| Domeykite | |
| Category: | Arsenide mineral |
| Formula: | Cu3As |
| Imasymbol: | Do[1] |
| Molweight: | 265.56 g/mol |
| System: | Isometric |
| Class: | Hextetrahedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3m) |
| Symmetry: | I3d |
| Unit Cell: | a = 9.62 Å; Z = 16 |
| Strunz: | 2.AA.10b |
| Color: | Tin-white to steel-gray |
| Habit: | Reniform, botryoidal; massive |
| Cleavage: | None |
| Tenacity: | Brittle – sectile |
| Mohs: | 3-3.5 |
| Luster: | Metallic |
| Streak: | Black gray |
| Gravity: | 7.2 – 8.1, average = 7.65 |
| Diaphaneity: | Opaque |
| Other: | Tarnishes pale yellow, then pale brown, and finally to iridescence |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Domeykite is a copper arsenide mineral, Cu3As. It crystallizes in the isometric system, although crystals are very rare. It typically forms as irregular masses or botryoidal forms. It is an opaque, white to gray (weathers brassy) metallic mineral with a Mohs hardness of 3 to 3.5 and a specific gravity of 7.2 to 8.1.[2] [4]
It was first described in 1845 in the Algodones mines, Coquimbo, Chile. It was named after Polish mineralogist Ignacy Domeyko (1802–1889) by Wilhelm Haidinger.[3]
Domeykite, being a minor copper ore, is used for obtaining copper. It can also be polished and used for ornamental purposes.[5]