THE
MINERAL KINOITE
- Chemistry: Ca2Cu2Si3O10 - 2H2O; Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate
- Class: Silicates
- Subclass: Nesosilicates
- Uses: A very minor ore of copper and as an ornamental stone.
Specimens
Kinoite is an attractive copper mineral. Its general light blue color is significantly different from other dark blue copper minerals such as azurite, linarite,
Kinoite is a fairly scarce mineral. It is found in only a few localities around the world and most good specimens seem to come from the Christmas Mine in Gila County, Arizona. It is often associated and coated with small crystals of apophyllite which can give a specimen a nice sparkle. Micromountable specimens of kinoite, which have a deeper blue color, are also available and quite attractive and are similar in appearance to clusters of cavansite.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is a unique light blue for crusts and a deep blue in microcrystals.
- Luster is vitreous.
- Transparency specimens are transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System is monoclinic.
- Growth Habits include small acicular to thin prismatic crystals found as spherules or sprays of acicular radial crystal clusters. Other habits include massive and as crusts.
- Hardness is varies from 2 - 5 depending on whether in crusts or individual crystals.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 3.2 (above average for a non-metallic minerals)
- Streak is blue.
- Associated Minerals are apophyllite,
stringhamite , copper,wollastonite , calcite,djurleite , bornite and chalcopyrite. - Notable Occurrences are the Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County and the Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA and a few other secondary copper deposits.
- Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, locality and associations.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
KINOITE specimen kin-1
$ 65.00
$ 65.00
Dims: 4.2 x 3.6 x 1.5" (10.7 x 9.1 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 1 lb., 1.2 oz. (486 g)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
This moderately large hand specimen consists of a pale cream colored, rough host rock which is partly coated with 2 separate crusts of Kinoite. The Kinoite occurs in the form of very thin, massive crusts that show no evidence of crystal form. These crusts have a color that ranges from nearly white to a moderately deep sky-blue, and are heavily encrusted with tiny calcite rhomboderons. Thus, it is nearly impossible to determine their natural luster. It is also extremely difficult to determine their level of transparence or opacity, as the crusts are extremely thin and do not extend beyond the surfaces of the host rock. There are several tiny smatterings of Kinoite scattered elswhere on the host, and with powerful magnification (at least 30x or more), one might be able to see their monoclinic form. The larger crust does show noticeable damage in the form of an impact scar near one edge.
kin-1 ($ 65.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
KINOITE specimen kin-2
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
Dims: 1.5 x 1.1 x 0.7" (3.8 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 12 g
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
Several flat and botryoidal Kinoite crusts coat hollows in the sparse host rock of this thumbnail piece. These crusts show no visible sign of crystal form, even under 10x magnification; the botryoidal portions are easily definable, though their form may not be caused by the Kinoite. They range in color from white to deep royal blue and are coated with what is likely apophyllite, which gives them a lustrous sparkle.
kin-2 ($ 50.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
KINOITE specimen kin-3
$ 45.00
$ 45.00
Dims: 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.3" (6.0 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm)
Wt: 2.8 oz. (78 g)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
A sparkling crust of deep blue Kinoite rests on the dull brown base of this small cabinet piece. The crust is actually made up of countless clusters of microscopic prismatic or bladed crystals that apparently have good monoclinic form. All have the standard deep blue color and vitreous luster, but the sparkle on the crust is actually caused by many small apophyllite crystals.
kin-3 ($ 45.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
KINOITE specimen kin-4
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
Dims: 1.7 x 1.1 x 0.5" (4.2 x 2.9 x 1.3 cm)
Wt: 0.5 oz. (13 g)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
Crusts and veins of massive or microcrystalline Kinoite coat and permeate the white matrix of this hand specimen. The Kinoite appears to be in excellent condition, though a damage assessment really is useless. It has a bright blue coloration and a seemingly pearly luster. Where it is exposed, the Kinoite is coated with what I think are druses of colorless apophyllite.
kin-4 ($ 40.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.
KINOITE specimen kin-5
$ 39.00
$ 39.00
Dims:2.0x1.5x1.1" (5.1x3.8x2.8 cm)
Wt: 2.0oz. (57g)
Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona
The top surface of this specimen is richly scattered with crystals of kinoite. These crystals are very small-with a loupe, one can, with difficulty, see that they are crystallized in monoclinic prisms. The kinoite crystals are associated with a scattering of tiny, transparent, clear fluorapophyllite crystals. There is no damage to this specimen.
kin-5 ($ 39.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona
KINOITE specimen kin-6
$ 65.00
$ 65.00
Dims:2.4x1.6x0.9" (6.1x4.1x2.3 cm)
Wt: 1.6oz. (45g)
Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona
A rich dusting of tiny, tabular kinoite crystals lies on and in a crust of fluorapophyllite in this specimen. These crystals can barely be distinguished with a loupe. Looking at the back of the specimen, two other veins of kinoite may be seen running through the matrix. There is no damage to this specimen.
kin-6 ($ 65.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona
KINOITE specimen kin-7
$ 96.00
$ 96.00
Dims: 3.59x2.48x1.71" (9.12x6.29x4.34cm)
Wt: 11.53oz (327g)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA
A host rock (composed of several distinct sections) has a small crust of deep blue kinoite crystals, plus a large section of a turquoise blue sparkly druze. A loupe reveals that the druze is small crystals of colorless transparent apophyllite with color from tiny inclusions and intergrown crystals of kinoite. More kinoite is scattered over all surfaces of the specimen.
kin-7 ($ 96.00)
Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA