
'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. ' |
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valere
Joined: 10 Feb 2011
Posts: 55
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Mar 06, 2013 10:02 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Buttgenbachite is the holy grail for the Congolese mineral collectors
The only specimen I have is the one used and illustrated in the RRUFF database (RRUFF ID: R090013)
https://rruff.info/
That website is a real mine of data, and its buttgenbachite link gives access to the full text of several publications by simple clicks!
Examples with nice needles big enough to be seen with naked eyes are currently out of reach for young collectors, the quest of new samples of new specimens of Buttgenbackite (and related spieces) will be the ultimate goal of my coming Congolese trips! My hopes are intact!
All the best
Val
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domenico
Joined: 31 Dec 2012
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Location: Garbagnate Mil.-Italy
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 02:36 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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WAW Roger nice photo and sample !!
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Mark Ost
Joined: 18 Mar 2013
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Location: Virginia Beach
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 19:24 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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So delicate. Thanks for sharing.
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Roger Warin
Joined: 23 Jan 2013
Posts: 1176
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Posted: Apr 04, 2013 01:34 Post subject: Re: Buttgenbachite, Likasi, RD.Congo |
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Hello,
About buttgenbachite…
All nitrates are soluble in water. This is because of their extreme rarity. However buttgenbachite exists. It can be found only in extreme drought.
Located on the plateau of Haut-Katanga, Likasi (formerly Jadotville) has a mild tropical climate.
In Likasi (DRC), buttgenbachite is found breaking blocks of massive cuprite.
Its origin may lie in aqueous salt solutions of copper. It will crystallize because many hydroxyl anions are introduced into the crystal. Nitrates groups are structurally almost identical to the carbonate anions. Water molecules of crystallization are introduced into the crystal lattice during the growth. But I never try washing this mineral with water...
Buttgenbachite formula is Cu19Cl4 (NO3)2 (OH)32 • 2 (H2O).
The specimen in my photo is exceptional because the needles form a nice spray. Most of the time, it was tangled packets of needles.
Sometimes, silver is found as paragenesis.
Association: Cuprite, likasite, gerhardtite, malachite, brochantite, silver.
Honors Professor Francois Jean Henri Buttgenbach (1874-1964), Belgian mineralogist, University of Li ege, Belgium, who long studied Congo minerals.
Roger.
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