Spertiniite Locality: Dzhezkazgan Mine (Zhezkazgan Mine), Dzhezkazgan , Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast'), Kazakhstan ( Locality at mindat.org ) Light blue Spertiniite (analysed). Field of view 5 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Spertiniite
Natural copper(II) hydroxide — blue-green tabular aggregates formed where chalcocite alters in alkaline ground.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Spertiniite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Cu(OH)₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Cmc2_1).
Key properties: specific gravity 3.93; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Sni, IMA status: approved, named in 1980.
A very rare mineral, altering from chalcocite in alkaline groundwater, in a rodingite dike near the contact with a serpentinized dunite (Jeffrey mine, Quebec, Canada).
It is found associated with Chalcocite, atacamite, copper, diopside, grossular, vesuvianite (Jeffrey mine, Quebec, Canada).
The mineral was named to honor Francesco Spertini (1937–), Chief Geologist, Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Canada, who submitted the first sample.