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Paxite

A valid IMA mineral species
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09979530017271925722606.jpg
Paxite

Mohawk Mine, Mohawk, Allouez Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA
09979530017271925722606.jpg
Paxite

Mohawk Mine, Mohawk, Allouez Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA
09979530017271925722606.jpg
Paxite

Mohawk Mine, Mohawk, Allouez Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA
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About PaxiteHide

Formula:
CuAs2
Colour:
Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
5.4
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by Zdenĕk Johan in 1961 for the Latin pax, meaning peace.
This page provides mineralogical data about Paxite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3137
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3137:6

Similar NamesHide

MaxiteA synonym of Leadhillite
PaciteA variety of LöllingiteFeAs2
TaxiteA synonym of 'Eutaxite'

IMA Classification of PaxiteHide

Classification of PaxiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.EB.15c

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
Dana 8th ed.:
2.12.5.2

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:
1.35

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PaxIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of PaxiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey
Comment:
Light steel-gray on a fresh surface, but soon turns dark and finally becomes black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=146 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
{010}
Density:
5.4 g/cm3 (Measured)    5.97 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of PaxiteHide

Anisotropism:
Very strong; in pale gray-green and dark brown with violet tint.
Colour in reflected light:
very pale gray.

Chemistry of PaxiteHide

Mindat Formula:
CuAs2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
As70.221 %
Cu29.779 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
As
Cu
Elements listed:
As, Cu - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of PaxiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.839(2) Å, b = 5.111(2) Å, c = 8.084(3) Å
β = 99.7°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.142 : 1 : 1.582
Unit Cell V:
237.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
10
Twinning:
Polysynthetic along {010}.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.604 Å(70)
3.295 Å(50)
3.144 Å(100)
2.616 Å(100)
2.495 Å(90)
1.795 Å(70)
1.687 Å(60)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of PaxiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Černý Důl, Trutnov District, Hradec Králové Region, Czech Republic
General Appearance of Type Material:
massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162605.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
NovákiteKoutekiteNative Arsenic
Reference:
Johan, Z. (1961): Paxite - Cu2As3, a new copper arsenide from Černý Důl in the Giant Mts. (Krkonoše). Acta Universitatis Carolinae, Geologica 1961 (2), 77-86.

Other Language Names for PaxiteHide

Dutch:Paxiet
German:Paxit
Spanish:Paxita

Relationship of Paxite to other SpeciesHide

Structurally related to group(s):
Arsenopyrite Group

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Paxite associated with KoutekiteCu5As2
1 photo of Paxite associated with NickelineNiAs

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.EB.SelenolauriteRuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.AndrieslombaarditeRhSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.Iridarsenite(Ir,Ru)As2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.EB.Kanatzidisite(SbBiS3)2Te2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.05aVaesiteNiS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aHaueriteMnS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aLauriteRuS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGaotaiiteIr3Te8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPenroseite(Ni,Co,Cu)Se2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aFukuchiliteCu3FeS8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aVillamanínite(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2Tric.
2.EB.05aErlichmaniteOsS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aSperrylitePtAs2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGeversitePtSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aCattieriteCoS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aAurostibiteAuSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aTrogtaliteCoSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05a v'Cayeuxite'
2.EB.05aKruťaiteCuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPyriteFeS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aInsizwaitePtBi2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05bBambollaiteCu(Se,Te)2Tet.
2.EB.05aDzharkeniteFeSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.10aMarcasiteFeS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10eParacostibiteCoSbSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.EB.10fOeniteCoSbAsOrth.
2.EB.10ePararammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.EB.10aMattagamiteCoTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFrohbergiteFeTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10dCostibiteCoSbSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10bAlloclasiteCo1-xFexAsSMon. 2 : P21
2.EB.10cGlaucodot(Co0.50Fe0.50)AsSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10aPetříčekiteCuSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aKulleruditeNiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFerroseliteFeSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15bSeinäjokiteFeSb2Orth.
2.EB.15aRammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aClinosaffloriteCoAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.15aNisbiteNiSb2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aLöllingiteFeAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aSafflorite(Co,Ni,Fe)As2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aOmeiiteOsAs2Orth.
2.EB.15aAnduoiteRuAs2Orth.
2.EB.20ArsenopyriteFeAsSMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.EB.20Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsSMon.
2.EB.20Osarsite(Os,Ru)AsSMon.
2.EB.20GudmunditeFeSbSMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.EB.25MayingiteIrBiTeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MaslovitePtBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25ParagersdorffiteNi(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25OrthogersdorffiteNiAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25SulfopadmaitePdBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25JolliffeiteNiAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25CobaltiteCoAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25GuixiangiteNiBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TestibiopalladitePdSbTeIso.
2.EB.25 va'Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite'Ni(As,Sb)S
2.EB.25KalungaitePdAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25Hollingworthite(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MicheneritePdBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25GersdorffiteNiAsSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25MilotaitePdSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TolovkiteIrSbSIso.
2.EB.25'Platarsite'Pt(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25WillyamiteCoSbS
2.EB.25ChangchengiteIrBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KvačekiteNiSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KrutoviteNiAs2Iso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25PadmaitePdBiSeIso. 432
2.EB.25UllmanniteNiSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.30UrvantsevitePd(Bi,Pb)2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.EB.35RheniiteReS2Tric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

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 PaxiteHide

References for PaxiteHide

Localities for PaxiteHide

Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic (TL)
 
  • Hradec Králové Region
    • Trutnov District
Johan (1961) +2 other references
Germany
 
  • Hesse
    • Darmstadt
      • Darmstadt-Dieburg
        • Mühltal
          • Nieder-Beerbach
Belendorff (1986) +1 other reference
USA
 
  • Michigan
    • Keweenaw County
      • Allouez Township
        • Mohawk
Heinrich et al. (2004)
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