Preisingerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Preisingerite
Prof. Anton Preisinger
Formula:
Bi3(AsO4)2O(OH)
Colour:
White to gray; pale yellowish
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine
Hardness:
3 - 4
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1982 for mineralogist Prof. Dr. Anton Preisinger (1925 - 29 June 2020, Vienna, Austria), University of Vienna, Austria, in recognition of his mineralogical work. He was President of the Austrian Mineralogical Society from 1972 to 1975. At the turn of the year 1977/78 he was appointed full university professor for mineralogy, crystallography and structural chemistry at the Technical University. In the 1980s, he also worked on questions of the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary. Preisinger was a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences in the mathematics and natural sciences class, an honorary member of the Austrian Mineralogical Society and a correspondent for the Federal Geological Institute since 1985.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3278
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3278:6
IMA Classification of Preisingerite
Classification of Preisingerite
8.BO.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
O : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
O : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
41.10.9.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq
20.6.2
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
6 : Arsenates of Bi
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
6 : Arsenates of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Psg | 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 Preisingerite
Sub-Adamantine
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White to gray; pale yellowish
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Preisingerite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 2.13 nβ = 2.16 nγ = 2.195
2V:
Measured: 90° , Calculated: 88°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.065
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.
Dispersion:
r < v
Chemistry of Preisingerite
Mindat Formula:
Bi3(AsO4)2O(OH)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Preisingerite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.99 Å, b = 7.40 Å, c = 6.93 Å
α = 87.82°, β = 115.01°, γ = 111.07°
α = 87.82°, β = 115.01°, γ = 111.07°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.35 : 1 : 0.936
Unit Cell V:
429.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Non-standard unit-cell setting (reduced cell: 6.94, 7.40, 9.45 A, 110.6, 106.7, 92.2°).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000873 | Preisingerite | Bedlivy D, Mereiter K (1982) Preisingerite, Bi3O(OH)(AsO4)2, a new species from San Juan Province, Argentina: Its description and crystal structure American Mineralogist 67 833-840 |  | 1982 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Preisingerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Porous white to grayish white aggregates of tiny tabular triclinic crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria: 1) Holotype (cat. no. L 7689); 2) Cotype, recognised in Nov. 2025 (cat. no. O 3988; formerly in the collection (without cat. no.) of the Institut für Mineralogie, Kristallographie and Strukturchemie of the Technical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria).
Note that the original description did not give any cat. no.(s).
(Updated on Nov. 28, 2025 by Uwe Kolitsch, Curator at the Natural History Museum Vienna.)
Note that the original description did not give any cat. no.(s).
(Updated on Nov. 28, 2025 by Uwe Kolitsch, Curator at the Natural History Museum Vienna.)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Weathering zone of a Fe-Bi-Cu-Zn-Pb-Au-As-S mineralization.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Preisingerite
Other Language Names for Preisingerite
Dutch:Preisingeriet
German:Preisingerit
Russian:Прайзингерит
Simplified Chinese:皮砷铋石
Spanish:Preisingerita
Traditional Chinese:皮砷鉍石
Relationship of Preisingerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Preisingerite Group:
| Petitjeanite | Bi3(PO4)2O(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Schumacherite | Bi3(VO4)2O(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Structurally related to group(s):
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 19 photos of Preisingerite associated with Mixite | BiCu6(AsO4)3(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 15 photos of Preisingerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Preisingerite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 5 photos of Preisingerite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 4 photos of Preisingerite associated with Covellite | CuS |
| 4 photos of Preisingerite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4 photos of Preisingerite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 4 photos of Preisingerite associated with Stolzite | Pb(WO4) |
| 3 photos of Preisingerite associated with Bariopharmacosiderite | Ba0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 3 photos of Preisingerite associated with Bismutoferrite | Fe3+2Bi(SiO4)2(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BO. | Ariegilatite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(PO4)2F2O |
| 8.BO. | Aravaite | Ba2Ca18(SiO4)6(PO4)3(CO3)F3O |
| 8.BO. | Theuerdankite | Ag3AsO4 |
| 8.BO.05 | Nacaphite | Na2Ca(PO4)F |
| 8.BO.10 | Petitjeanite | Bi3(PO4)2O(OH) |
| 8.BO.10 | Schumacherite | Bi3(VO4)2O(OH) |
| 8.BO.15 | Hechtsbergite | Bi2(VO4)O(OH) |
| 8.BO.15 | Smrkovecite | Bi2(PO4)O(OH) |
| 8.BO.15 | Atelestite | Bi2(AsO4)O(OH) |
| 8.BO.20 | Sahlinite | Pb14(AsO4)2O9Cl4 |
| 8.BO.20 | Kombatite | Pb14(VO4)2O9Cl4 |
| 8.BO.25 | Heneuite | CaMg5(CO3)(PO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BO.30 | Nefedovite | Na5Ca4(PO4)4F |
| 8.BO.35 | Kuznetsovite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+[AsO4]Cl |
| 8.BO.40 | Artsmithite | [Hg2]2+2Al(PO4)1.74(OH)1.78 |
| 8.BO.45 | Schlegelite | Bi7(AsO4)3(MoO4)2O4 |
| 8.BO.50 | Hereroite | [Pb32(O,◻)21](AsO4)2[(Si,As,V,Mo)O4]2Cl10 |
| 8.BO.50 | Erikjonssonite | (Pb32O21)[(V,Si,Mo,As)O4]4Cl9 |
| 8.BO.55 | Rudabányaite | (Ag2Hg2)(AsO4)Cl |
| 8.BO.60 | Segerstromite | Ca3(As5+O4)2[As3+(OH)3]2 |
| 8.BO.65 | Wiklundite | Pb2(Mn2+,Zn)3(Fe3+,Mn2+)2(Mn2+,Mg)19(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]6(OH)18Cl6 |
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 Preisingerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3278.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Preisingerite
Localities for Preisingerite
Showing 69 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 | |
| Lapis 8 (4) |
| Bedlivy et al. (1982) +3 other references | |
Australia | |
| Rankin et al. (2002) |
| Sharpe et al. (2004) |
| R Bottrill |
Austria | |
| Brandstätter et al. (2006) |
| Putz (2007) |
Bolivia | |
| Jaroslav Hyrsl specimen and analysis +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS |
Czech Republic | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| |
| Sejkora et al. (2006) |
| Sejkora et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| Sejkora et al. (2019) |
| Sejkora (1994) +1 other reference |
Finland | |
| Finder Joel Dyer |
France | |
| Lebocey et al. (2010) |
| Patrice Queneau Collection. Visual ... |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Blass et al. (1992) +2 other references |
| Slotta (2004) |
| |
| |
| Mandarino (1996) | |
| Dunn et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
| Walenta (1994) |
| 90. +1 other reference |
| 90. +1 other reference | |
| Mandarino (1996) |
| S Wolfsried collection |
| Collection of Steffen Michalski | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) |
| Wittern (2001) | |
| Schlegel et al. (1996) | |
| Schlegel (2002) +1 other reference |
| Schlegel et al. (1996) +1 other reference | |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Witzke et al. (2001) |
Greece | |
| Solomos et al. (2004) |
| Rieck et al. (2018) | |
Italy | |
| ini A. (2013) |
Japan | |
| Ohnishi (2007) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2020) |
Portugal | |
| Alves (2017) |
| Alves (n.d.) |
Russia | |
| Petrochenkov et al. (2011) |
| Krinov D.I. et al. (2011) |
| Kazachenko et al. (2021) |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2018, June) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
| Ko Jansen collection |
| Sainz de Baranda Graf et al. (2023) |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
| Calvo (2015) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Rumsey (2007) |
USA | |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +2 other references | |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Collected by and in the collection of ... +1 other reference | |
| Chuck Adan Collection | |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany