Outstanding acicular electric blue crystals of the extremely rare mineral julienite from the type and only known locality worldwide, the Shamitumba mine, Shinkolobwe. According to the state of art, julienite is the only mineral species containing the thiocyanate anion. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Julienite
Julienite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the organic mineral class, with the chemical formula Na₂Co(SCN)₄·8H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n).
Key properties: specific gravity 1.648; Blue streak; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Jln, IMA status: approved, named in 1928.
A very rare incrustation on talc schist.
It is found associated with Cobaltian “wad”.
The mineral was named to honor Henry Julien (?–1920), Belgian scientist who discovered the mineral.