Berzelianite Mineral Data

General Berzelianite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu2Se

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 206.05 gm

Copper 61.68 % Cu

Selenium 38.32 % Se

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₂Se

Environment:

With other selenides in hydrotherma veinlets in dolomite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1850

Locality:

Skrikerum, Kalmar, Sweden. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after Jons Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848), Swedish chemist who discovered the element selenium.

Name Pronunciation:

Berzelianite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 238

PDF 6-680

Berzelianite Image

Images:

Athabascaite Umangite Berzelianite

Comments: Reflected light photomicrograph of umangite (pinkish), berzelianite (gray), athabascaite (small white areas in berzelianite), calcite (olive).
Location: Sierra de Umango, La Rioja, Argentin. Scale: Not Given.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Bellidoite Berzelianite

Comments: Dark bellidoite inclusions in black berzelianite with white calcite.
Location: Habri, near Tisnov, Jihomoravsky, Czech Republi. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Berzelianite

Comments: Blue-black metallic massive berzelianite.
Location: Bukov, Western Moravia, Severocesky, Czech Republic. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Novakite Berzelianite

Comments: Gray metallic dendritic novakite in white calcite with tarnished black berzelianite.
Location: Cerny Dul, Bohemia, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Umangite Berzelianite

Comments: Black massive umangite intergrown with dark blue metallic berzelianite.
Location: Borsov, Bohemia, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Berzelianite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.739, Z = 4; V = 189.02 Den(Calc)= 7.24

Crystal System:

Isometric - Hexoctahedral H-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F m3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.02(1), 3.32(0.9), 1.726(0.8),

Physical Properties of Berzelianite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Bluish gray, Gray, Black.

Density:

6.7

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Dendritic - Branching "tree-like" growths of great complexity (e.g. pyrolusite).

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

2 - Gypsum

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

shining

Optical Properties of Berzelianite

RL Anisotrophism:

Isotropic, sometimes anisotropic.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Berzelianite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	25.80
420 nm	27.20
440 nm	28.60
460 nm	29.40
480 nm	29.40
500 nm	28.60
520 nm	27.80
540 nm	25.80
560 nm	24.30
580 nm	22.70
600 nm	21.20
620 nm	20.00
640 nm	19.00
660 nm	18.00
680 nm	17.00
700 nm	16.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Berzelianite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%	420%
R

Calculated Properties of Berzelianite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=6.47 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Berzelianite =7.24 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98

Photoelectric:

PE_Berzelianite= 59.11 barns/electron
U=PE_Berzelianite x rElectron Density= 382.19 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Berzelianite is Not Radioactive

Berzelianite Classification

Dana Class:

02.04.10.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(02.04)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=2:1

(02.04.10)Dana Group

02.04.10.01 Berzelianite Cu2Se F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.BA.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.B - Metal Sulfides, M:S > 1:1 (mainly 2:1)

02.BA -With Cu, Ag, Au

02.BA.15a Berzelianite Cu2Se F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Berzelianite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Berzelianite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
16 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Berzelianite Specimen Label here :

Berzelianite

Cu2Se
Dana No: 02.04.10.01 Strunz No: 02.BA.15a
Locality:

Notes:

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