Its chemical formula is Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2.

Its name is derived from its association with atacamite.

Paratacamite was first described by Herbert Smith in 1906.

[3] The zincian endmember Cu3(Zn)(OH)6Cl2 is called herbertsmithite, and paratacamite is polymorphous with botallackite and atacamite.

It has been found in Chile, Botallack Mine in Cornwall, Broken Hill, Australia, and in Italy at Capo Calamita on the island of Elba.