Abstract
The distribution of the basic copper salts malachite (Cu 2(OH) 2CO 3), brochantite (Cu 4(OH) 6SO 4), and paratacamite (Cu 4(OH) 6Cl 2) is determined by the chemical composition of the waters in which copper is found. A previous study of these minerals indicated that they respond rapidly to changes of solutions from one field of stability to another and that conversions of these phases from one to the other leaves an indication (in the form of remnant low magnification textures) of the previous stable phase that permits evaluation of changing environmental conditions. Comparison of the theoretical distribution of these phases (using activity-activity diagrams) with their observed occurrences reveals good agreement between predicted and actual assemblages. Malachite is predicted to be the stable phase in equilibrium with most surface and ground waters including seawater, and such is observed to be the case. Brochantite and paratacamite are observed more frequently than malachite as corrosion products of copper exposed to atmospheric precipitation and the diagrams predict that these copper salts will often supersede malachite as the stable phase in this environment.
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