Aleksite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aleksite
Formula:
PbBi2Te2S2
Colour:
In polished section, very pale gray with slight greenish tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.80 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
108
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:108:7
Similar Names
| Alexoite | A rock subtype |
| Aloxite | |
| Uleksiitti | A synonym of Ulexite |
IMA Classification of Aleksite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Bi3+2Te2-2S2-2
Approval year:
1977
First published:
1978
Classification of Aleksite
2.GC.40a
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2.6.3.2
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
3.7.39
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Alk | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Aleksite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
In polished section, very pale gray with slight greenish tint
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=40 - 65 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {0001}
on {0001}
Density:
7.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aleksite
Anisotropism:
weak
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 460nm | 51.4% |
| 480nm | 51.8% |
| 500nm | 52.7% |
| 520nm | 52.8% |
| 540nm | 53.2% |
| 560nm | 53.1% |
| 580nm | 53.4% |
| 600nm | 53.9% |
| 620nm | 53.9% |
| 640nm | 54.2% |
| 660nm | 54.5% |
| 680nm | 54.4% |
| 700nm | 54.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 54.9%.
Colour in reflected light:
Light pale gray with greenish tint
Chemistry of Aleksite
Mindat Formula:
PbBi2Te2S2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Aleksite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P31m
Setting:
P31m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.238(1) Å, c = 79.76(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 18.82
Unit Cell V:
1,240.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Platy grains to 1mm.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.6027 Å | (18) |
| 3.3230 Å | (26) |
| 3.0796 Å | (100) |
| 2.2464 Å | (51) |
| 2.1160 Å | (49) |
| 1.9733 Å | (28) |
| 1.7447 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Synthetic (ICDD 51-640).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Of hydrothermal origin in sulfide-quartz veins
Type Occurrence of Aleksite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Gosudarst University, Moscow; Moscow University, Moscow; A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 79060.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Aleksite
Other Language Names for Aleksite
Relationship of Aleksite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Aleksite Group:
| Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 | Trig. |
| Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Hitachiite | Pb5Bi2Te2S6 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
| Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 | Trig. |
| Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 | Hex. |
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GC.05 | Hatchite | AgTlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.05 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.10 | Sinnerite | Cu6As4S9 |
| 2.GC.15 | Watanabeite | Cu4(As,Sb)2S5 |
| 2.GC.20 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 |
| 2.GC.25 | Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
| 2.GC.25 | Manganoquadratite | AgMnAsS3 |
| 2.GC.30 | Smithite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Debattistiite | Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 |
| 2.GC.40d | Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 |
| 2.GC.40c | Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
| 2.GC.40 | Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 |
| 2.GC.40e | Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GC.40b | Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 |
| 2.GC.40c | Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 |
| 2.GC.45 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
| 2.GC.50 | Mutnovskite | Pb4As2S6ICl |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Aleksite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-108.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Aleksite
Reference List:
Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Mandarino, J. A. (1979) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 64 (5-6) 652-659
Yao, Jie; Ciobanu, Cristiana L.; Cook, Nigel J.; Ehrig, Kathy (2023) Ab initio crystal structures and relative phase stabilities for the aleksite series, PbnBi4Te4Sn+2. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 79 (6). 482-494 doi:10.1107/s2052520623008776
Localities for Aleksite
Showing 36 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| [MinRec 39:476] +1 other reference |
| Mueller +3 other references |
Austria | |
| Cook et al. (2007) |
Belgium | |
| Godfroid (1999) +2 other references |
Brazil | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Bulgaria | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Canada | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
China | |
| Bin Shu et al. (2006) |
| Yu Wang et al. (1991) |
| Yang et al. (2024) |
| Wanzhong Li (2011) | |
| Jian et al. (2022) |
| Chen et al. (2022) |
| Wang et al. (2006) |
India | |
| Misra et al. (2022) |
Japan | |
| The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Izumino et al. (2015) |
| The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) |
| Int Geol Congr (2008) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Baibatsha et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
Kosovo | |
| Kołodziejczyk et al. (2017) |
Portugal | |
| Fuertes-Fuente et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| www.minerals-of-the carpathians.eu (2009) |
| Szakáll et al. (2010) |
| Cook et al. (2005) |
Russia | |
| Nordgold |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Chernyavsky et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) |
| Lipovetskii et al. (1978) +2 other references |
| Эпова et al. (2025) |
Spain | |
| Romero Silva +3 other references |
UK | |
| Cook et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Clogau St Davids Mine, Llanelltyd, Gwynedd, Wales, UK