Sideadapterite

Sideadapterite is an extremely rare mineral species first reported by the University of Mineralogical Studies in 2024. The mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system and is characterized by prismatic crystals that typically appear in translucent pale blue to green hues. Its chemical formula is CuZn4Si4O13(OH)2, a mixed copper–zinc silicate hydroxide. The mineral contains a unique arrangement of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra linked to copper and zinc cations, producing a distinctive framework that accounts for its low specific gravity of 3.45.

Hardness on the Mohs scale is 5.5 to 6, making sideadapterite moderately resistant to scratching. Its optical properties include a vitreous luster and a refractive index averaged at 1.73. The mineral is biaxial (+) with birefringence of 0.006 and pleochroism ranging from pale blue to greenish white, depending on crystal orientation. While it is transparent to translucent, it occasionally displays a faint greenish tint due to trace iron impurities.

Sideadapterite is typically found as an alteration product of copper–zinc sulfide deposits, especially within the Lumenta Mine Region in southwestern Canada. The mineral occurs in small, well-developed nodules associated with ironstone formations. Its discovery was made during a systematic survey of secondary minerals in oxidized ore bodies.

Due to its extreme rarity and limited occurrences, sideadapterite has not yet been assigned a broader classification beyond the category of silicate minerals. It remains of particular interest to mineralogists studying copper‑zinc series minerals and alteration in low‑temperature hydrothermal environments. The mineral is named in honor of Dr. Sara Sideadapter, a leading researcher in copper‑silicate mineralogy.