Sharp sky blue crystals of this extremely rare mineral bobkingite known from only 3 localities worldwide. By far, Cerro Minado (Cerro Minado, Huercal Overa, Almeria, Andalusia, Spain) has yielded the best crystals of bobkingite. For more info, please see the article describing the occurrence on Mineral Up 2010/1 (New Minerals from Cerro Minado). According to the authors of this article, they found the mineral once and only in a very limited area of the mine. Very nice under the microscope. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bobkingite
Bobkingite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Cu₅Cl₂(OH)₈·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/m).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 3.254; Pale blue streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Bkg, IMA status: approved, named in 2000.
Found in a quarry on crusts of malachite and azurite that overlie massive cuprite in oxidized waste material containing native copper hosted by diorite in a laccolith.
It is found associated with Malachite, azurite, cuprite.
The mineral was named to honor mineralogist Robert King (b. 1923), formerly at the Department of Geology, Leicester University, and a founding member of the Russell Society.