Playfairite
| Playfairite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfosalt minerals, Sulfides |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Pb16Sb18S43 |
| Strunz classification | 2.LB.30 (10 ed) 2/E.20-40 (8 ed) |
| Dana classification | 3.6.4.1 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic Unknown space group |
| Identification | |
| Color | Lead gray to black |
| Cleavage | Perfect |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3.5-4 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Streak | Black |
| Specific gravity | 5.72 |
| Pleochroism | Strong reflection |
| References | [1] |
Playfairite is a rare sulfosalt mineral with chemical formula Pb16Sb18S43 in the monoclinic crystal system,[2][3] named after the Scottish scientist and mathematician John Playfair.[4] It was discovered in 1966 by the Canadian mineralogist John Leslie Jambor.[1][5][6] Lead gray to black in color, its luster is metallic. Playfairite shows strong reflection pleochroism from white to brownish gray. Playfairite has a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on Mohs scale and a specific gravity of approximately 5.72.[2]
The type locality is Taylor Pit (Concession XIV; Lot 13), Huntingdon Township, Hastings County in Ontario, Canada.[2] Small deposits have also been found in Les Cougnasses Mine, Orpierre in the Haut-Alpes in France, Khaidarkan Sb-Hg deposit (Chaidarkan), Fergana Valley, Alai Range, Osh Oblast, Kyrgyzstan and Reese River District, Lander County, Nevada, USA.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b J.L. Jambor (1967) New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario; Part 2, Mineral descriptions, Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 9, 194-6
- ^ a b c d Mindat information page for Playfairite
- ^ Webmineral information page for Playfairite
- ^ Handbook of Mineralogy information page for Playfairite
- ^ Michael Fleischer (1968), "New Mineral Names" (PDF), American Mineralogist, 53: 1424
- ^ Lynne Jambor and John Dutrizac (2008), Memorial of John L. Jambor (1936-2008), American Mineralogist, vol. 93, pp. 710-712
