Pavonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Pavonite
Martin Alfred Peacock
Formula:
AgBi3S5
Ag may be replaced by minor Cu and Bi by minor Pb.
Colour:
Steel-gray to tin white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
6.8
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1953 by Edward Wilfrid Nuffield from the Latin pavo (= peacock) in honor of Martin Alfred Peacock [January 15, 1898 Edinburgh, Scotland - October 30, 1950 Toronto, Ontario, Canada], Canadian mineralogist and crystallographer, Professor of Mineralogy (1937-1950), University of Toronto, for his many contributions to the study of mineral sulfosalts, culminating in the posthumously published Atlas of X-Ray Data for the ore minerals. Peacock was an eminent morphological crystallographer and a pioneer in X-ray mineralogy in Canada.
Typically forms fine lamellar intergrowths with cupropavonite.
Compare also cupromakopavonite.
Difficult to distinguish from benjaminite; single-crystal XRD methods are necessary (Harris & Chen, 1975).
See also Unnamed (Se-analogue of Pavonite) and its probable Cu- and S-bearing variety 'UM1989-28-Se:AgBiCuS'.
Compare also cupromakopavonite.
Difficult to distinguish from benjaminite; single-crystal XRD methods are necessary (Harris & Chen, 1975).
See also Unnamed (Se-analogue of Pavonite) and its probable Cu- and S-bearing variety 'UM1989-28-Se:AgBiCuS'.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3136
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3136:9
Similar Names
| Pavonado | A synonym of Tetrahedrite Subgroup |
IMA Classification of Pavonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ag1+Bi3+3S2-5
First published:
1954
Classification of Pavonite
2.JA.05a
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
3.8.10.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
5.2.19
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pav | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Pav | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Pavonite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel-gray to tin white
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=188 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Density:
6.8 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Synthetic
Optical Data of Pavonite
Anisotropism:
Strong, in pale to intense blue and light tan to brown
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 46.3% | 50.7% |
| 420nm | 46.1% | 50.5% |
| 440nm | 45.9% | 50.3% |
| 460nm | 45.6% | 50.0% |
| 480nm | 45.3% | 49.8% |
| 500nm | 45.0% | 49.5% |
| 520nm | 44.5% | 49.0% |
| 540nm | 44.0% | 48.4% |
| 560nm | 43.4% | 47.8% |
| 580nm | 42.9% | 47.3% |
| 600nm | 42.5% | 47.0% |
| 620nm | 42.2% | 46.7% |
| 640nm | 42.0% | 46.4% |
| 600nm | 41.9% | 46.2% |
| 680nm | 41.7% | 46.0% |
| 700nm | 41.6% | 45.8% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 50.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Gray-pink-white and blue-gray-white in oil
Chemistry of Pavonite
Mindat Formula:
AgBi3S5
Ag may be replaced by minor Cu and Bi by minor Pb.
Ag may be replaced by minor Cu and Bi by minor Pb.
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Pavonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.35 Å, b = 4.03 Å, c = 16.34 Å
β = 94.5°
β = 94.5°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.313 : 1 : 4.055
Unit Cell V:
876.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Tiny bladed crystals, massive.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005141 | Pavonite | Makovicky E, Mumme W G, Watts J A (1977) The crystal structure of synthetic pavonite, AgBi3S5, and the definition of the pavonite homologous series The Canadian Mineralogist 15 339-348 |  | 1977 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.858 Å | (100) |
| 3.59 Å | (90) |
| 3.38 Å | (80) |
| 3.46 Å | (40) |
| 5.45 Å | (35) |
| 2.259 Å | (35) |
| 4.08 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Pavonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive and as tiny bladed crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal base-metal sulfide veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Pavonite
Varieties of Pavonite
| Kitaibelite | A Pb-bearing pavonite. Originally reported from Nagybörzsöny, Börzsöny Mts., Pest Co., Hungary. |
Relationship of Pavonite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Pavonite Homologous Series:
| Benjaminite | Ag3Bi7S12 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Cupromakopavonite | Ag3Cu8Pb4Bi19S38 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Cupromakovickyite | Cu4AgPb2Bi9S18 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Cupropavonite | Cu0.9Ag0.5Pb0.6Bi2.5S5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Dantopaite | Ag5Bi13S22 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Graţianite | MnBi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Grumiplucite | HgBi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Kudriavite | (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Luboržákite | Mn2AsSbS5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Makovickyite | Cu1.12Ag0.81Pb0.27Bi5.35S9 | Mon. 2/m |
| Mummeite | Cu0.58Ag3.11Pb1.10Bi6.65S13 | Mon. |
| Sunshuite | FeBi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 15 photos of Pavonite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 12 photos of Pavonite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 10 photos of Pavonite associated with Hodrušite | Cu8Bi12S22 |
| 8 photos of Pavonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Pavonite associated with Aikinite | CuPbBiS3 |
| 6 photos of Pavonite associated with Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 4 photos of Pavonite associated with Gustavite | AgPbBi3S6 |
| 2 photos of Pavonite associated with Cupropavonite | Cu0.9Ag0.5Pb0.6Bi2.5S5 |
| 2 photos of Pavonite associated with Dantopaite | Ag5Bi13S22 |
| 2 photos of Pavonite associated with Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.JA. | Ferdowsiite | Ag8(Sb5As3)S16 |
| 2.JA. | Luboržákite | Mn2AsSbS5 |
| 2.JA. | Sangenaroite | Ag8(Sb8-xAsx)SΣ16 |
| 2.JA.05b | Grumiplucite | HgBi2S4 |
| 2.JA.05c | Kudriavite | (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4 |
| 2.JA.05d | Cupromakovickyite | Cu4AgPb2Bi9S18 |
| 2.JA.05e | Benjaminite | Ag3Bi7S12 |
| 2.JA.05i | Livingstonite | HgSb4S6(S2) |
| 2.JA.05h | Mozgovaite | PbBi4S7 |
| 2.JA.05 | Dantopaite | Ag5Bi13S22 |
| 2.JA.05a | Cupropavonite | Cu0.9Ag0.5Pb0.6Bi2.5S5 |
| 2.JA.05 | Selenodantopaite | Ag5Bi13Se22 |
| 2.JA.05g | Borodaevite | Ag5(Bi,Pb,Fe)8(Sb,Bi)2S17 |
| 2.JA.05a | Cupromakopavonite | Ag3Cu8Pb4Bi19S38 |
| 2.JA.05d | Makovickyite | Cu1.12Ag0.81Pb0.27Bi5.35S9 |
| 2.JA.05f | Mummeite | Cu0.58Ag3.11Pb1.10Bi6.65S13 |
| 2.JA.10b | Kupčíkite | Cu3.4Fe0.6Bi5S10 |
| 2.JA.10d | Pizgrischite | (Cu,Fe)Cu14PbBi17S35 |
| 2.JA.10c | Hodrušite | Cu8Bi12S22 |
| 2.JA.10a | Cuprobismutite | Cu8AgBi13S24 |
| 2.JA.10e | Padĕraite | Cu7[(Cu,Ag)0.33Pb1.33Bi11.33]S22 |
| 2.JA.15 | Schapbachite | Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S |
| 2.JA.15 | Cuboargyrite | AgSbS2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Matildite | AgBiS2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Bohdanowiczite | AgBiSe2 |
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 Pavonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3136.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 Pavonite
Reference List:
Harris, D. C., Chen, T. T. (1975) Benjaminite, reinstated as valid species. The Canadian Mineralogist, 13 (4) 402-407
Karup-Møller, Sven, Makovicky, Emil (1979) On pavonite, cupropavonite, benjaminite and «oversubstituted » gustavite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 102 (4) 351-367 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7330
Chang, Luke L. Y., Daqing Wu, , Knowles, Charles R. (1988) Phase relations in the system Ag2S-Cu2S-PbS-Bi2S3. Economic Geology, 83 (2) 405-418 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.83.2.405
Ilinca, Gheorghe, Makovicky, Emil (1999) X-ray powder diffraction properties of pavonite homologues. European Journal of Mineralogy, 11 (4) 691-708 doi:10.1127/ejm/11/4/0691
Kim, Jun-Ho; Chung, Duck-Young; Bilc, Daniel; Loo, Sim; Short, Jarrod; Mahanti, Subhendra D.; Hogan, Tim; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. (2005) Crystal Growth, Thermoelectric Properties, and Electronic Structure of AgBi3S5 and AgSbxBi3-xS5 (x = 0.3). Chemistry of Materials, 17 (14). 3606-3614 doi:10.1021/cm0502931
Perez-Mato, J.M., Elcoro, Luis, Makovicky, Emil, Topa, Dan, Petříček, Václav, Madariaga, Gotzon (2013) Conspicuous variation of the lattice unit cell in the pavonite homologous series and its relation with cation/anion occupational modulations. Materials Research Bulletin, 48 (6) 2166-2174 doi:10.1016/j.materresbull.2013.02.008
Localities for Pavonite
Showing 109 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.
Argentina | |
| Putz et al. (2009) |
| Silver Standard Resources Inc |
| Slater (2016) | |
| Paar et al. (2000) |
| Brodtkorb (2002) |
Australia | |
| Hein (1994) |
| Hein (1994) | |
| Grguric et al. (2017) |
Austria | |
| Paar et al. (1982) +1 other reference |
| Auer (2021) |
| Makovicky et al. (2010) |
| Paar et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
| Putz (2003) | |
| Chris Auer collection (analysed by Hubert Putz) | |
| Kolitsch (2015) |
Bolivia | |
| Keutsch et al. (2008) |
| Cacho et al. (2019) |
| Shimizu et al. (1996) | |
| Wilson (2001) |
| NUFFIELD (1954) +2 other references |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 | |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 |
Brazil | |
| Mandarino (2002) |
Canada | |
| D. C. Harris (1973) +1 other reference |
| Rich et al. (1977) |
| Dennis (1987) |
| 159-161. +1 other reference |
| Petruk et al. (1971) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference |
| Watson et al. (1996) |
China | |
| Huan Hu et al. (2001) +1 other reference |
| Fan et al. (2026) |
| Xiao et al. (2022) |
| Liu et al. (2018) |
| Xilin (1990) +2 other references |
| Mineral Deposits 4 (1) | |
| Anthony +1 other reference |
| Liu (2017) |
| Weining Zhou (1994) |
| Danyang Liu (1991) |
| Kaixuan et al. (2026) |
| Xia Ai and Zengyi Chen (1993) |
| Weining Zhou (1994) |
| Liu (2017) |
| Zhaolong Li and Lianying Zhang (1999) |
| Xiaoming Qu et al. (2001) |
France | |
| Wittern +1 other reference |
| This mine worked the same vein as Gabe ... +2 other references | |
Georgia | |
| Ramaz Migineishvili (2005) |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1980) +5 other references |
| web.archive.org (2001) |
Hungary | |
| [var: Kitaibelite] |
Japan | |
| Karup-Møller (1977) |
| Arribas et al. (2018) |
| MARIKO et al. (1996) |
| Ono et al. (2004) +3 other references |
| Shimizu et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| Shimizu et al. (1996) | |
| Yamada (2004) |
| Izumino et al. (2015) |
| Matsueda (1981) |
| Nagashima et al. (2016) |
Mexico | |
| Stone et al. (1948) +3 other references |
Morocco | |
| Ilmen et al. (2024) |
Peru | |
| Crowley et al. (1997) |
| Duval et al. (1986) | |
Poland | |
| Gołębiowska et al. (2006) +2 other references |
| Piestrzyński et al. (2012) | |
Portugal | |
| |
| Wimmers (1985) | |
| Gaspar +2 other references |
Romania | |
| Szakáll (2002) |
| Cook et al. (2002) | |
| Cook et al. (2004) |
| Cook (1998) |
Russia | |
| Potseluev et al. (2006) |
| Rogov et al. (2023) |
| Rogov et al. (2023) | |
| Bazai et al. (2009) |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) +1 other reference |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) | |
| Jambor et al. (1994) |
| Gamyanin et al. (2015) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2020) +1 other reference |
Slovakia | |
| Jeleň et al. (2012) |
| Ozdín D. |
Sweden | |
| MinMag (1992) +1 other reference |
Tajikistan | |
| Safonov et al. (2000) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Steeves et al. (2016) |
| USGS PP 1760A |
| Mineral News: 16 (9) +3 other references |
| Dunning et al. (2000) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Karup-Møller (1977) +1 other reference |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Karup-Møller (1977) +1 other reference |
| Karup-Møller (1977) +1 other reference | |
| Dana 7:I:393. +1 other reference | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Mankins (2022) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Koneev et al. (2005) |
| Kovalenker et al. (1997) |
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Bolivar Mine, Cerro Bonete, Sud Lípez Province, Potosí, Bolivia