Petrovite

petrovite

fumeroles

Tolbachik

sulphate

Images

Formula: Na₁₂Cu₂(SO₄)₈
Sulphate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.80 calculated
Hardness: 4
Colour: Blue-green
Environments

Fumeroles

Petrovite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2018 and to date (May 2022) reported only from the type locality.
Due to its unusual structure, petrovite could be useful as a component of sodium ion batteries, a type of rechargeable battery that could become an affordable alternative to lithium ion batteries (https://www.cnet.com/science/scientists-discover-beautiful-blue-new-mineral-petrovite/).

Localities

At the type locality, the Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, petrovite occurs as globular aggregates of tabular crystals up to 0.2 mm in size, generally with gaseous inclusions (MM 84.5.691-698)

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