Mrázekite (Size 2 cm x 1.4 cm x 1.1 cm) Locality: Podlipa deposit, Ľubietová, Banská Bystrica Co., Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia Mrazekite is a very rare hydrated bismuth, copper, hydroxyl-phosphate species that is only found at less than 10 worldwide localities. The stunning cerulean blue color is very eye-catching, despite the smaller size of the crystals. The species is named after a Czech mineralogist named Zdenek Mrázek who first collected it. This piece is from the type locality for the material in Slovakia, and was collected within the last 10 years (since 2000). — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mrázekite
Mrázekite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Bi₂Cu₃(PO₄)₂O₂(OH)₂·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/m).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–3; specific gravity 4.9; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mrz, IMA status: approved, named in 1990.
A rare secondary mineral formed by oxidization of polymetallic sulfides.
It is found associated with Chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, chalcocite, malachite, pyromorphite, pseudomalachite, libethenite, reichenbachite, beudantite, bismutite, mixite, chrysocolla.
The mineral was named to honor Zdenek Mrázek (1952–1984), who collected the first specimens and recognized their unusual characteristics.