Hutchinsonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Hutchinsonite
Arthur Hutchinson
Formula:
TlPbAs5S9
Arsenic (As) may be replaced by Antimony (Sb); the extent of the solid-solution range is unknown.
Colour:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
4.6
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Dr. Arthur Hutchinson (6 July 1866, London, UK – 12 December 1937, Cambridge, UK), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Cambridge.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Hutchinsonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1954
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1954:1
IMA Classification of Hutchinsonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Tl1+As3+5S2-9
First published:
1905
Classification of Hutchinsonite
2.HD.45
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
D : With Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
D : With Tl
3.8.6.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
5.5.7
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hut | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Hut | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Hutchinsonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Hutchinsonite
Adamantine
Colour:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Streak:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010} good.
{010} good.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
4.6 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Hutchinsonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 3.078 nβ = 3.176 nγ = 3.188
2V:
Measured: 37° , Calculated: 36°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.110
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Anisotropism:
Strong
Dispersion:
marked to extreme
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 32.6% | 36.9% |
| 420nm | 31.8% | 35.9% |
| 440nm | 31.2% | 35.2% |
| 460nm | 30.5% | 34.3% |
| 480nm | 29.5% | 33.2% |
| 500nm | 29.0% | 32.1% |
| 520nm | 29.1% | 31.3% |
| 540nm | 28.8% | 30.4% |
| 560nm | 28.0% | 29.4% |
| 580nm | 26.9% | 28.4% |
| 600nm | 26.0% | 27.6% |
| 620nm | 25.3% | 26.8% |
| 640nm | 24.8% | 26.4% |
| 660nm | 24.3% | 26.0% |
| 680nm | 23.9% | 25.6% |
| 700nm | 23.6% | 25.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 36.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Internal Reflections:
Marked carmine-red
Chemistry of Hutchinsonite
Mindat Formula:
TlPbAs5S9
Arsenic (As) may be replaced by Antimony (Sb); the extent of the solid-solution range is unknown.
Arsenic (As) may be replaced by Antimony (Sb); the extent of the solid-solution range is unknown.
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,Sb
Crystallography of Hutchinsonite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbca
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.786(3) Å, b = 35.389(8) Å, c = 8.141(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.305 : 1 : 0.23
Unit Cell V:
3,107.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Prismatic to acicular [001]. Dominant prism {410}. Radiating tufts at times.
Forms observed on the type material include: {100}, {010}, {001}, {850}, {870}, {110}, {780}, {840}, {580}, {120}, {380}, {140}, {180}, {502}, {201}, {802}, {101}, {304}, {102}, {104}, {011}, {822}, {111}. {344}, {122}, {144}
Forms observed on the type material include: {100}, {010}, {001}, {850}, {870}, {110}, {780}, {840}, {580}, {120}, {380}, {140}, {180}, {502}, {201}, {802}, {101}, {304}, {102}, {104}, {011}, {822}, {111}. {344}, {122}, {144}
Comment:
Cell data from Matsushita & Takéuchi (1994).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010621 | Hutchinsonite | Takeuchi Y, Ghose S, Nowacki W (1965) The crystal structure of hutchinsonite, (Tl,Pb)2As5S9 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 121 321-348 |  | 1965 | Lengenbach, Binnatal, Valais, Switzerland | 0 | 293 |
| 0011062 | Hutchinsonite | Matsushita Y, Takeuchi Y (1994) Refinement of the crystal structure of hutchinsonite, TlPbAs5S9 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 209 475-478 | | 1994 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.74 Å | (100) |
| 3.79 Å | (70) |
| 3.05 Å | (60) |
| 4.44 Å | (50) |
| 2.39 Å | (30) |
| 2.22 Å | (30) |
| 1.907 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Hutchinsonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very small crystals in the white dolomite. Flattened rhombic prisms with numerous small dome-and pyramid-faces.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, number 104.1161 (cotype).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom (type).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom (type).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Metamorphosed sulphosalt/sulfide deposit in dolomite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Hutchinsonite
Dutch:Hutchinsoniet
German:Hutchinsonit
Russian:Хатчинсонит
Simplified Chinese:硫砷铊铅矿
Spanish:Hutchinsonita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 202 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Orpiment | As2S3 |
| 90 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 71 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 30 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 19 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 17 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Argentobaumhauerite | Ag1.5Pb22As33.5S72 |
| 16 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 11 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 10 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 9 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Native Arsenic | As |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.HD. | Enneasartorite | Tl6Pb32As70S140 |
| 2.HD. | Shimenite | Tl5Sb21-yAsyS34 |
| 2.HD. | Dewitite | AgzTl10-x-zPb2xSb42-x-yAsyS68 |
| 2.HD. | Buynite | TlPb14As17S40 |
| 2.HD. | Vallouiseite | Ag3Tl21.5PbSb63As41.5S170 |
| 2.HD. | Giuşcăite | Ag2Tl4Pb4As20Sb2S40 |
| 2.HD. | Boscardinite | TlPb4(Sb7As2)S18 |
| 2.HD. | Gungerite | TlAs5Sb4S13 |
| 2.HD.05e | Dalnegroite | (Tl4Pb2)(As12Sb8)S34 |
| 2.HD.05 | Lorándite | TlAsS2 |
| 2.HD.05 | Weissbergite | TlSbS2 |
| 2.HD.05e | Chabournéite | AgzTl8-x-zPb4+2xSb40-x-yAsyS68 with 0.00 < x < 0.40(9), 16.15(3)< y < 19.11(10), 0.04(4) < z < 0.11(6) |
| 2.HD.15 | Christite | TlHgAsS3 |
| 2.HD.15 | Markwelchite | TlPbSbS3 |
| 2.HD.15 | Richardsollyite | TlPbAsS3 |
| 2.HD.20 | Jankovićite | Tl5Sb9(As,Sb)4S22 |
| 2.HD.25 | Rebulite | Tl5Sb5As8S22 |
| 2.HD.30 | Imhofite | Tl5.8As15.4S26 |
| 2.HD.35 | Edenharterite | PbTlAs3S6 |
| 2.HD.40 | Jentschite | TlPbAs2SbS6 |
| 2.HD.45 | Protochabournéite | Tl4-xPb2+2xSb20-x-yAsyS34 with 0.02(2) <= x <= 0.34(2), 5.71(9) <= y <= 6.69(9) |
| 2.HD.50 | Bernardite | TlAs5S8 |
| 2.HD.55 | Sicherite | TlAg2(As,Sb)3S6 |
| 2.HD.55 | Geuerite | Ag2Tl4Pb4As22S40 |
| 2.HD.60 | Gabrielite | Tl6Ag3Cu6(As,Sb)9S21 |
| 2.HD.65 | Tsygankoite | Mn8Tl8Hg2(Sb21Pb2Tl)S48 |
| 2.HD.70 | Drechslerite | Tl4(Sb4-xAsx)S8 (1 < x < 2) |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Contains thallium, lead and arsenic, three toxic elements - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.
Internet Links for Hutchinsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1954.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 Hutchinsonite
Reference List:
Solly, R. H. (1905) Some new minerals from the Binnenthal, Switzerland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 14 (64) 72-82 doi:10.1180/minmag.1905.014.64.03
Herbert Smith, G. F., Prior, G. T. (1907) Red silver minerals from the Binnenthal, Switzerland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 14 (67) 283-307 doi:10.1180/minmag.1907.014.67.02
Takéuchi, Y.; Ghose, Subrata; Nowacki, W. (1965) The crystal structure of hutchinsonite, (Tl,Pb)2As5S9. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 121 (5). 321-348 doi:10.1524/zkri.1965.121.5.321
Localities for Hutchinsonite
Showing 11 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.
China | |
| Zhou et al. (2005) |
| Guanglong Shu et al. (2007) |
| Zhang Zhong and Long Jiangping (1994) +3 other references |
Germany | |
| undefined +2 other references |
| Ramdohr (1969) | |
Iran | |
| |
Japan | |
| Shimizu et al. (1999) |
Peru | |
| Nelen et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| HÎRTOPANU et al. (2025) |
Russia | |
| Plášil et al. (2018) +4 other references |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Cambridge Phil.Soc.Proc. (1904) +1 other reference |
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Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad, Peru