Covellite belongs to the binary copper sulfides group, which has the formula CuxSy and can have a wide-ranging copper/sulfur ratio, from 1:2 to 2:1 (Cu/S). However, this series is by no means continuous and the homogeneity range of covellite CuS is narrow. Materials rich in sulfur CuSx where x~ 1.1- 1.2 do exist, but they exhibit "superstructures", a modulation of the hexagonal ground plane of the structure spanning a number of adjacent unit cells. This indicates that several of covellite's special properties are the result of molecular structure at this level.
For a copper sulfide, covellite has a complicated lamellar structure, with alternating layers of CuS and Cu2S2 with copper atoms of trigonal planar (uncommon) and tetrahedral coordination respectively. The layers are connected by S-S bonds (based on Van der Waals forces) known as S2 dimers. The Cu2S2 layers only has one l/3 bond along the c-axis (perpendicular to layers), thus only one bond in that direction to create a perfect cleavage {0001}. The conductivity is greater across layers due to the partially filled 3p orbitals, facilitating electron mobility.
Covellite is commonly found as a secondary copper mineral in deposits. Covellite is known to form in weathering environments in surficial deposits where copper is the primary sulfide. As a primary mineral, the formation of covellite is restricted to hydrothermal conditions, thus rarely found as such in copper ore deposits or as a volcanic sublimate.
Covellite's occurrence is widespread around the world, with a significant number of localities in Central Europe, China, Australia, Western United States, and Argentina. Many are found close to orogenic belts, where orographic precipitation often plays a role in weathering. An example of primary mineral formation is in hydrothermal veins at depths of 1,150 m found in Silver Bow County, Montana. As a secondary mineral, covellite also forms as descending surface water in the supergene enrichment zone oxidizes and redeposits covellite on hypogene sulfides (pyrite and chalcopyrite) at the same locality. An unusual occurrence of covellite was found replacing organic debris in the red beds of New Mexico.
Nicola Covelli (1790-1829), the discoverer of the mineral, was a professor of botany and chemistry though was interested in geology and volcanology, particularly Mount Vesuvius' eruptions. His studies of its lava led to the discovery of several unknown minerals including covellite.
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Q. Ashton Acton (2012). Chlorine Compounds-Advances in Research and Application. ScholarlyMedia LLC. ISBN 9781481600040. OCLC 1024280169. 9781481600040
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Putnis, A.; Grace, J.; Cameron, W. E. (1977). "Blaubleibender covellite and its relationship to normal covellite". Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 60 (2): 209–217. Bibcode:1977CoMP...60..209P. doi:10.1007/bf00372282. ISSN 0010-7999. S2CID 95661500. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Evans, Howard T.; Konnert, Judith A. (1976). "Crystal structure refinement of covellite". American Mineralogist. 61: 996–1000.
Evans, Howard T.; Konnert, Judith A. (1976). "Crystal structure refinement of covellite". American Mineralogist. 61: 996–1000.
Warner, Terence E. (2013). Synthesis, properties and mineralogy of important inorganic materials. Wiley. ISBN 9780470976234. OCLC 865009780. 9780470976234
Evans, Howard T.; Konnert, Judith A. (1976). "Crystal structure refinement of covellite". American Mineralogist. 61: 996–1000.
Evans, Howard T.; Konnert, Judith A. (1976). "Crystal structure refinement of covellite". American Mineralogist. 61: 996–1000.
Goble, Ronald J. (1985). The relationship between crystal structure, bonding and cell dimensions in the copper sulfides : supplementary unpublished material. OCLC 45557917. /wiki/OCLC_(identifier)
Liang, W.; Whangbo, M.-H. (February 1993). "Conductivity anisotropy and structural phase transition in Covellite CuS". Solid State Communications. 85 (5): 405–408. Bibcode:1993SSCom..85..405L. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(93)90689-k. ISSN 0038-1098. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Liang, W.; Whangbo, M.-H. (February 1993). "Conductivity anisotropy and structural phase transition in Covellite CuS". Solid State Communications. 85 (5): 405–408. Bibcode:1993SSCom..85..405L. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(93)90689-k. ISSN 0038-1098. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Liang, W.; Whangbo, M.-H. (February 1993). "Conductivity anisotropy and structural phase transition in Covellite CuS". Solid State Communications. 85 (5): 405–408. Bibcode:1993SSCom..85..405L. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(93)90689-k. ISSN 0038-1098. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Evans, Howard T.; Konnert, Judith A. (1976). "Crystal structure refinement of covellite". American Mineralogist. 61: 996–1000.
Liang, W.; Whangbo, M.-H. (February 1993). "Conductivity anisotropy and structural phase transition in Covellite CuS". Solid State Communications. 85 (5): 405–408. Bibcode:1993SSCom..85..405L. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(93)90689-k. ISSN 0038-1098. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Majzlan, Juraj; Kiefer, Stefan; Herrmann, Julia; Števko, Martin; Sejkora, Jiří; Chovan, Martin; Lánczos, Tomáš; Lazarov, Marina; Gerdes, Axel (June 2018). "Synergies in elemental mobility during weathering of tetrahedrite [(Cu,Fe,Zn)12(Sb,As)4S13]: Field observations, electron microscopy, isotopes of Cu, C, O, radiometric dating, and water geochemistry". Chemical Geology. 488: 1–20. Bibcode:2018ChGeo.488....1M. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.04.021. ISSN 0009-2541. S2CID 135253715. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Warner, Terence E. (2013). Synthesis, properties and mineralogy of important inorganic materials. Wiley. ISBN 9780470976234. OCLC 865009780. 9780470976234
Simonescu, C.M., Teodorescu, V.S., Carp, O., Patron, L. and Capatina, C. (2007). "Thermal behaviour of CuS (covellite) obtained from copper–thiosulfate system". Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 88 (1): 71–76. doi:10.1007/s10973-006-8079-z. S2CID 94104147.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) /wiki/Journal_of_Thermal_Analysis_and_Calorimetry
Ghezelbash, Ali; Korgel, Brian A. (October 2005). "Nickel Sulfide and Copper Sulfide Nanocrystal Synthesis and Polymorphism". Langmuir. 21 (21): 9451–9456. doi:10.1021/la051196p. ISSN 0743-7463. PMID 16207021. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Ghezelbash, Ali; Korgel, Brian A. (October 2005). "Nickel Sulfide and Copper Sulfide Nanocrystal Synthesis and Polymorphism". Langmuir. 21 (21): 9451–9456. doi:10.1021/la051196p. ISSN 0743-7463. PMID 16207021. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Gramp, J.P.; Sasaki, K.; Bigham, J.M.; Karnachuck, O.V.; Tuovinen, O.H. (2006). "Formation of Covellite (CuS) Under Biological Sulfate-Reducing Conditions". Geomicrobiology Journal. 23 (8): 613–619. doi:10.1080/01490450600964383. S2CID 95152748. /w/index.php?title=Geomicrobiology_Journal&action=edit&redlink=1
Gramp, J.P.; Sasaki, K.; Bigham, J.M.; Karnachuck, O.V.; Tuovinen, O.H. (2006). "Formation of Covellite (CuS) Under Biological Sulfate-Reducing Conditions". Geomicrobiology Journal. 23 (8): 613–619. doi:10.1080/01490450600964383. S2CID 95152748. /w/index.php?title=Geomicrobiology_Journal&action=edit&redlink=1
Simonescu, C.M., Teodorescu, V.S., Carp, O., Patron, L. and Capatina, C. (2007). "Thermal behaviour of CuS (covellite) obtained from copper–thiosulfate system". Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 88 (1): 71–76. doi:10.1007/s10973-006-8079-z. S2CID 94104147.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) /wiki/Journal_of_Thermal_Analysis_and_Calorimetry
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Emmons, W. H., The Enrichment of Ore Deposits, Bulletin 625, United States Geological Survey, 1917, p. 193
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Mindat.org http://www.mindat.org/min-1144.html
Benedetto, F.D.; Borgheresi, M.; Caneschi, A.; Chastanet, G.; Cipriani, C.; Gatteschi, D.; Pratesi, G.; Romanelli, M.; Sessoli, R. (2006). "First evidence of natural superconductivity". European Journal of Mineralogy. 18 (3): 283–287. Bibcode:2006EJMin..18..283D. doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2006/0018-0283. /wiki/European_Journal_of_Mineralogy
Chunyan Wu; Shu-Hong Yu; Markus Antoniette (2006). "Complex Concaved Cuboctahedrons of Copper Sulfide Crystals with Highly Geometrical Symmetry Created by a Solution Process". Chemistry of Materials. 18 (16): 3599–3601. doi:10.1021/cm060956u. /wiki/Chemistry_of_Materials
Nava, Dora; Gonzalez, I; et al. (2006). "Electrochemical characterization of chemical species formed during the electrochemical treatment of chalcopyrite in sulfuric acid". Electrochimica Acta. 51 (25): 5295–5303. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2006.02.005. /wiki/Electrochimica_Acta
Chung, J.-S.; Sohn, H.-J. (June 2002). "Electrochemical behaviors of CuS as a cathode material for lithium secondary batteries". Journal of Power Sources. 108 (1–2): 226–231. Bibcode:2002JPS...108..226C. doi:10.1016/s0378-7753(02)00024-1. ISSN 0378-7753. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Sagade, Abhay A.; Sharma, Ramphal (July 2008). "Copper sulphide (CuxS) as an ammonia gas sensor working at room temperature". Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 133 (1): 135–143. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2008.02.015. ISSN 0925-4005. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Mane, R. S.; Lokhande, C. D. (2010-06-03). "ChemInform Abstract: Chemical Deposition Method for Metal Chalcogenide Thin Films". ChemInform. 31 (34): no. doi:10.1002/chin.200034236. ISSN 0931-7597. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Foley, Sarah; Geaney, Hugh; Bree, Gerard; Stokes, Killian; Connolly, Sinead; Zaworotko, Michael J.; Ryan, Kevin M. (2018-03-24). "Copper Sulfide (Cu x S) Nanowire‐in‐Carbon Composites Formed from Direct Sulfurization of the Metal‐Organic Framework HKUST‐1 and Their Use as Li‐Ion Battery Cathodes". Advanced Functional Materials. 28 (19): 1800587. doi:10.1002/adfm.201800587. ISSN 1616-301X. S2CID 104176144. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Zhou, Mingjiong; Peng, Na; Liu, Zhen; Xi, Yun; He, Huiqiu; Xia, Yonggao; Liu, Zhaoping; Okada, Shigeto (February 2016). "Synthesis of sub-10 nm copper sulphide rods as high-performance anode for long-cycle life Li-ion batteries". Journal of Power Sources. 306: 408–412. Bibcode:2016JPS...306..408Z. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.12.048. ISSN 0378-7753. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Zhou, Mingjiong; Peng, Na; Liu, Zhen; Xi, Yun; He, Huiqiu; Xia, Yonggao; Liu, Zhaoping; Okada, Shigeto (February 2016). "Synthesis of sub-10 nm copper sulphide rods as high-performance anode for long-cycle life Li-ion batteries". Journal of Power Sources. 306: 408–412. Bibcode:2016JPS...306..408Z. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.12.048. ISSN 0378-7753. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Zhou, Mingjiong; Peng, Na; Liu, Zhen; Xi, Yun; He, Huiqiu; Xia, Yonggao; Liu, Zhaoping; Okada, Shigeto (February 2016). "Synthesis of sub-10 nm copper sulphide rods as high-performance anode for long-cycle life Li-ion batteries". Journal of Power Sources. 306: 408–412. Bibcode:2016JPS...306..408Z. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.12.048. ISSN 0378-7753. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Maixian; Xue, Xiaozheng; Ghosh, Chayanjit; Liu, Xin; Liu, Yang; Furlani, Edward P.; Swihart, Mark T.; Prasad, Paras N. (2015-04-03). "Room-Temperature Synthesis of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Broadly Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance". Chemistry of Materials. 27 (7): 2584–2590. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00270. ISSN 0897-4756. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Liu, Maixian; Xue, Xiaozheng; Ghosh, Chayanjit; Liu, Xin; Liu, Yang; Furlani, Edward P.; Swihart, Mark T.; Prasad, Paras N. (2015-04-03). "Room-Temperature Synthesis of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Broadly Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance". Chemistry of Materials. 27 (7): 2584–2590. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00270. ISSN 0897-4756. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Xie, Yi; Riedinger, Andreas; Prato, Mirko; Casu, Alberto; Genovese, Alessandro; Guardia, Pablo; Sottini, Silvia; Sangregorio, Claudio; Miszta, Karol (2013-11-06). "Copper Sulfide Nanocrystals with Tunable Composition by Reduction of Covellite Nanocrystals with Cu+ Ions". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 135 (46): 17630–17637. doi:10.1021/ja409754v. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 24128337. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Xie, Yi; Bertoni, Giovanni; Riedinger, Andreas; Sathya, Ayyappan; Prato, Mirko; Marras, Sergio; Tu, Renyong; Pellegrino, Teresa; Manna, Liberato (2015-10-29). "Nanoscale Transformations in Covellite (CuS) Nanocrystals in the Presence of Divalent Metal Cations in a Mild Reducing Environment". Chemistry of Materials. 27 (21): 7531–7537. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b03892. ISSN 0897-4756. PMC 4652895. PMID 26617434. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4652895
Liu, Yang; Zhang, Hanguang; Behara, Pavan Kumar; Wang, Xiaoyu; Zhu, Dewei; Ding, Shuo; Ganesh, Sai Prasad; Dupuis, Michel; Wu, Gang (2018-11-19). "Synthesis and Anisotropic Electrocatalytic Activity of Covellite Nanoplatelets with Fixed Thickness and Tunable Diameter". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 10 (49): 42417–42426. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b15895. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 30451490. S2CID 206495105. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Xie, Yi; Riedinger, Andreas; Prato, Mirko; Casu, Alberto; Genovese, Alessandro; Guardia, Pablo; Sottini, Silvia; Sangregorio, Claudio; Miszta, Karol (2013-11-06). "Copper Sulfide Nanocrystals with Tunable Composition by Reduction of Covellite Nanocrystals with Cu+ Ions". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 135 (46): 17630–17637. doi:10.1021/ja409754v. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 24128337. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)