Berzelianite (rare classic material)

Item Description

Here we have a classic specimen of Berzelianite, a rare copper selenide species. This historic, old-time specimen is from the type locality, the Skrikerum Mine in Sweden. The species was discovered in 1832 and actually wasn't named until 1850 according to the entry on mindat.org. The species was named in honor of the Swedish chemist, Jöns Jakob Berzelius. Attractive, almost arborescent veinlets of slate-black Berzelianite, comprising microcrystals are richly included in the blocky calcite matrix. I believe the minor green patches are Malachite, but if there are any Swedish mineral experts out there who can identify the material more accurately, please reach out and let us know. This is certainly a fine quality example of the species, rich and rarely available. It is likely that the piece was mined in the 1800s.
From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.