Algodonite
Appearance
Algodonite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Sulfide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Cu6As |
Strunz classification | 2.AA.10a |
Crystal system | Hexagonal |
Crystal class | Dihexagonal dipyramidal (6/mmm) H-M symbol: (6/m 2/m 2/m) |
Space group | P63/mmc |
Unit cell | a = 2.6, c = 4.228 [Å]; Z = 2 |
Identification | |
Formula mass | 456.2 g/mol |
Color | Gray, silver white, steel gray, tarnishes dull bronze |
Crystal habit | Massive, granular. Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock |
Fracture | Sub-conchoidal |
Mohs scale hardness | 4 |
Luster | Metallic |
Diaphaneity | Opaque |
Specific gravity | 8.38 (measured), 8.72 (calculated) |
Other characteristics | Non-magnetic, non-fluorescent |
References | [1][2][3] |
Algodonite is a copper arsenide mineral with formula: Cu6As. It is a gray white metallic mineral crystallizing in the hexagonal system. It has a Mohs hardness of 4 and a specific gravity of 8.38 - 8.72.
It was first described in 1857 from the Algodones silver mine, Coquimbo, Chile.
References
- ^ Algodonite. Webmineral
- ^ Algodonite. Mindat.org
- ^ Williams, Sidney A. (1963). "Crystals of rammelsbergite and algodonite". American Mineralogist. 48: 421–422.