| Valleriite | |
| Category: | Sulfide mineral |
| Strunz: | 2.FD.30 |
| Dana: | 2.14.1.1 |
| System: | Trigonal |
| Class: | Hexagonal scalenohedral (m) H-M symbol: (2/m) |
| Symmetry: | Rm |
| Unit Cell: | a = 3.79, c = 34.1 [Å]; Z = 2 |
| Color: | Bronze-yellow, gray |
| Habit: | Massive, nodular, encrustations, thin splintery |
| Cleavage: | Excellent on |
| Mohs: | 1–1.5 |
| Luster: | Metallic |
| Streak: | Black |
| Diaphaneity: | Opaque |
| Gravity: | 3.14 (measured) |
| Pleochroism: | Strong; pale yellow to deep brown |
| References: | [1] [2] [3] |
Valleriite is an uncommon sulfide mineral (hydroxysulfide) of iron and copper with formula: [2] or .[1] It is an opaque, soft, bronze-yellow to brown mineral which occurs as nodules or encrustations.
Valleriite was first described in 1870 from an occurrence in Västmanland, Sweden. It was named for Swedish chemist Johan Gottschalk Wallerius (Vallerius) (1709–1785).
Valleriite occurs in dunites and chromitites replacing chalcopyrite in Cyprus. In Phalaborwa, South Africa it occurs as replacement of magnetite in a carbonatite. It occurs as replacements of copper and nickel phases in serpentinites and other altered ultramafic rocks.[2]