The crystal structure of pseudomalachite, Cu₅(PO₄)₂(OH)₄

Abstract

pseudomalachite, Cus(P04)~(0H)4 is monoelinic, space group P21/c, with ao=4"47, b0=5"75, c0=17.08A;fl=91 ° 07'.The structure has been determined from sharpened :Patterson projections on ( 100) and ( 010) and refined by Fourier and difference Fourier syntheses.In the structure there are two types of parallel infinite octahedral chains, the first composed of one Cu(OH)204 and two Cu(OH)30 s octahedra, sharing four and three edges respectively and the second of Cu(OH).~O 4 octahedra sharing opposite square edges.These chains alternate, sharing edges, to form a set of infinite parallel sheets, held together by tetrahedral PC4 groups.