kurvite

Kurvite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula Cu2Zn(OH)3Cl. It was first discovered in 1966 in the Kuru District of the Kuru Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral is named after its type locality, the Kuru District. Kurvite is typically found in association with other copper minerals, such as atacamite and paratacamite, in the oxidation zones of copper deposits.

Kurvite crystallizes in the monoclinic system, forming prismatic crystals that can reach up to 10 millimeters in length. The mineral is usually a bright blue color, but it can also appear in shades of green or gray due to impurities. Kurvite is transparent to translucent and has a vitreous luster. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is approximately 3.5, and it has a specific gravity of around 3.7.

The mineral's structure consists of layers of copper and zinc hydroxide ions, with chloride ions occupying the interlayer spaces. Kurvite is considered a secondary mineral, formed through the weathering and oxidation of primary copper minerals. It is not currently known to have any significant economic value, but it is of interest to mineralogists for its rarity and unique chemical composition.