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Formula: Cu39S28 with oxidation states
Cu1+30Cu2+9(S2)2-4S2-20
(CM 23.61-76)
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 5.13 calculated
Hardness: 2½ to 3
Colour: Blue
Common impurities: Fe,Zn
Environments
Localities
At the Type Locality, Spionkop Creek, Yarrow Creek-Spionkop Creek deposit, Alberta, Canada, spionkopite has
been identified in the red-bed copper deposits. It occurs as replacement of
other copper sulphides by selective removal of copper, and is also replaced by
yarrowite. At the deposit copper-bearing
sulphides include chalcopyrite,
bornite, spionkopite,
yarrowite, digenite,
djurleite, idaite,
wittichenite and tennantite.
Near-surface leaching of copper from the natural specimens produced the
following changes:
djurleite to anilite + Cu(aq) to
spionkopite + Cu(aq) to yarrowite + Cu(aq) to
covellite (minor) + Cu(aq)
(CM 18.511-518).
At Eretria, Euboea, Central Greece, spionkopite occurs in a
serpentine-hosted
magnetite-chromite deposit.
Associated minerals include geerite,
chalcopyrite,
cobaltpentlandite, magnetite,
chromite, andradite,
chlorite and diopside
(HOM).
At Rassal, Loch Kishorn, Highland, Scotland, UK, spionkopite is always intergrown with other blue-grey
as blebs, as lamellar aggregates, and as more regular lamellae in anilite
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