Falkmanite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Falkmanite
Formula:
Pb3Sb2S6
Previously given as Pb5.4Sb3.6S11. ICDD 35-595
Colour:
Gray-black to lead black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.24
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Oscar Carl August Falkman [25 December 1877, Stockholm, Sweden - 10 July 1961, Stockholm, Sweden], General director of the Bolidens Gruvaktiebolag.
A mineral closely related to boulangerite, or possibly only a lead-rich variety of the latter.
Although the IMA currently considers falkmanite as a grandfathered species, an IMA Commission report (Moëlo et al., 2008) is undecided on the status and concludes that "A solution of the crystal structure of falkmanite is necessary for its definite classification." The XRD patterns of boulangerite and falkmanite are similar.
According to Schultz et al. (2017), "falkmanite" is boulangerite.
Originally described from Bayerland Mine, Pfaffenreuth, Waldsassen, Oberpfälzer Wald, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany.
Although the IMA currently considers falkmanite as a grandfathered species, an IMA Commission report (Moëlo et al., 2008) is undecided on the status and concludes that "A solution of the crystal structure of falkmanite is necessary for its definite classification." The XRD patterns of boulangerite and falkmanite are similar.
According to Schultz et al. (2017), "falkmanite" is boulangerite.
Originally described from Bayerland Mine, Pfaffenreuth, Waldsassen, Oberpfälzer Wald, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1446
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1446:1
IMA Classification of Falkmanite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+3Sb3+2S2-6
Classification of Falkmanite
2.HC.15
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
3.5.2.2
3 : SULFOSALTS
5 : 2.5 < ø < 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
5 : 2.5 < ø < 3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fmn | 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 Falkmanite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray-black to lead black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
distinct (010)
distinct (010)
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
6.24 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.25 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Falkmanite
Anisotropism:
Distinct
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 440nm | 35.2% | 45.9% |
| 460nm | 35.2% | 44.8% |
| 470nm | 35.2% | 44.9% |
| 480nm | 35.1% | 44.0% |
| 500nm | 34.9% | 43.4% |
| 520nm | 34.6% | 43.0% |
| 540nm | 34.2% | 42.8% |
| 546nm | 34.1% | 42.7% |
| 560nm | 33.9% | 42.3% |
| 580nm | 33.5% | 41.5% |
| 589nm | 33.3% | 41.2% |
| 600nm | 33.1% | 40.8% |
| 620nm | 32.7% | 40.0% |
| 640nm | 32.3% | 39.3% |
| 650nm | 32.1% | 39.0% |
| 660nm | 31.8% | 38.6% |
| 680nm | 31.4% | 38.0% |
| 700nm | 30.9% | 37.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 45.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Galena white
Internal Reflections:
Red
Chemistry of Falkmanite
Mindat Formula:
Pb3Sb2S6
Previously given as Pb5.4Sb3.6S11. ICDD 35-595
Previously given as Pb5.4Sb3.6S11. ICDD 35-595
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Falkmanite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 21.628 Å, b = 23.520 Å, c = 8.120 Å
β = 100.81°
β = 100.81°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.92 : 1 : 0.345
Unit Cell V:
4,057.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Twinning:
rare
Comment:
Point Group n.d.; Space Group n.d.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.41 Å | (10) |
| 4.20 Å | (20) |
| 3.91 Å | (10) |
| 3.73 Å | (100) |
| 3.59 Å | (10) |
| 3.45 Å | (10) |
| 3.33 Å | (20) |
| 3.22 Å | (20) |
| 3.13 Å | (10) |
| 3.04 Å | (50) |
| 2.85 Å | (10) |
| 2.81 Å | (90) |
| 2.72 Å | (10) |
| 2.61 Å | (10) |
| 2.44 Å | (10) |
| 2.40 Å | (20) |
| 2.33 Å | (10) |
| 2.26 Å | (20) |
| 2.15 Å | (10) |
| 2.11 Å | (10) |
| 2.06 Å | (60) |
| 1.998 Å | (10) |
| 1.931 Å | (10) |
| 1.864 Å | (70) |
| 1.798 Å | (10) |
Comments:
ICDD 35-595 "Structurally related to boulangerite which belongs to the boulangerite homologous series with the general formula M9S11. Lillianite group, ramdohrite sub-group.
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]) |
Type Occurrence of Falkmanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tabular to acicular.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Falkmanite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 49 photos of Falkmanite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 34 photos of Falkmanite associated with Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 25 photos of Falkmanite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 21 photos of Falkmanite associated with Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 19 photos of Falkmanite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 18 photos of Falkmanite associated with Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 18 photos of Falkmanite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 16 photos of Falkmanite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 14 photos of Falkmanite associated with Geocronite | Pb14Sb6S23 |
| 9 photos of Falkmanite associated with Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.HC. | Bernarlottiite | Pb6(As5Sb3)S18 |
| 2.HC. | Huntingdonite | Pb19Sb16As6S51Cl2 |
| 2.HC. | Moiraite | Pb12Sb8As8S36 |
| 2.HC.05f | Parapierrotite | TlSb5S8 |
| 2.HC.05g | Marumoite | Pb32As40S92 |
| 2.HC.05b | Baumhauerite II | |
| 2.HC.05d | Rathite | Ag2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40 |
| 2.HC.05e | Heptasartorite | Tl7Pb22As55S108 |
| 2.HC.05d | Dufrénoysite | Pb2As2S5 |
| 2.HC.05e | Hendekasartorite | Tl2Pb48As82S172 |
| 2.HC.05b | Argentobaumhauerite | Ag1.5Pb22As33.5S72 |
| 2.HC.05c | Argentoliveingite | Ag3+xPb36-2xAs51+xS112 |
| 2.HC.05b | Baumhauerite | Pb12As16S36 |
| 2.HC.05d | Veenite | Pb16Sb9-xAs7+xS40, x ~ 0-0.5 |
| 2.HC.05e | Dekatriasartorite | TlPb58As97S204 |
| 2.HC.05a | Hyršlite | Pb8As10Sb6S32 |
| 2.HC.05e | Incomsartorite | Tl6Pb144As246S516 |
| 2.HC.05c | Liveingite | Pb20As24S56 |
| 2.HC.05c | Johnjamborite | Pb14Sb8.5As7.5S38 |
| 2.HC.05f | Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 |
| 2.HC.05d | Rathite-IV | PbAs2S4 |
| 2.HC.05d | Argentodufrénoysite | Ag3Pb26As35S80 |
| 2.HC.05e | Écrinsite | AgTl3Pb4As11Sb9S36 |
| 2.HC.05a | Sartorite | PbAs2S4 |
| 2.HC.05a | Twinnite | Pb0.8Tl0.1Sb1.3As0.8S4 |
| 2.HC.05f | Philrothite | TlAs3S5 |
| 2.HC.05h | Polloneite | AgPb46As26Sb23S120 |
| 2.HC.05a | Guettardite | Pb8(Sb0.56As0.44)16S32 |
| 2.HC.10a | Fülöppite | Pb3Sb8S15 |
| 2.HC.10d | Semseyite | Pb9Sb8S21 |
| 2.HC.10d | Rayite | Pb8(Ag,Tl)2Sb8S21 |
| 2.HC.10c | Heteromorphite | Pb7Sb8S19 |
| 2.HC.10b | Plagionite | Pb5Sb8S17 |
| 2.HC.15 | Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| 2.HC.20 | Robinsonite | Pb4Sb6S13 |
| 2.HC.25 | Moëloite | Pb6Sb6S14(S3) |
| 2.HC.30 | Dadsonite | Pb23Sb25S60Cl |
| 2.HC.35 | Zoubekite | AgPb4Sb4S10 |
| 2.HC.35 | Proto-owyheeite | Ag9Pb40Sb45S112 |
| 2.HC.35 | Owyheeite | Ag3Pb10Sb11S28 |
| 2.HC.40 | Parasterryite | Ag4Pb20Sb14As10S58 |
| 2.HC.50 | Lopatkaite | Pb5Sb3AsS11 |
Fluorescence of Falkmanite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Falkmanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1446.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Falkmanite
Reference List:
Hiller, J.-E. (1940) Über den Falkmanit. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 102 (1-6). p.138-142. doi:10.1524/zkri.1940.102.1.138
Hiller, J.-E. (1940) Über den Falkmanit. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 102 (1-6). p.138-142. doi:10.1524/zkri.1940.102.1.138
Robinson, S. C. (1948) The identity of falkmanite and yenerite with boulangerite. American Mineralogist, 33 (11-12). p.716-723.
Dunn, Pete J.; Cabri, Louis J.; Chao, George Y.; Fleischer, Michael; Francis, Carl A.; Grice, Joel D.; Jambor, John L.; Pabst, Adolf (1984) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 69 (3-4). 406-412
McQueen, K. G. (1987) A Second Occurrence of Falkmanite: Pinnacles Mine, Broken Hill. New South Wales. The Canadian Mineralogist, 25 (1) 15-19
Pruseth, K. L., Mishra, B., Bernhardt, H. J. (1997) Phase relations in the Cu2S-PbS-Sb2S3 system; an experimental appraisal and application to natural polymetallic sulfide ores. Economic Geology, 92 (6). 720-732 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.92.6.720
Pruseth, Kamal L., Mishra, Biswajit, Bernhardt, Heinz-J. (2001) The minerals boulangerite, falkmanite and Cu-free meneghinite: synthesis, new powder diffraction data and stability relations. European Journal of Mineralogy, 13 (2) 411-419 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/01/0013-0411
Moëlo, Yves, Makovicky, Emil, Mozgova, Nadejda N., Jambor, John L., Cook, Nigel, Pring, Allan, Paar, Werner, Nickel, Ernest H., Graeser, Stephan, Karup-Møller, Sven, Balic-unic, Tonči, Mumme, William G., Vurro, Filippo, Topa, Dan (2008) Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20 (1) 7-62 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1778
Schultz, Peter; Nietschke, Frederik; Wagner, Gerald; Eikemeier, Christoph; Eisenburger, Lucien; Oeckler, Oliver (2017) The Crystal Structures of Pb5Sb4S11 (Boulangerite) – A Phase Transition Explains Seemingly Contradictory Structure Models. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 643 (21). p.1531-1542. doi:10.1002/zaac.201700259
Localities for Falkmanite
Showing 23 localities.
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 | |
| McQueen (1987) +2 other references |
| Fleminig +4 other references |
Bolivia | |
| Kempff et al. (La Paz, 2009) |
China | |
| Jiajun Liu et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Xilong Wang et al. (2014) |
| Han et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
| Li et al. (2020) |
Germany | |
| Knauer et al. (1968) +1 other reference |
| Clark (1993) |
Greece | |
| Voudouris et al. (2008) |
India | |
| Deepthi et al. (2015) |
Kosovo | |
| Féraud J. (1979) |
North Macedonia | |
| Janković (1993) |
Poland | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
Romania | |
| Dincă et al. (2022) |
Russia | |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
Serbia | |
| Slobodan A. Radosavljević et al. (2013) | |
| Cissarz et al. (1957) |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Duda et. all. |
Sweden | |
| Nordfeldt (2025) |
| Robinson (1948) |
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The
Bayerland mine, Pfaffenreuth, Leonberg, Tirschenreuth District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany