Mineral Species
Djurleite
Type Locality
No
Composition
Cu31S16
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Status at Tsumeb
Confirmed
Abundance
Very common
Distribution
First, second and third oxidation zones; sulphide ores
Paragenesis
Hypogene (?); supergene
Entry Number
Species; TSNB108
General Notes
Djurleite was described as a new mineral by Roseboom (1962) following studies of synthetic copper sulphides by Djurle (1958), after whom the mineral is named. Roseboom (1962) recognised one of Djurle’s compounds in natural ores from a number of localities including Tsumeb, although his paper does not provide a specific type locality.
Hughes (1987) listed djurleite as a major component of sulphide ores at Tsumeb and suggested that most of it is probably of supergene origin.
According to Gebhard (1999) excellent crystals of "chalcocite" found in the third oxidation zone, between 44 and 47 levels, are in fact a 50:50 mixture of chalcocite and djurleite.
Associated Minerals
betpakdalite-CaMg; bornite; calvertite; chalcocite; digenite; galena; scorodite