Aikinite

Summary

Aikinite is a sulfide mineral of lead, copper and bismuth with formula Pb Cu Bi S3. It forms black to grey or reddish brown acicular orthorhombic crystals with a Mohs hardness of 2 to 2.5 and a specific gravity of 6.1 to 6.8. It was originally found in 1843 in the Beryozovskoye deposit, Ural Mountains. It is named after Arthur Aikin (1773–1854), an English geologist.

Aikinite
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Pb Cu Bi S3
IMA symbolAik[1]
Strunz classification2.HB.05a
Dana classification3.4.5.1
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPnma
Unit cella = 11.297, b = 11.654
c = 4.061 [Å], Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass575.92 g/mol
ColorLead gray, grayish black, reddish brown
Crystal habitAcicular, massive
Cleavage{010} indistinct
Mohs scale hardness2–2.5
LusterMetallic
StreakGrayish black
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity6.1–6.8, Average = 6.44
Other characteristicsNot radioactive
References[2][3]

It has been found in Western Tasmania, in mines located near Dundas, Tasmania

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Aikinite. Webmineral
  3. ^ Aikinite. Mindat.org