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, papagoite, liroconite, connellite and others. In aggregate and encrusting specimens of kinoite the blue color is rather palish compared to these minerals, but that does not imply that it is unattractive. On the contrary kinoite's color is quite unique and a welcome addition to the mineral kingdom's color palette. The color could be described as a somewhat purer blue than that of common chrysocolla.

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.