page_title: Chalcanthite
section_title: Notes for identification
hierarchical_section_title: Chalcanthite / Notes for identification
caption_attribution_description: English: Crystal structure of chalcanthite - CuSO4·5H2O. Beevers C, Lipson H Colour code: &#160; Copper, Cu: brown &#160; Sulfur, S: olive &#160; Oxygen, O: red &#160; Cell: cyan
context_page_description: Chalcanthite, whose name derives from the Greek, chalkos and anthos, meaning copper flower, is a richly colored blue/green water-soluble sulfate mineral CuSO₄·5H₂O. It is commonly found in the late-stage oxidation zones of copper deposits. Due to its ready solubility, chalcanthite is more common in arid regions.
  Chalcanthite is a pentahydrate and the most common member of a group of similar hydrated sulfates, the chalcanthite group. These other sulfates are identical in chemical composition to chalcanthite, with the exception of replacement of the copper ion by either manganese as jokokuite, iron as siderotil, or magnesium as pentahydrite.
  Other names include blue stone, blue vitriol, and copper vitriol.
context_section_description: Chalcanthite's blue color is one of its most notable features, but it is insufficient in identification. Other useful tests include associated minerals, crystal habit, solubility and subsequent coloring of the water blue. Chalcanthite can also dye materials blue when dissolved in water, and has a peculiarly sweet and metallic taste, although consuming it can induce dangerous copper poisoning.
caption: Crystal structure of chalcanthite
  Color code: :Copper, Cu: brown :Sulfur, S: olive :Oxygen, O: red :Cell: cyan
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