Spertiniite
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About Spertiniite
Formula:
Cu(OH)2
Colour:
Light blue, blue-green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
3.93
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Francesco Spertini (b. 1937), chief geologist, Jeffrey mine, Richmond County, Québec, Canada, the discovery locality.
Chemically similar to anthonyite. Also compare 'UM1974-06-O:CuH'.
In terms of chemistry alone it is the Cu analogue of wülfingite, which is also orthorhombic but has different space group (different structure anyway).
In terms of chemistry alone it is the Cu analogue of wülfingite, which is also orthorhombic but has different space group (different structure anyway).
Classification of Spertiniite
Approved
Approval year:
1980
First published:
1981
4/F.03-90
4.FD.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
D : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
D : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
6.2.4.1
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
2 : X(OH)2
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
2 : X(OH)2
7.3.4
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
Physical Properties of Spertiniite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light blue, blue-green
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
3.93 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.94 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured in Clerici solution
Optical Data of Spertiniite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.720
Max Birefringence:
δ = 1.720

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemical Properties of Spertiniite
Formula:
Cu(OH)2
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Spertiniite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 2.95 Å, b = 10.59 Å, c = 5.27 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.279 : 1 : 0.498
Unit Cell V:
164.3 ų
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010212 | Spertiniite | Oswald H R, Reller A, Schmalle H W, Dubler E (1990) Structure of copper(II) hydroxide, Cu(OH)2 Acta Crystallographica C46 2279-2284 | ![]() | 1990 | 0 | 293 | |
0011836 | Spertiniite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 290-295 | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.29 Å | (80) |
3.73 Å | (90) |
2.63 Å | (100) |
2.50 Å | (60) |
2.361 Å | (50) |
2.266 Å | (70) |
1.718 Å | (70) |
Type Occurrence of Spertiniite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small botryoidal aggregates
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Canada (NMNS 44696).
Cotype material (NMNS 44697, 44698 and 44699).
Cotype material (NMNS 44697, 44698 and 44699).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Rodingite dyke near the contact with host serpentinized dunite.
Reference:
Grice, J.D., Gasparrini, E. (1981) Spertiniite, Cu(OH)2 a new mineral from Jeffrey Mine, Quebec. Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 337-340.
Synonyms of Spertiniite
Other Language Names for Spertiniite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Spertiniite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
4 photos of Spertiniite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
2 photos of Spertiniite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
1 photo of Spertiniite associated with Copper | Cu |
1 photo of Spertiniite associated with Hydrocerussite | Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
1 photo of Spertiniite associated with Hydroromarchite | Sn3O2(OH)2 |
1 photo of Spertiniite associated with Likasite | Cu3(NO3)(OH)5 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.FD.10 | Bracewellite | CrO(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.FD.10 | Diaspore | AlO(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.FD.10 | Groutite | Mn3+O(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
4.FD.10 | Guyanaite | CrO(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.FD.10 | Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) | Orth. |
4.FD.10 | Tsumgallite | GaO(OH) | Orth. |
4.FD.15 | Manganite | Mn3+O(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.FD.20 | Yttrotungstite-(Y) | YW2O6(OH)3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
4.FD.20 | Yttrotungstite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,Y)W2O6(OH)3 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
4.FD.20 | Unnamed (Nd-analogue of Yttrotungstite-(Ce)) | (Nd,Ce,La)W2O6(OH)3 | |
4.FD.25 | Frankhawthorneite | Cu2Te6+O4(OH)2 | Mon. |
4.FD.30 | Khinite | Pb2+Cu2+3[Te6+O6](OH)2 | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
4.FD.30 | Khinite-3T | Pb2+Cu2+3Te6+O6(OH)2 | Trig. 3 : P32 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
7.3.1 | Cuprite | Cu2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
7.3.2 | Tenorite | CuO | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
7.3.3 | Paramelaconite | Cu1+2Cu2+2O3 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
7.3.5 | Crednerite | CuMnO2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
7.3.6 | Delafossite | CuFeO2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) |
7.3.7 | Cuprospinel | Cu2+Fe3+2O4 | Iso. |
Fluorescence of Spertiniite
No UV fluorescence.
Other Information
Notes:
Synthetic material is soluble in cold water, decomposes in hot water and is soluble in acids.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Spertiniite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Grice, J.D., Gasparrini, E. (1981) Spertiniite, Cu(OH)2 a new mineral from Jeffrey Mine, Quebec. Canadian Mineralogist, 19, 337-340.
Fleischer, M., Chao, G.Y., Mandarino, J.A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 67, 854-860.
Oswald, H.R., Reller, A., Schmalle, H.W., Dubler, E. (1990) Structure of copper(II) hydroxide, Cu(OH)2. [spertiniite] Acta Crystallographica, C46, 2279-2284.
Jambor, J.L., Grew, E.S. (1993) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 78, 233-238.
Kolitsch, U., Götzinger, M. (2000) Einige Neufunde aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald: Eulytin, Namibit, Volborthit, Gearksutit, Spertiniit, Monazit-(La), Protasit, Sainfeldit, Cyanotrichit und Vauquelinit. Der Erzgräber, 14, 33-47.
Internet Links for Spertiniite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3724.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Spertiniite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Vic Cloete collection |
Canada (TL) | |
| NICKEL, E.H. (1959) The occurrence of native nickel-iron in the serpentine rocks of the Eastern Townships of Quebec Province. Canadian Mineralogist, 6, 307-319.; GRICE, J.D., GASPARRINI, E. (1981) Spertiniite, Cu(OH)2 a new mineral from Jeffrey Mine, Quebec. Canadian Mineralogist, 19, 337-340.; GRICE, J.D. (1989) The Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec: The Western World's Largest Asbestos Deposit. In: Famous Mineral Localities of Canada. Published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited & the National Museum of Natural Sciences, 190 pages: 115-123; 179-181. |
| Horváth, L and Gault, R.A. (1990), The mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec. Mineralogical Record: 21: 284-359. |
China | |
Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data | |
France | |
| Chollet, P. & Devouard, B. (2013): La mine de cuivre et de plomb des Rats, Le Crozet (Loire). Le Règne Minéral, 109, 7-46. |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch, U. & Götzinger, M. (2000): Einige Neufunde aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald: Eulytin, Namibit, Volborthit, Gearksutit, Spertiniit, Monazit-(La), Protasit, Sainfeldit, Cyanotrichit und Vauquelinit. Erzgräber 14, 33-47. (in German) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1988) Mineralogische Notizen IV. Der Aufschluss, 39, 153-168. |
| |
International Association of Collectors of Slag Minerals, 9 (3), 3-6; Blaß, G. & Graf, H. W. (1995): Neufunde von Schlackenhalden in der nördlichen Eifel (II). Mineralien-Welt, 6 (3), 28-31. | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler, G. & David, W. (1991): Die Blei- und Silberhütte Braubach und ihre Haldenminerale. Lapis, 16 (1), 38-49; 58 (in German). |
Lapis, 16 (1), 38-53+58. | |
| Collection of Elmar Lackner |
Kazakhstan | |
| Voloshin, A. V., Pakhomovskiy, Ya. A., Stepanov, V. I., Bulgak, L. V. and Men-shikov, Yu. P. (1988): Gerhardtite, likasite, and spertiniite from the oxidation zone of Dzhezkazgan chalcosite ores; first finds in the USSR. Novye Dannye o Mineralakh SSSR, 35, 40-47. (in Russian) ; Evseev, A. A. (1995) Kazaknstan and Middle Asia. A brief Mineralogical Guide. World of Stone 8:24-30 |
Namibia | |
| Keller, P., Innes, J. (1986) Neue Minerale von Tsumeb. Lapis: 11(9): 28-32. |
Romania | |
| Szakáll, S., Fehér, B., Kristály, F., Zajzon, N. (2014) Mineralogical mozaics from the Carpathian–Pannonian region 2. Földtani Közlöny: 144: 345-357. |
Russia | |
| Savva, N. E., Volkov, A. V., Sidorov, A. A., Kolova, E. E., & Murashov, K. Y. (2019). Primorskoe Epithermal Ag-Au Deposit (Northeastern Russia): Geological Setting, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Ore Formation Conditions. Geology of Ore Deposits, 61(1), 50-73. |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer, C., Hochleitner, R. y Fehr, T. Mina Casualidad, Baños de Alhamilla, Almería. Revista de Minerales, 8, (4), 8-32 |
USA | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 376; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436. |
| Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson |
| Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson |
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Jeffrey Mine, Val-des-Sources, Les Sources RCM, Estrie, Québec, Canada