page_title: Covellite
section_title: Occurrence
hierarchical_section_title: Covellite / Occurrence
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Covellin - Fundort: Grube Clara in Oberwolfach (Schwarzwald) English: Covellite - Locality: Grube Clara near Oberwolfach (Black Forrest, Germany)
context_page_description: Covellite is a rare copper sulfide mineral with the formula CuS. This indigo blue mineral is commonly a secondary mineral in limited abundance and although it is not an important ore of copper itself, it is well known to mineral collectors.
  The mineral is generally found in zones of secondary enrichment of copper sulfide deposits. Commonly found as coatings on chalcocite, chalcopyrite, bornite, enargite, pyrite, and other sulfides, it often occurs as pseudomorphic replacements of other minerals. The first records are from Mount Vesuvius, formally named in 1832 after N. Covelli. Research of its unique properties has only surged in past decade yet promising results suggest may be used widescale in certain specific applications in the future.
context_section_description: Covellite's occurrence is widespread around the world, with a significant number of localities in Central Europe, China, Australia, Western United States, and Argentina. Many are found close to orogenic belts, where orographic precipitation often plays a role in weathering. An example of primary mineral formation is in hydrothermal veins at depths of 1,150 m found in Silver Bow County, Montana. As a secondary mineral, covellite also forms as descending surface water in the supergene enrichment zone oxidizes and redeposits covellite on hypogene sulfides (pyrite and chalcopyrite) at the same locality. An unusual occurrence of covellite was found replacing organic debris in the red beds of New Mexico. 
  Nicola Covelli (1790-1829), the discoverer of the mineral, was a professor of botany and chemistry though was interested in geology and volcanology, particularly Mount Vesuvius' eruptions. His studies of its lava led to the discovery of several unknown minerals including covellite.
caption: Covellite from the Black Forest, Germany
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