Serpierite Mineral Data

Serpierite Mineral Data +

General Serpierite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 644.32 gm

Calcium 6.22 % Ca 8.70 % CaO

Zinc 10.15 % Zn 12.63 % ZnO

Copper 29.59 % Cu 37.04 % CuO

Hydrogen 1.88 % H 16.78 % H₂O

Sulfur 9.95 % S 24.85 % SO₃

Oxygen 42.21 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaCu₃Zn(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·3(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary mineral found in altered smelter slags and oxidized sulfide veins. Dimorphous with orthoserpierite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1881

Locality:

Lavrion (Laurium), Attika peninsula, Greece. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Giovanni Battista Serpieri (1832-1897), Italian mining entrpreneur, founder of the Montecatini Co., and developer of the Laurium mines.

Synonym:

ICSD 36087

PDF 22-148

Serpierite Image

Images:

Serpierite

Comments: Blue, acicular crystals of serpierite.
Location: Serpieri mine, Laurium, Greece. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Serpierite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =3.5497:1:3.4964

Cell Dimensions:

a = 22.186, b = 6.25, c = 21.853, Z = 8; beta = 113.37° V = 2,781.60 Den(Calc)= 3.08

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/c

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 10.22(1), 3.386(0.9), 5.09(0.9),

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Crystal Structure:

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Sabelli C , Zanazzi P F , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 24 (1968) p.1214-1221, The crystal structure of serpierite, Locality: Laurion mine, Greece

Physical Properties of Serpierite

Cleavage:

[001] Perfect

Color:

Sky blue.

Density:

3.07

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Habit:

Botryoidal - "Grape-like" rounded forms (e.g.. malachite).

Habit:

Lath - Shaped like a small, thin plaster lath, tabular (rectangular) in shape.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luster:

Vitreous - Pearly

Streak:

greenish white

Optical Properties of Serpierite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.005 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.002 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2027,KPDmeas= 0.2033,KC= 0.2022

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.583-1.584, b=1.641-1.642, g=1.647-1.648, bire=0.0640, 2V(Calc)=34, 2V(Meas)=35. Dispersion r

Pleochroism (x):

pale green.

Pleochroism (y):

bluish green.

Pleochroism (z):

bluish green.

Calculated Properties of Serpierite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.03 gm/cc
note: r_Serpierite=3.08 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00519
Boson Index = 0.99481

Photoelectric:

PE_Serpierite= 19.03 barns/electron
U=PE_Serpierite x r_electron= 57.68 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Serpierite is Not Radioactive

Serpierite Classification

Dana Class:

31.6.2.1 (31)Hydrated Sulfates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(31.6)where (A+ B++)5 (XO4)2 Zq·x(H2O)

(31.6.2)Dana Group

31.6.2.1 Serpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) C 2/c 2/m

Strunz Class:

VI/D.19-20 VI - Sulfates,Chromates,Molybdates and Tungstates

VI/D - Water-bearing sulfates with unfamiliar anions. Cations of medium and very big size

VI/D.19 - Devilline - Serperite - Rapidcreekite series

VI/D.19-05 Niedermayrite! Cu4Cd(SO4)2(OH)6·4(H2O) P 2₁/m 2/m

VI/D.19-10 Devilline CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VI/D.19-20 Serpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) C 2/c 2/m

VI/D.19-30 Orthoserpierite Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O) P ca2₁ mm2

VI/D.19-32 Lautenthalite PbCu4(OH)6(SO4)2·3(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VI/D.19-35 Arzrunite Cu4Pb2SO4(OH)4Cl6·2(H2O) Unk Ortho

VI/D.19-40 Tatarskite Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2Cl4(OH)4·7(H2O) Unk Ortho

VI/D.19-50 Tanteuxenite-(Y) (Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)6 Pcan 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Serpierite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8, Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Serpierite

Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6·3(H2O)
Dana No: 31.6.2.1 Strunz No: VI/D.19-20
Locality:

Notes: