Berzelianite (original) (raw)

Formula:

Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)

Previously given as Cu2Se.

Colour:

Silver-White, shiny lead-grey; easily tarnishes iridescent blue-grey

Name:

Named in 1850 by James Dwight Dana in honor of Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Swedish chemist [August 20, 1779 Linköping, Sweden - August 7, 1848 Stockholm, Sweden]. Berzelius is the father of analytical chemistry, inventor of chemical symbol notation, and discoverer of selenium (Se), cerium (Ce), silicon (Si), thorium (Th), titanium (Ti), and zirconium (Zr), in addition to other elements that he gave to his students to work on.

The mineral berzeliite is also named after Berzelius.

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:645:3

dfe790be-cfc3-4f5c-a1d2-02d78440d0f1

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

2.BA.20

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au

2.4.10.1

2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1

3.1.9

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Colour:

Silver-White, shiny lead-grey; easily tarnishes iridescent blue-grey

Hardness:

VHN100=21 - 24 kg/mm2 - Vickers

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Comment:

Somewhat malleable

Density:

6.71 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.28 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Anisotropism:

Isotropic, sometimes slightly anisotropic

Reflectivity:

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 31.1%.

Mindat Formula:

Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)

Previously given as Cu2Se.

Class (H-M):

m_3_m _(_4/_m_32/m ) - Hexoctahedral

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.731 Å

Unit Cell V:

188.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Thin dendritic crusts, fine grained, disseminated.

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Other Members of this group:

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.