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Copper Silicate Gel, Formation, Kipuka Kanohina Cave System, Hawaii County, Hawaii 1

"the blue-green coating is a nearly pure copper silicate. However, because it is noncrystalline,

it is technically not a mineral. The infrared spectrum (Fig. 11) shows that the phase is highly hydrated, so it can be best described as a copper silicate gel. The chemical composition is similar to chrysocolla, (Cu,Al)2H2-Si2O5(OH)4?nH2O, but lacks crystallinity." This excerpt is found in an article by William B. White, page 80: www.caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/v72/cave-72-02-75.pdf

 

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Uploaded on February 22, 2011
Taken on February 7, 2011