From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Discrete, wine-red cuprite crystals on matrix covered by sparklly delafossite microcrystals
Category Oxide mineral
(repeating unit)
Strunz classification 04.AB.15
Crystal symmetry Trigonal hexagonal scalenohedral
H-M symbol: (32/m)
Space group: R3m
Unit cell a = 3.04 Å, c = 17.12 Å; Z=3
Color Black; pale brownish rose in reﬂected light
Crystal habit Tabular to equant crystals; botryoidal crusts, spherulitic, powdery, massive
Crystal system Trigonal
Twinning Contact twins on {0001}
Cleavage Imperfect on {1011}
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 5.5
Luster Metallic
Streak Black
Diaphaneity Opaque
Specific gravity 5.41
Optical properties Uniaxial
Pleochroism Distinct; O = pale golden brown; E = rose-brown
Other characteristics Weakly magnetic
References [1][2][3]

Delafossite is a copper iron oxide mineral with formula CuFeO2 or Cu1+Fe3+O2. It is member of the delafossite mineral group with a general formula ABO2, a group characterized by a sheet of linearly coordinated A cations stacked between edge-shared octahedral layers (BO6).[4] Delafossite along with other minerals of the ABO2 group has been recognized for its electrical properties from insulation to metallic conduction.[4] Delafossite is usually a secondary mineral that crystallizes near oxidized copper and is rarely a primary mineral.[4]


The chemical formula for delafossite is CuFeO2 and was determined through chemical analysis of the pure mineral by G. S. Bohart of the Chemistry Department of Stanford University.[5] The ratio given was very close to Cu:Fe:O=1:1:2 with a slightly more iron than copper. Rogers.[5] attributed this fact to a small amount of hematite in the sample. In order to determine the composition of delafossite Rogers used the Ziervogel process. The Ziervogel process is used to test for the presence of cuprous oxides by looking for the “spangle reaction” which produces thin flakes of metallic silver when cuprous oxide is mixed with silver sulfate. When Rogers heated powdered delafossite with silver sulfate solution, the spangle reaction occurred. The only oxides possibilities to consider for delafossite are cuprous copper and ferrous iron. Rogers concluded that the iron was combining with the oxygen as a radical and that it only acted as a radical. This indicated that the copper in delafossite was in the cuprous rather than the cupric form. Hence he concluded that the composition of delafossite was probably cuprous metaferrite, CuFe3+O2. This composition was later confirmed by Pabst by the determination of interionic distances in the crystal lattice.[6]


The atomic structure of delafossite and the delafossite group consists of a sheet of linearly coordinated A cations stacked between edge-shared octahedral layers (BO6).[4] In the delafossite atomic structure there are two alternating planar layers.[4] The two layers consist of one layer triangular-patterned A cations and a layer of edge-sharing BO6 octahedra compacted with respect to the c-axis.[4] The delafossite structure can have two polytypes according to the orientation of the planar layer stacking.[4] Hexagonal 2H types that have a space group of P63/mmc are formed when two A layers are stacked with each layer rotated 180° in relation to one another.[4] Alternatively, when the layers are stacked each layer in the same direction in relation to one another, it makes a rhombohedral 3R type with a space group of R3m.[4]

Physical properties[edit]

The color of delafossite is black, with a hardness of 5.5, and imperfect cleavage in the {1011} direction.[1] Pabst[7] calculated the density of delafossite to be 5.52. Contact twinning has been observed in the {0001} direction.[1] The unit cell parameters were calculated to be a = 3.0351 Å, c = 17.166 Å, V = 136.94 Å3.[8] Delafossite is tabular to equidimensional in habit and has a black streak and a metallic luster.[5] Delafossite has hexagonal symmetry that can have the space groups R3m or P63/mmc depending on the stacking of A cation layers.[4] Delafossite compounds can have magnetic properties when magnetic ions are in the B cation position.[4] Delafossite compounds also have properties dealing with electric conductivity such as insulation and/or metallic conduction.[4] Delafossite compounds can exhibit p- or n-type conductivity based on their composition.[4]

Geologic occurrence[edit]

In 1873, delafossite was discovered by Charles Friedel in a region of Ekaterinbug, Siberia.[9] Since its discovery it has been identified as a fairly common mineral found in such places as the copper mines of in Bisbee, Arizona.[5] Delafossite is usually a secondary mineral often found in oxidized areas of copper deposits although it can be a primary mineral as well.[1][4] Delafossite can be found as massive, relatively distinct crystals on hematite.[5] Delafossite has since been found in mines around the world from Germany to Chile.[1]

Origin of the name[edit]

Delafossite was first noted by Charles Friedel in 1873 and given the composition Cu2O.Fe2O3.[5] The mineral was given the name delafossite in honor of the French mineralogist and crystallographer Gabriel Delafosse (1796–1878).[4] Delafosse is known for noting the close relationship between crystal symmetry and physical properties.[10]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b c d e Anthony, J., Bideaux, R., Bladh, K. and Nichols, M. Eds.,"Delafossite", Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, VA 20151-1110, USA.
  2. ^
  3. ^ Webmineral data
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Marquardt, M., Ashmore, N., & Cann, D. (2006). Crystal chemistry and electrical properties of the delafossite structure. Thin Solid Films, 496(1), 146-156.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rogers, A. (1913) Delafossite, a Cuprous Metaferrite from Bisbee, Arizona. American Journal of Science, 35, 290-294.
  6. ^ Pabst, A. (1946) Notes on the Structure of Delafossite, American Mineralogist, 23, 539-546.
  7. ^ Pabst, Adolf. (1938) Crystal Structure and Density of Delafossite. American Mineralogist, 20, 175-176.
  8. ^ Robert, D. S., Donald, R., and Charles, T. P. (1971) Chemistry of noble metal oxides. I. Syntheses and properties of ABO2 delafossite compounds. Inorganic Chemistry, 10, 713-718
  9. ^ Rogers, A. (1922) Delafossite from Kimberly, Nevada, American Mineralogist, 7, 102-104.
  10. ^ “1839: Gabriel Delafosse et Alfred Des Cloizeaux.” Institut de minéralogie et de physique des milieus condensés , 19/03/09. Web. 10/31/2011.