Rucklidgeite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Rucklidgeite
Formula:
PbBi2Te4
Colour:
Silver-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.739
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after John Christopher Rucklidge (15 January 1938, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England – 7 May 2021, Surrey, England), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Toronto, who first found and partially described the mineral from the Robb-Montbray mine, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (Rucklidge 1969). The Robb-Montbray mine is considered one of the type localities for the mineral (Clark 1993).
Aleksite Group.
Rucklidgeite is visually indistinguishable from many other bismuth tellurides. Many specimens sold as rucklidgeite have analysed as something else.
Rucklidgeite is visually indistinguishable from many other bismuth tellurides. Many specimens sold as rucklidgeite have analysed as something else.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3474
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3474:2
IMA Classification of Rucklidgeite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Bi3+2Te2-4
Approval year:
1975
First published:
1977
Classification of Rucklidgeite
2.GC.40c
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2.6.2.7
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
3.7.38
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ruk | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ruk | 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 Rucklidgeite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Rucklidgeite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver-white
Streak:
Lead-gray
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN10=51.6 - 62.9 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on the pinacoid and average on the rhombohedron.
Perfect on the pinacoid and average on the rhombohedron.
Comment:
Said to be brittle, but easily split into flexible but inelastic plates. Fractures easily.
Density:
7.739 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rucklidgeite
Anisotropism:
Distinct, reddish-brown to bluish-grey
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 440nm | 62.0% | 59.8% |
| 480nm | 62.7% | 60.3% |
| 520nm | 63.3% | 60.5% |
| 560nm | 63.8% | 60.8% |
| 600nm | 64.1% | 61.0% |
| 640nm | 65.0% | 61.9% |
| 680nm | 65.9% | 62.9% |
| 700nm | 66.2% | 63.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White with a very weak rose tint. Creamy relative to volynskite but pale rose relative to altaite.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Very weak in air, noticeable in oil.
Chemistry of Rucklidgeite
Mindat Formula:
PbBi2Te4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,Sb
Chemical Analysis
wt%
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| Pb | 16.6 % |
| Bi | 37.4 % |
| Te | 44.0 % |
| Total: | 98 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robb-Montbray Mine, Rouyn-Noranda TE, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec, Canada | EMPA of white grains 80-40 microns in size completely surrounded by chalcopyrite |
Crystallography of Rucklidgeite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Setting:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.422 Å, c = 41.49 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 9.383
Unit Cell V:
702.61 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015894 | Rucklidgeite | Zhukova T B, Zaslavskii A I (1970) X-ray structure determination of PbBi4Te7 Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii 11 462-468 | 1970 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.22 Å | (100) |
| 2.34 Å | (90) |
| 1.473 Å | (60) |
| 1.976 Å | (50) |
| 2.21 Å | (40) |
| 1.822 Å | (40) |
| 1.607 Å | (40) |
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 Rucklidgeite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very similar to tellurobismuthite, occurring as silver-white foliated aggregates intergrown with gold (9 x 13 mm), and as tabular grains (to 0.5 mm) of different orientations bordering arsenopyrite and boulangerite in dolomite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Vernadsky Geological Museum, Moscow, Russia, 50743.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 83005, 87446, vis 245, vis247.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 83005, 87446, vis 245, vis247.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rucklidgeite
Other Language Names for Rucklidgeite
Relationship of Rucklidgeite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Aleksite Group:
| Aleksite | PbBi2Te2S2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m |
| Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 | Trig. |
| Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Hitachiite | Pb5Bi2Te2S6 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
| Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 | Trig. |
| Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 | Hex. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 5 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 4 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Hessite | Ag2Te |
| 4 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Altaite | PbTe |
| 3 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 |
| 2 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 2 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
| 2 photos of Rucklidgeite associated with Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| 1 photo of Rucklidgeite associated with Stützite | Ag5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GC.05 | Hatchite | AgTlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.05 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.10 | Sinnerite | Cu6As4S9 |
| 2.GC.15 | Watanabeite | Cu4(As,Sb)2S5 |
| 2.GC.20 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 |
| 2.GC.25 | Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
| 2.GC.25 | Manganoquadratite | AgMnAsS3 |
| 2.GC.30 | Smithite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Debattistiite | Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 |
| 2.GC.40a | Aleksite | PbBi2Te2S2 |
| 2.GC.40d | Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 |
| 2.GC.40 | Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 |
| 2.GC.40e | Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GC.40b | Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 |
| 2.GC.40c | Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 |
| 2.GC.45 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
| 2.GC.50 | Mutnovskite | Pb4As2S6ICl |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
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 Rucklidgeite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3474.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 Rucklidgeite
Reference List:
Zav'yalov, Ye.N., Begizov, V.D. (1977) Rucklidgeite, (Bi, Pb)3Te4, a new mineral from the Zod and Kochkar gold-ore deposits. International Geology Review, 19 (12) 1451-1456 doi:10.1080/00206817709471159
Fleischer, Michael, Cabri, Louis J. (1978) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 63 (5-6) 598-600 p.599
Bayliss, Peter (1991) Crystal chemistry and crystallography of some minerals in the tetradymite group. American Mineralogist, 76 (1-2) 257-265
IZUMINO, Yuya, NAKASHIMA, Kazuo, NAGASHIMA, Mariko (2014) Cuprobismutite group minerals (cuprobismutite, hodrušhite, kupčíkite and padĕraite), other Bi–sulfosalts and Bi–tellurides from the Obari mine, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 109 (4) 177-190 doi:10.2465/jmps.140129
Localities for Rucklidgeite
Showing 97 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.
Armenia (TL) | |
| Harris et al. (1973) +2 other references |
Australia | |
| |
| Hudson et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
| - (2016) +3 other references |
| McQueen et al. (1990) |
| Schreefel et al. (2025) |
| Hassan et al. (2017) |
| Hassan (2014) | |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2020) |
Canada | |
| British Columbia Ministry of Energy |
| Roberts (2017) |
| Healy et al. (1990) |
| Alexandre (2025) |
| Dube et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| Econ Geol (1987) |
| Wilson et al. (2013) |
| Dana's New Mineralogy +1 other reference |
| Rucklidge (1969) +2 other references |
| Kasprowicz (2023) |
China | |
| Peihua Zhang et al. (2002) +2 other references |
| Huijuan Zhu et al. (1989) |
| Yang et al. (2024) |
| 王鹏 et al. (2016) |
| Liu et al. (2020) |
| preprint | |
| Chang et al. (2022) | |
| Zhenkuan Luo et al. (1992) | |
| Zhenkuan Luo et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Shuzhang Tian et al. (1993) | |
| Taomei Liu (1984) |
| Weining Zhou (1994) |
| Hongbo Xin et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Minqing Cheng et al. (1993) |
| www.portergeo.com.au (2007) |
Cuba | |
| López K Jesús M. et al. (2006) |
| Torró et al. (2016) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pašava et al. (1986) +2 other references |
| Litochleb et al. (2000) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
Finland | |
| Pelayo Barrón Francisco (2020) |
| Hytönen (1999) |
| Kojonen | |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2008. Pampalo (Ward) +1 other reference | |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2007 ... +1 other reference |
| Eilu (2007) | |
| Kinnunen |
| www.gsf.fi (2001) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| |
| Weiß (1990) |
Guyana | |
| Troy Resources |
Hungary | |
| GEODA 2010/1 |
Japan | |
| Kase et al. (1993) |
| Ii et al (1993) |
| IZUMINO et al. (2014) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Filimonova et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Norway | |
| McQueen (1990) +1 other reference |
Papua New Guinea | |
| K92 Mining |
Peru | |
| Alfonso et al. (2023) |
Poland | |
| Mikulski (2005, January) |
| Harańczyk (1983) |
Romania | |
| Ciobanu et al. (2007) +2 other references |
| Cook et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Падучина et al. (2019) |
| Tseluyko et al. (2019) | |
| Izvekova et al. (2021) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2022) |
| Safina et al. (2015) |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2020) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| ZVMO (1977) +1 other reference |
| Spiridonov et al. (the South Urals) |
| Bonev et al. (2005) |
| Kalinin (2021) |
| Kalinin (2021) | |
| Chernyavsky et al. (2012) +1 other reference | |
| Kompanchenko et al. (2019) |
| Zaikov et al. (2006) |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) | |
| V. I. Ivashchenko et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) +3 other references |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2022) |
Sweden | |
| Bonev et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Corkhill et al. (2010) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +2 other references | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Matrix 11:4 pp 181-190 |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Callahan et al. (1995) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Kovalenker (2003) +1 other reference |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2006) +1 other reference | |
Zimbabwe | |
| Wilson et al. (2001) +1 other reference |
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Harrison Gold Mine, Bear Mountain, Harrison Lake, New Westminster Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada