Spertiniite
| Spertiniite | |
|---|---|
| Allgemein | |
| Kategorie | Oxide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Cu(OH)2 |
| Strunz classification | 4.FD.05 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Space group | Orthorhombic pyramidal H-M symbol: (mm2) Space group: C mc21 |
| Unit cell | a = 2.95 Å, b = 10.59 Å, c = 5.27 Å; Z=4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Blue, blue-green |
| Crystal habit | Flat tabular crystals occurring in radial to botryoidal aggregates |
| Cleavage | None |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | Soft |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.93 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.720, nβ= n.d., nγ = > 1.800 |
| Pleochroism | Strong; X = colorless; Z = dark blue |
| Other characteristics | Decomposes in hot water (synthetic) |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Spertiniite is a rare copper hydroxide mineral with formula Cu(OH)2. It occurs as blue to blue green tabular orthorhombic crystal aggregates in a secondary alkaline environment altering chalcosite.
It was first described in 1981 for an occurrence in the Jeffrey quarry of the Johns-Manville mine, Asbestos, Estrie, Québec. It was named for mine geologist Francesco Spertini (b. 1937).[1][2]