Category Selenide minerals Strunz classification 2.BA.20 Crystal system Isometric | Formula
(repeating unit) Cu2Se Dana classification 2.4.10.1 | |
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Color Silvery white, tarnishes easily | ||
Berzelianite is a rare copper selenide mineral with the formula Cu2Se. It occurs as thin dendritic crusts or as fine-grained inclusions. It crystallizes in the isometric system, unlike its dimorph, bellidoite, which crystallizes in the tetragonal system. The crystals are opaque and slightly malleable.
Occurrence and name
Berzelianite was first identified at the Skrikerum Mine (also spelled as Skrickerum Mine) in Valdemarsvik, Östergötland, Sweden in 1850. It was named after Jöns Jakob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist who is seen as the father of analytical chemistry. He invented chemical symbol notation and discovered the elements cerium, selenium, silicon, and thorium. Berzelianite often occurs together with eucairite, clausthalite, tiemannite, umangite, klockmannite, aguilarite, crookesite, athabascaite, stromeyerite, polybasite, pearceite, gold, uraninite, pyrite, marcasite, calcite.