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Formula:Cu2-xSe (x is approximately 0.12)
Selenide, paramorph of
bellidoite,
berzelianite-umangite group, forms a complete solid-solution series with cubic,
high-temperature
digenite. Selenium-bearing
mineral
(Mindat).
Specific gravity: 6.71
Hardness: 2
Streak: Shining
Colour: Silver-white, shiny lead-grey; easily tarnishes iridescent blue-grey
Common impurities: Ag,Tl
Environments
Berzelianite occurs with other selenides in hydrothermal veinlets in
dolostone (Webmin). Associated minerals include
eucairite, clausthalite,
tiemannite, umangite,
klockmannite, aguilarite,
crookesite, athabascaite,
stromeyerite, polybasite,
pearceite, gold,
uraninite, pyrite,
marcasite and calcite
(HOM, Mindat).
At Lake Athabaska, North West Territories, Canada, berzelianite occurs as blebs and veinlets in
calcite gangue associated with umangite
and chalcocite (AM 35.337-364).
At Clausthal, Lower Saxony, Germany, berzelianite occurs with other selenides in hydrothermal veinlets in
dolostone (HOM).
At Lerbach, Lower Saxony, Germany, berzelianite occurs in iron ores (HOM).
At the type locality, the Skrikerum Mine, Valdemarsvik, Östergötland County, Sweden, berzelianite occurs with
other selenides in calcite veins in
serpentine (HOM, AM 35.337-364).
At Redjang-Lebong, Sumatra, berzelianite occurs in a gold -
quartz - orthoclase
deposit (HOM).
At Urora, Nevada, USA, berzelianite is disseminated in a highly weathered siliceous gangue associated with native
gold and lead (AM 35.337-364).
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