Berzelianite

Berzelianite
Berzelianite included in calcite from the Skrikerum mine in Sweden.
General
Category	Selenide minerals
Formula	Cu2Se
IMA symbol	Brz [1]
Strunz classification	2.BA.20
Dana classification	2.4.10.1
Crystal system	Isometric
Identification
Color	Silvery white, tarnishes easily
Crystal habit	Dendritic crusts, fine-grained inclusions
Cleavage	None
Fracture	Uneven
Tenacity	Slightly malleable
Mohs scale hardness	2.7
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Shining
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Density	6.71 (measured) 7.28 (calculated)
Ultraviolet fluorescence	None
Common impurities	Ag
References

Berzelianite is a rare copper selenide mineral with the formula Cu ₂ Se. ^{[2] [3] [4]} It occurs as thin dendritic crusts or as fine-grained inclusions. It crystallizes in the isometric system, ^{[5] [6] [7]} unlike its dimorph, bellidoite, which crystallizes in the tetragonal system. ^[8] The crystals are opaque and slightly malleable.^{[ citation needed ]}

Occurrence and name

Berzelianite was first identified at the Skrikerum Mine (also spelled as Skrickerum Mine) in Valdemarsvik, Östergötland, Sweden in 1850. ^[6]

It was named by James Dwight Dana to honor Jöns Jakob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist who is seen as the father of analytical chemistry. He invented chemical symbol notation and discovered the elements cerium, selenium, silicon, and thorium. ^[6]

Berzelianite often occurs together with eucairite, clausthalite, tiemannite, umangite, klockmannite, aguilarite, crookesite, athabascaite, stromeyerite, polybasite, pearceite, gold, uraninite, pyrite, marcasite, calcite.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

References

1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
2. I.Y. Nekrasov (1 January 1996). Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Genesis of Gold Deposits. CRC Press. p. 238. ISBN   978-90-5410-723-1.
3. Stephen B. Castor; Gregory C. Ferdock (2004). Minerals of Nevada. University of Nevada Press. p. 163. ISBN   978-0-87417-540-0.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
4. Bernhard Pracejus (25 June 2015). The Ore Minerals Under the Microscope: An Optical Guide. Elsevier Science. p. 202. ISBN   978-0-444-62737-7.
5. "Handbook of mineralogy Berzelianite" (PDF).
6. "Berzelianite: Berzelianite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
7. Barthelmy, Dave. "Berzelianite Mineral Data". www.webmineral.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
8. "Bellidoite: Bellidoite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-10-23.