Keweenawite

Keweenawite is a discredited mineral species. It was described as an arsenide of copper, nickel, and cobalt containing 39% to 54% copper, 9.7% to 20% nickel, and 0.9% cobalt.[1] Keweenawite was discovered in July 1901, in the Mohawk Mine, Keweenaw County, Michigan. George A Koenig analyzed and named the copper ore.[2]

History

Keweenawite was first discovered, in July 1901, located on the fifth level of the Mohawk Mine between Shaft No. 1 and Shaft No. 2. Fred Smith, mine superintendent, sent specimens to George A Koenig for analysis. Dr. Koenig deemed it to be a new mineral species and named it Keweenawite, after its discovery locality, Keweenaw County. [3]

However, a re-analysis of the material in 1971 found the keweenite to be a mixture of the copper and nickel arsenates: α-domeykite, niccolite and rammelsbergite.[4]

See also
  • Mohawkite - Another discredited mineral species discovered in the Mohawk mine and analysed by George A Koenig

References
  1. World Mines Register, Volumes 4-5
  2. World Mines Register, Volume 2
  3. The American journal of science, Volume 164
  4. Moore, Paul B.; Copper-Nickel Arsenides of the Mohawk No. 2 Mine, Mohawk, Keweenaw Co., Michigan, American Mineralogist, V. 56, July-August, 1971 PDF
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