Strashimirite

{{Short description|Rare monoclinic mineral}}

{{Infobox mineral

| name = Strashimirite

| category = Arsenate mineral

| boxwidth =

| boxbgcolor =

| image = Strashimirite-88588.jpg

| imagesize = 260px

| caption =

| formula = {{chem2|Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4*5(H2O)}}

| IMAsymbol = Ssh{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mineralogical-magazine/article/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

| dana = 42.6.5.1

| strunz = 8.DC.12 (10 ed)
7/D.07-20 (8 ed)

| system = Monoclinic
Unknown space group

| symmetry = P2/m, P2, or Pm

| unit cell = a = 9.71 Å, b = 18.81 Å
c = 8.94 Å; β = 97.2°; Z = 3

| color = White, pale green

| habit = Elongated, tabular crystals; crusts; radiating aggregates

| twinning =

| cleavage = Parting at right angle to elongation

| fracture =

| tenacity =

| mohs = 2.5–3

| luster = Greasy, pearly

| polish =

| refractive = n_α = 1.726 n_γ = 1.747

| opticalprop = Biaxial (−)

| birefringence = δ = 0.021

| 2V = 70°

| dispersion =

| pleochroism = Weak; Y = very pale yellowish green; Z = yellowish green

| fluorescence=

| absorption =

| streak =

| gravity = 3.67 (calculated)

| density =

| melt =

| fusibility =

| diagnostic =

| solubility =

| diaphaneity = Semitransparent

| other =

| references = {{cite web |url= http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/strashimirite.pdf |publisher= Handbook of Mineralogy |title= Information page for Strashimirite}}{{cite web |url= http://www.mindat.org/min-3799.html |publisher= Mindat|title= Information page for Strashimirite}}{{cite web |url= http://webmineral.com/data/Strashimirite.shtml |publisher= Webmineral |title=Information page for Strashimirite}}{{cite web |url= http://rruff.info/Strashimirite |title= Information about Strashimirite |publisher= RRUFF Database}}{{cite web |url= http://www.mineralatlas.eu/lexikon/index.php/MineralData?mineral=Strashimirite |title= Strashimirite |publisher= Mineralienatlas Lexicon}}

}}

Strashimirite (IMA symbol: Ssh{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA-CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320 |url=https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/MM85_291.pdf |doi= 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|accessdate= 30 December 2021}}) is a rare monoclinic mineral containing arsenic, copper, hydrogen, and oxygen. It has the chemical formula {{chem2|Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4*5(H2O)}}.{{cite journal |url= http://rruff.info/uploads/ZVMO97N4_470.pdf |first= I. |last= Mincheva-Stefanova |year= 1968 |title= Strashimirite - a new hydrous copper arsenate |language = ru |journal= Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society) |issue= 97 |page= 4}}{{cite journal |url= http://eprints.qut.edu.au/20877/1/c20877.pdf |last1= Frost |first1= Ray L. |last2= Keeffe |first2= Eloise C. |last3= Cejka |first3= Jiri |last4= Sejkora |first4= Jiri |year=2009 |title= Vibrational spectroscopic study of the arsenate mineral strashimirite Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4.5H2O - relationship to other basic copper arsenates |journal= Vibrational Spectroscopy |volume= 50 |issue=2 |pages= 289–297|doi= 10.1016/j.vibspec.2009.02.002 }}

This mineral was discovered in Zapachitsa (Zapacica) copper deposit, Svoge, Sofia Oblast, Bulgaria in 1960, by Bulgarian mineralogist Jordanka Minčeva-Stefanova. She named it after Strashimir Dimitrov (1892–1960), Professor in Mineralogy and Petrography at Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski", Bulgaria.{{cite journal |url=http://rruff.info/uploads/AM54_1218.pdf |first=Michael |last=Fleischer |author-link= Michael Fleischer (mineralogist) |year=1969 |title=New Mineral Names |journal=The American Mineralogist|volume=54|page=1221}} The International Mineralogical Association approved it as a new mineral in 1968.{{cite journal |url= http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/CRABS/0054//H000049.000.html |first1=D. |last1= Stoilova |first2= J |last2= Minčeva-Stefanova |year=2001 |title= Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Strashimirite |journal= Comptes Rendus de l'Académie Bulgare des Sciences |volume= 54 |issue= 8 |pages= 49–52}}

It occurs as a secondary mineral phase in the oxidation zone of copper arsenide deposits. It occurs associated with tyrolite, cornwallite, clinoclase, euchroite, olivenite, parnauite, goudeyite, arthurite, metazeunerite, chalcophyllite, cyanotrichite, scorodite, pharmacosiderite, brochantite,

azurite, malachite and chrysocolla.

Although it remains quite rare, strashimirite has subsequently been identified in a number of locations including: Novoveska Huta in the Czech Republic; on the west flank of Cherbadung (Pizzo Cervandone), Binntal,

Valais, Switzerland; in Kamsdorf and Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany; the Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany; in the Richelsdorf Mountains, Hesse, Germany; Cap Garonne mine, near le Pradet, Var, and Triembach-au-Val, Haut-Rhin, France; Wheals Gorland and Unity, Gwennap, Cornwall, England; the Tynagh mine, near Loughrea, Co.

Galway, Ireland; the Majuba Hill mine, Antelope district, Pershing Co. Nevada, US; and the Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic district, Juab Co., Utah, US.