THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF ANTLERITE

Abstract

The crystal structure of antlerite has been worked out by means of the heavy atom method through the two-dimensional Patterson and Fourier syntheses. The lattice constants of the mineral are a₀=8.23±0.02Å., b₀=12.00±0.02Å. and c₀=6.03±0.01Å. Its space group is Pnam, and there are four chemical units of composition Cu₃(SO₄)(OH)₄.
The structure is composed of chains of octahedra formed by oxygen atoms and hydroxyl groups linked with copper atoms, and there are two types of non-equivalent copper atoms having different coordination.