Spionkopite is a rare copper sulfide mineral typically found as a supergene alteration product in copper deposits. It is often indistinguishable from covellite without X-ray diffraction, usually appearing as indigo-blue to black platy aggregates or thin crusts.
Is this spionkopite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch spionkopite with a known reference. Spionkopite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tarnishes.
Often confused with
Spionkopite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Spionkopite leaves black, Covellite leaves lead-gray, shining; luster reads metallic on Spionkopite and submetallic, inclining to resinous, somewhat pearly on cleavage; subresinous to dull when massive on Covellite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Spionkopite leaves black, Djurleite leaves metallic.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Spionkopite leaves black, Chalcocite leaves blackish lead-gray.
Often found alongside spionkopite
Minerals reported to co-occur with spionkopite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₁.₃₂S
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 5.13 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tarnishes
- Cleavage
- {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Mineralogical study
- Host rock
- As weathering-produced lamellar replacements of anilite and djurleite in stratabound red-bed copper deposits (Spionkop Creek, Canada); in a serpentine-hosted magnetite-chromite deposit (Eretria, Greece)
Where rockhounds find spionkopite
Classic worldwide localities
- Campbell mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Lone Tree mine, Buffalo Mountain district, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
- Dekalb Township, St. Lawrence Co., New York, USA
- Pass, Okanogan Co., Washington, USA
- Upper Grinnell Formation, Spionkop Creek and Yarrow Creek areas of southwestern Alberta, Canada (type locality)
- Eretria, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As weathering-produced lamellar replacements of anilite and djurleite in stratabound red-bed copper deposits (Spionkop Creek, Canada); in a serpentine-hosted magnetite-chromite deposit (Eretria, Greece). If you start seeing anilite, djurleite, yarrowite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tarnishes. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify spionkopite?+
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Is spionkopite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like spionkopite?+
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Find spionkopite on the map
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