Serpierite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Serpierite
Formula:
Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Colour:
Dark sky-blue ("linarite-blue") to medium sky-blue; greenish blue in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.07
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1881 by Alfred Louis Olivier Legrand Des Cloizeaux in honor of Giovanni Battista Serpieri [March 23, 1832 Rimini, Italia - October 17, 1897 Athens, Greece], revolutionary, engineer, Italian mining entrepreneur, and a developer of mines in the Lavrion District, Attiki, Greece.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Ca-analogue of aldridgeite.
Platy varieties are visually indistinguishable from orthoserpierite.
Warning: Slightly to moderately soluble in water. Avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
Note that the Serpieri mine/shaft is NOT the type locality of serpierite. The old literature providing a first description of the mineral gives only Lavrion or Kamariza as the locality.
Platy varieties are visually indistinguishable from orthoserpierite.
Warning: Slightly to moderately soluble in water. Avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
Note that the Serpieri mine/shaft is NOT the type locality of serpierite. The old literature providing a first description of the mineral gives only Lavrion or Kamariza as the locality.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3625
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3625:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
ac60133e-f692-4736-ab32-7b5c935adfb5
IMA Classification of Serpierite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Serpierite
7.DD.30
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th ed.:
31.6.2.1
31.6.2.1
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
25.5.7
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Spe | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Serpierite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Pearly on the cleavage.
Colour:
Dark sky-blue ("linarite-blue") to medium sky-blue; greenish blue in transmitted light.
Streak:
White or pale blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}.
Perfect on {001}.
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
3.07 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.08 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Serpierite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.584(3) nβ = 1.642(3) nγ = 1.647(3)
2V:
Measured: 33° to 37°, Calculated: 37°
Birefringence:
0.063
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.063
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:
small
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = c = Nearly colourless
Y = a = Deep greenish blue
Z = b = Deep greenish blue
Y = a = Deep greenish blue
Z = b = Deep greenish blue
Chemistry of Serpierite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Crystallography of Serpierite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 22.186(2) Å, b = 6.250(2) Å, c = 21.853(2) Å
β = 113.36(1)°
β = 113.36(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.55 : 1 : 3.496
Unit Cell V:
2,781.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Typically occurs as clusters or sprays of lath-like to acicular micro-crystals, elongated on [100] and flattened on {001}; more rarely botryoidal.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0009345 | Serpierite | Sabelli C, Zanazzi P F (1968) The crystal structure of serpierite Acta Crystallographica B24 1214-1221 | 1968 | Laurion mine, Greece | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
10.20 Å | (100) |
6.05 Å | (5) |
5.61 Å | (10) |
5.09 Å | (80) |
4.74 Å | (40) |
4.58 Å | (5) |
4.37 Å | (10) |
3.90 Å | (10) |
3.53 Å | (20) |
3.39 Å | (80) |
3.17 Å | (40) |
3.01 Å | (10) |
2.832 Å | (10) |
2.708 Å | (60) |
2.650 Å | (60) |
2.554 Å | (40) |
2.440 Å | (60) |
2.341 Å | (5) |
2.294 Å | (20) |
2.232 Å | (5) |
2.172 Å | (60) |
2.114 Å | (5) |
2.063 Å | (10) |
2.019 Å | (10) |
1.955 Å | (5) |
1.902 Å | (40) |
1.847 Å | (5) |
1.809 Å | (5) |
1.767 Å | (10) |
1.734 Å | (10) |
1.695 Å | (20) |
1.669 Å | (5) |
1.626 Å | (5) |
1.586 Å | (10) |
1.567 Å | (60) |
1.542 Å | (40) |
1.509 Å | (5) |
1.493 Å | (10) |
1.473 Å | (10) |
Comments:
ICDD 22-148
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Serpierite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 73.38, 78.226
Geological Setting of Type Material:
secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal Cu–Zn-bearing hydrothermal mineral deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Serpierite
Relationship of Serpierite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Aldridgeite | (Cd,Ca)(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O | Mon. 2 : B2 |
Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Lautenthalite | PbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline) | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Structurally related to group(s):
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
90 photos of Serpierite associated with Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
54 photos of Serpierite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
52 photos of Serpierite associated with Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
33 photos of Serpierite associated with Ktenasite | ZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
30 photos of Serpierite associated with Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
29 photos of Serpierite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
28 photos of Serpierite associated with Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
22 photos of Serpierite associated with Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
22 photos of Serpierite associated with Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
20 photos of Serpierite associated with Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.DD. | Asagiite | NiCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.05 | Felsőbányaite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2O |
7.DD.07 | Llantenesite | Cu6Al[SeO4](OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
7.DD.10 | Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
7.DD.10 | Posnjakite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · H2O |
7.DD.10 | Wroewolfeite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
7.DD.10 | Gobelinite | CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.10 | Fehrite | MgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.15 | Spangolite | Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
7.DD.15 | Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.15 | Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline) | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.20 | Ktenasite | ZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.25 | Christelite | Cu2Zn3(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.30 | Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.30 | Niedermayrite | CdCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Edwardsite | Cu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.35 | Carrboydite | (Ni1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Glaucocerinite | (Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Honessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Hydrohonessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Motukoreaite | Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Mountkeithite | [(Mg1-xFe3+x)(OH)2][SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Wermlandite | Mg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Woodwardite | Cu1-xAlx(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Zincaluminite | Zn6Al6(SO4)2(OH)16 · 5H2O |
7.DD.35 | Hydrowoodwardite | (Cu1-xAlx)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Zincowoodwardite | Zn1-xAlx(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Natroglaucocerinite | Zn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Nikischerite | Fe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.40 | Isselite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
7.DD.40 | Lawsonbauerite | (Mn2+,Mg)9Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
7.DD.40 | Torreyite | (Mg,Mn2+)7◻2Mn2+2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
7.DD.45 | Mooreite | Mg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O |
7.DD.45 | Hodgesmithite | (Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.47 | Lahnsteinite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.50 | Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.50 | Minohlite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 8H2O |
7.DD.52 | Lauraniite | Cu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2O |
7.DD.55 | Bechererite | Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)] |
7.DD.60 | Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O |
7.DD.65 | Vonbezingite | Ca6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12 · 2H2O |
7.DD.70 | Redgillite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · H2O |
7.DD.75 | Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
7.DD.75 | Nickelalumite | NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3 |
7.DD.75 | Kyrgyzstanite | ZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
7.DD.80 | Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
7.DD.80 | Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.80 | Thérèsemagnanite | NaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
7.DD.80 | UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn | (Zn,Cu)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.85 | Montetrisaite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Serpierite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Notes:
Readily 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.
Internet Links for Serpierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3625.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Serpierite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.133
Localities for Serpierite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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| Biagioni, Cristian, Pasero, Marco, Zaccarini, Federica (2018) Tiberiobardiite, Cu9Al(SiO3OH)2(OH)12(H2O)6(SO4)1.5·10H2O, a New Mineral Related to Chalcophyllite from the Cretaio Cu Prospect, Massa Marittima, Grosseto (Tuscany, Italy): Occurrence and Crystal Structure. Minerals, 8 (4) 152 doi:10.3390/min8040152 |
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| Pekov, Igor V., Levitskiy, Viktor V., Krivovichev, Sergey V., Zolotarev, Andrey A., Bryzgalov, Igor A., Zadov, Aleksandr E., Chukanov, Nikita V. (2012) New nickel-uranium-arsenic mineral species from the oxidation zone of the Belorechenskoye deposit, Northern Caucasus, Russia: I. Rauchite, Ni(UO2)2(AsO4)2·10H2O, a member of the autunite group. European Journal of Mineralogy, 24 (5) 913-922 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2012/0024-2217 |
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| George Eric Stanley Curtis collectionIdentification: Visual Identification |
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| Livingstone, A., Macpherson, H.G., Jackson, B. (1976) Wroewolfeite and other langite-group minerals from Blackcraig, Kirkcudbrightshire. Mineralogical Magazine, 40 (316) 893-894 doi:10.1180/minmag.1976.040.316.12 |
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Quick NavTopAbout SerpieriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Hilarion Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavrion Mining District, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece