Seligmannite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Seligmannite
Gustav Seligmann
Formula:
PbCuAsS3
Colour:
Lead gray, dark lead gray, black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
5.38 - 5.44
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1901 by Heinrich Adolf Baumhauer in honor of Gustav Seligmann [May 31, 1849 Koblenz, Germany - June 28, 1920 Koblenz, Germany] mineral collector, amateur crystallographer, mineralogical author, and banker. Gustav Seligmann was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in mineralogy by the University of Bonn.
Type Locality:
Bournonite Group. Bournonite-Seligmannite Series.
The structure contains isolated and interconnected AsS3 pyramids, as, e.g., in case of baumhauerite, dufrénoysite, gratonite, and sartorite.
The structure contains isolated and interconnected AsS3 pyramids, as, e.g., in case of baumhauerite, dufrénoysite, gratonite, and sartorite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3613
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3613:5
IMA Classification of Seligmannite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu1+Pb2+As3+S2-3
First published:
1901
Classification of Seligmannite
2.GA.50
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
Dana 7th ed.:
3.4.3.1
3.4.3.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.7.1
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Seli | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Sel | 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 Seligmannite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead gray, dark lead gray, black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on the {001}, {100}, and {010}
Indistinct on the {001}, {100}, and {010}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
5.38 - 5.44 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.43 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Seligmannite
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 420nm | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| 440nm | 34.2% | 35.3% |
| 460nm | 33.9% | 35.1% |
| 480nm | 33.5% | 35.0% |
| 500nm | 33.0% | 34.7% |
| 520nm | 32.6% | 34.4% |
| 540nm | 32.3% | 34.0% |
| 560nm | 32.1% | 33.7% |
| 580nm | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 600nm | 31.4% | 32.8% |
| 620nm | 31.0% | 32.4% |
| 640nm | 30.5% | 32.0% |
| 660nm | 29.9% | 31.4% |
| 680nm | 29.4% | 31.0% |
| 700nm | 29.0% | 30.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 36.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Rose-white
Chemistry of Seligmannite
Mindat Formula:
PbCuAsS3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,Zn,Fe,Sb
Crystallography of Seligmannite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pmmn
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.13 Å, b = 8.71 Å, c = 7.63 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.933 : 1 : 0.876
Unit Cell V:
540.85 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals equant; short prismatic [001] to tabular {001}. {110} often with multiple striae (Binntal) parallel [001], [110], [111].
Twinning:
Twinning on {110} very common. Frequently exhibits polysynthetic twinning.
Comment:
Other source gives Pn21m, a = 8.076(2), b = 8.737(5), c = 7.634(3) A.
Crystallographic forms of Seligmannite
Crystal Atlas:
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Seligmannite - Thick tabular {001}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010715 | Seligmannite | Edenharter A, Nowacki W, Takeuchi Y (1970) Verfeinerung der kristallstruktur von bournonit [SbS3)2|Cu(IV)2PB(VII)Pb(VIII)] und von seligmannit [(AsS3)2)|Cu(IV)2Pb(VII)PB(VIII)] Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 131 397-417 |  | 1970 | Lengenbach, Binnatal, Switzerland | 0 | 293 |
| 0010700 | Seligmannite | Takeuchi Y, Haga N (1969) On the crystal structures of seligmannite, PbCuAsS3, and related minerals Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 130 254-260 | | 1969 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.72 Å | (100) |
| 3.85 Å | (80) |
| 1.749 Å | (70) |
| 5.72 Å | (60) |
| 2.56 Å | (50) |
| 1.914 Å | (50) |
| 1.414 Å | (50) |
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 Seligmannite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of Natural History, Fribourg, Switzerland, B618.
Other Language Names for Seligmannite
Relationship of Seligmannite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Bournonite Group:
| Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 | Orth. mm2 : Pmn21 |
| Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 | Orth. |
| Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 | Orth. mm2 |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 40 photos of Seligmannite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 30 photos of Seligmannite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 29 photos of Seligmannite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 28 photos of Seligmannite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 23 photos of Seligmannite associated with Orpiment | As2S3 |
| 14 photos of Seligmannite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 12 photos of Seligmannite associated with Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| 12 photos of Seligmannite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 12 photos of Seligmannite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 10 photos of Seligmannite associated with Hutchinsonite | TlPbAs5S9 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
| 2.GA.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | 'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)' | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GA.50 | 'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)' | PbCuBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
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 Seligmannite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3613.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Seligmannite
Reference List:
Solly, R. H. (1903) Sulpharsenites of lead from the Binnenthal. Part IV.—Seligmannite : with a supplementary note on Baumhauerite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 13 (62) 336-341 doi:10.1180/minmag.1903.013.62.07
Solly, R. H. (1906) Notes on some Binnenthal minerals (Ilmenite, Seligmannite, Marrite, &c.) Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 14 (65) 184-190 doi:10.1180/minmag.1906.014.65.11 p.186
Prior, G. T. (1910) Analyses of Seligmannite, zinciferous Tennantite (‘Binnite’), and Fuchsite from the Lengenbach quarry, Binnenthal. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 15 (72) 385-387 doi:10.1180/minmag.1910.015.72.04
Solly, R. H. (1912) Description of large crystals of Seligmannite and Dufrenoysite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 16 (76) 282-286 doi:10.1180/minmag.1912.016.76.05
Frondel, Clifford (1941) Unit cell and space group of vrbaite (Tl(As,Sb)3S5), seligmannite (CuPbAsS3) and samsonite (Ag4MnSb2S6) American Mineralogist, 26 (1) 25-28
Berry, L. G., Thompson, R. M. (1962) X-Ray Powder Data for Ore Minerals: the Peacock Atlas. GSA Memoir 85. Geological Society of America doi:10.1130/mem85p.172
Takéuchi, Y.; Haga, N. (1969) On the crystal structures of seligmannite, PbCuAsS3, and related minerals. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 130 (1-6). 254-260 doi:10.1524/zkri.1969.130.1-6.254
Edenharter, A., Nowacki, W., Takéuchi, Y. (1970) Verfeinerung der Kristallstruktur von Bournonit [(SbS3)2|Cu2IVPbVIIPbVIII] und von Seligmannit [(AsS3)2|Cu2IVPbVIIPbVIII]. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 131 (1). 397-417 doi:10.1524/zkri.1970.131.1-6.397
Criddle, A. J., Stanley, C. J. (1993) Data file. In Quantitative Data File for Ore Minerals. Springer Netherlands. p.1-635. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-1486-8_1p.505
Sack, Richard O., Ebel, Denton S. (1993) As-Sb Exchange Energies in Tetrahedrite-Tennantite Fahlores and Bournonite-Seligmannite Solid Solutions. Mineralogical Magazine, 57 (389) 635-642 doi:10.1180/minmag.1993.057.389.07
Kharbish, Sherif (2016) Micro-Raman spectroscopic investigations of extremely scarce Pb-As sulfosalt minerals: baumhauerite, dufrénoysite, gratonite, sartorite, and seligmannite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 47 (11). 1360-1366 doi:10.1002/jrs.4973
Apopei, A. I., Damian, G., Buzgar, N., Buzatu, A., Andráš, P., Milovska, S. (2017) The determination of the Sb/As content in natural tetrahedrite–tennantite and bournonite–seligmannite solid solution series by Raman spectroscopy. Mineralogical Magazine, 81 (6) 1439-1456 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.008
Localities for Seligmannite
Showing 93 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.
Algeria | |
| Aouli Essaid (2015) |
Argentina | |
| Putz et al. (2009) |
| ROBL +1 other reference |
| Brodtkorb (2002) | |
Armenia | |
| Kukulyan (1988) |
Australia | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) +3 other references |
| Tufar (1982) +1 other reference |
| Graeser et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
Bolivia | |
| Dill et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
Bulgaria | |
| Sabeva et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Hood et al. (1991) |
| Bence et al. (1963) |
| Richard Gunter Collection. | |
| Harris (1989) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (1991) | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation | |
Chile | |
| Natural History Museum Vienna (seligmannite specimen catalogued in 2002) |
| Carrillo-Rosúa et al. (2008) |
China | |
| Jingqu Yao (1981) |
| Jiang et al. (2025) |
| Anthony |
| Sun et al. (2023) |
Croatia | |
| Šoštarić (2009) |
Czech Republic | |
| Dolníček et al. (2023) |
| Kohout et al. (1995) |
| Scharm +7 other references |
Europe | |
| ATANASSOVA +1 other reference | |
Finland | |
| Pasi Eilu (2002) |
France | |
| |
| Pélisson (1989) |
Germany | |
| undefined +2 other references |
Greece | |
| Uwe Kolitsch and Branko Rieck analyses (see also http://lavrion.gr/Minerals/Updates.html) |
| Nebel et al. (1991) |
| Tzamos +8 other references | |
| Hawthorne et al. (1986) +3 other references |
| Voudouris et al. (2011) | |
| biomine.brgm.fr (2015) |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec. |
| Szakáll et al. (1996) | |
Indonesia | |
| Slater +4 other references |
Iran | |
| Mikaeili et al. (2018) |
| Topa et al. (2013) |
Ireland | |
| Econ Geol (2005) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Maletto et al. (2016) |
| Mangold (2016) |
| |
| Orlandi et al. (1980) +2 other references |
| Orlandi et al. (1976) +2 other references |
| Orlandi et al. (1980) +2 other references |
| Orlandi et al. (1980) +1 other reference | |
| Orlandi et al. (1980) +3 other references |
| Morino et al. (2016) |
Namibia | |
| Gebhard (1999) |
North Macedonia | |
| Serafimovski et al. (2015) |
| Serafimovski et al. (2003) +2 other references |
Norway | |
| Cook (1996) |
| Cook et al. (1998) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Brandl et al. (2025) |
Peru | |
| - (1997) |
| Dr. Jaroslav Hyrsl specimens +2 other references |
| Pérez-Puig Obieta et al. (2013) |
| Burkart-Baumann +2 other references |
| Crowley et al. (1997) |
| Vizquerra Benavides (2006) |
| Dana (1850) |
Romania | |
| Apopei et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Cioacă et al. (2014) | |
| Wagner et al. (1994) +2 other references | |
| Buzatu et al. (2015) |
| Buzatu et al. (2015) | |
Russia | |
| Nordgold |
| webmineral.ru (2018) |
Serbia | |
| Aleksandar Pacevski (2007) |
Slovakia | |
| Ferenc Š. et al. (2019) |
| Sejkora et al. (2011) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Sitzungsber.Akad.Wiss.Berlin (1901) |
| Kolitsch et al. (1996) | |
| Walter Gabriel (2005) |
Taiwan | |
| HENLEY et al. (2012) |
Ukraine | |
| [World of Stones 12:20] |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Gramaccioli |
| Guilbert and Zeihen +2 other references |
| Peter G. Vikre (1998) |
| Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Peter G. Vikre (1998) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Dunn (1995) |
| Collected by and in the collection of ... |
| Palache (1928) |
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Raura mining district, Cajatambo Province, Lima, Peru