Semseyite

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Semseyite
Semseyite2.jpg
Semseyite - Brioude-Massiac (Massif Central) France (11x3.5cm) [1]
General
Category Sulfosalt mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Pb9 Sb 8 S21
IMA symbol Ssy [2]
Strunz classification 2.HC.10d
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group C2/c
Unit cell a = 13.64  Å, b = 11.96 Å
c = 24.46 Å; β = 105.87°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorDark gray to black
Crystal habit Tabular, elongated prismatic crystals, commonly twisted; rosettelike groups
Cleavage Perfect on {112}
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness2.5
Luster Metallic
Diaphaneity opaque
Specific gravity 6.15
References [3] [4] [5]

Semseyite is a rarely occurring sulfosalt mineral and is part of the class of lead antimony sulfides. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the chemical composition Pb9Sb8S21. The mineral forms dark gray to black aggregates.

Contents

Etymology and history

Semseyite was first described for an occurrence in the Felsöbánya mine in Baia Sprie, Romania in 1881 by József Sándor Krenner (1839–1920). The mineral was named after Hungarian mineralogist Andor von Semsey (1833–1923).

Occurrence

Semseyite forms in hydrothermal solutions at temperatures between 300 and 350 °C. [6] It occurs in association with bournonite, jamesonite, sphalerite, zinkenite, sorbyite, guettardite, jordanite, diaphorite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite and siderite. [3]

Images

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stibnite</span> Sulfide mineral

Stibnite, sometimes called antimonite, is a sulfide mineral with the formula Sb2S3. This soft grey material crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group. It is the most important source for the metalloid antimony. The name is derived from the Greek στίβι stibi through the Latin stibium as the former name for the mineral and the element antimony.

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Realgar, also known as ″arsenic blende″, ″ruby sulphur″ or ″ruby of arsenic″, is an arsenic sulfide mineral with the chemical formula α-As4S4. It is a soft, sectile mineral occurring in monoclinic crystals, or in granular, compact, or powdery form, often in association with the related mineral, orpiment. It is orange-red in color, melts at 320 °C, and burns with a bluish flame releasing fumes of arsenic and sulfur. Realgar is soft with a Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2 and has a specific gravity of 3.5. Its streak is orange colored. It is trimorphous with pararealgar and bonazziite.

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Bournonite, also axotomous antimony glance, wheel ore, berthonite, volchite or dystomic glance (German: antimonbleikupferblende) is a sulfosalt mineral species, trithioantimoniate of lead and copper with the formula PbCuSbS3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamesonite</span> Sulfosalt mineral

Jamesonite (also axotomous antimony glance, domingite, comuccite, pfaffite, gray antimony or feather ore) is a sulfosalt mineral, a lead, iron, antimony sulfide with formula Pb4FeSb6S14. With the addition of manganese it forms a series with benavidesite. It is a dark grey metallic mineral which forms acicular prismatic monoclinic crystals. It is soft with a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and has a specific gravity of 5.5 – 5.6. It is one of the few sulfide minerals to form fibrous or needle like crystals. It can also form large prismatic crystals similar to stibnite with which it can be associated. It is usually found in low to moderate temperature hydrothermal deposits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulangerite</span> Sulfosalt mineral: lead antimony sulfide

Boulangerite or antimonbleiblende is an uncommon monoclinic orthorhombic sulfosalt mineral, lead antimony sulfide, formula Pb5Sb4S11. It was named in 1837 in honor of French mining engineer Charles Boulanger (1810–1849), and had been a valid species since pre-IMA. It was first described prior to 1959, and is now grandfathered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagyágite</span> Sulfide mineral

Nagyágite is a rare sulfide mineral with known occurrence associated with gold ores. Nagyágite crystals are opaque, monoclinic and dark grey to black coloured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabandite</span> Sulfide mineral

Alabandite or alabandine, formerly known as manganese blende or bluemenbachite is a rarely occurring manganese sulfide mineral. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system with the chemical composition Mn2+S and develops commonly massive to granular aggregates, but rarely also cubic or octahedral crystals to 1 cm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andorite</span> Sulfosalt mineral

Andorite is a sulfosalt mineral with the chemical formula PbAgSb3S6.

Guettardite is a rare arsenic-antimony lead sulfosalt mineral with the chemical formula Pb(Sb,As)2S4. It forms gray black metallic prismatic to acicular crystals with monoclinic symmetry. It is a dimorph of the triclinic twinnite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ianbruceite</span>

Ianbruceite is a rare hydrated zinc arsenate with the formula [Zn2(OH)(H2O)(AsO4)](H2O)2; material from the Driggith mine has traces of cobalt. It was first discovered at Tsumeb, approved by the International Mineralogical Association as a new mineral species in 2011, reference IMA2011-49, and named for Ian Bruce, who founded "Crystal Classics" in the early 1990s, and was heavily involved in attempts to reopen the famous Tsumeb mine for specimen mining.
In 2013 new occurrences of ianbruceite were reported from the neighbouring Driggith and Potts Gill mines on High Pike in the Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England. Here the mineral is probably a post-mining product. Caldbeck Fells and Tsumeb are the only reported localities for ianbruceite to date (May 2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felsőbányaite</span>

Felsőbányaite or basaluminite is a hydrated aluminium sulfate mineral with formula: Al4(SO4)(OH)10·4H2O. It is a rare white to pale yellow mineral which typically occurs as globular masses and incrustations or as minute rhombic crystals. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fülöppite</span>

Fülöppite is a rare member of the plagionite group, comprising heteromorphite Pb7Sb8S19, plagionite Pb5Sb8S17 and semseyite Pb9Sb8S21. It was named in 1929 for Dr. Béla Fülöpp (1863–1938), a Hungarian lawyer, statesman and mineral collector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queitite</span>

Queitite is a lead zinc silicate sulphate that was named after the mineral dealer Clive S. Queit, who collected the first specimens. It got approved by the IMA in 1979, and it is an extremely rare secondary mineral.

References

  1. J.J. Périchaud : "Metal Layers of the District with Antimony of Brioude-Massiac (French Massif Central)", BRGM, 1968
  2. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  3. 1 2 Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Mindat
  5. Webmineral data
  6. Andreas Kamrath: “Geology and mineralogy of ore stores Herja” Archived 2011-02-13 at the Wayback Machine