Vasilite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Vasilite
Formula:
(Pd,Cu)16(S,Te)7
Colour:
Steel-gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4½ - 5
Specific Gravity:
8.796 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named by Atanas Y. Atanasov in 1990 in honor of his father, Vasil Atanasov (8 April 1933, Lisets, Lovech, Bulgaria - 27 February 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria), Associate Professor of Mineralogy, Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, Sofia, Bulgaria.
This page provides mineralogical data about Vasilite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4160
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4160:3
Similar Names
| Basilite | A synonym of 'Basiliite' |
IMA Classification of Vasilite
Approved
Approval year:
1989
First published:
1990
Classification of Vasilite
2.BC.25
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
C : With Rh, Pd, Pt, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
C : With Rh, Pd, Pt, etc.
2.16.22.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.12.14
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
12 : Sulphides etc. of the platinum metals
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
12 : Sulphides etc. of the platinum metals
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vs | 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 Vasilite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel-gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
4½ - 5 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN10=467.2 - 505.9 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
8.796(2) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vasilite
Bireflectance:
None
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 420nm | 45.6% | 29.9% |
| 440nm | 43.9% | 28.2% |
| 460nm | 42.0% | 26.3% |
| 480nm | 40.2% | 24.8% |
| 500nm | 38.9% | 23.4% |
| 520nm | 38.2% | 22.6% |
| 540nm | 37.7% | 22.1% |
| 560nm | 37.7% | 22.1% |
| 580nm | 38.0% | 22.4% |
| 600nm | 39.2% | 23.6% |
| 620nm | 40.6% | 25.1% |
| 640nm | 42.3% | 26.8% |
| 660nm | 43.9% | 28.4% |
| 680nm | 45.4% | 30.1% |
| 700nm | 47.1% | 31.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 47.1%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy with a yellowish tint
Internal Reflections:
None
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Reflectivity (additional wavelengths, in air only): (41.2) 470, (37.7) 546, (38.6) 589, (43.1) 650.
Chemistry of Vasilite
Mindat Formula:
(Pd,Cu)16(S,Te)7
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Vasilite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
I43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.922(1) Å
Unit Cell V:
710.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014138 | Vasilite | Matkovic P, El Boragy M, Schubert K (1976) Kristallstruktur von Pd16S7 Journal of the Less-Common Metals 50 165-176 | 1976 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.64 Å | (80) |
| 2.389 Å | (100) |
| 2.100 Å | (80) |
| 1.446 Å | (80) |
| 1.214 Å | (70) |
| 1.010 Å | (70) |
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]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals |
Type Occurrence of Vasilite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregular or platy grains to 100 microns.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Earth and Man, Sofia, Bulgaria (sample No. l0 213).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Heavy mineral concentrates from clastic sediments.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vasilite
Other Language Names for Vasilite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Vasilite associated with Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| 4 photos of Vasilite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 4 photos of Vasilite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 4 photos of Vasilite associated with 'Iron-Platinum alloy' | (Pt,Fe) |
| 1 photo of Vasilite associated with Cuprorhodsite | (Cu+0.5Fe3+0.5)Rh3+2S4 |
| 1 photo of Vasilite associated with Cooperite | PtS |
| 1 photo of Vasilite associated with Native Platinum | Pt |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BC. | Panskyite | Pd9Ag2Pb2S4 |
| 2.BC. | Fleetite | Cu2RhIrSb2 |
| 2.BC. | Coldwellite | Pd3Ag2S |
| 2.BC. | 'UM2004-45-Se:AgHgPd' | (Ag,Cu)6Hg2Pd2Se3 |
| 2.BC.05 | 'UM2000-47-S:CuFePdPt' | PtPd(Fe,Cu)S |
| 2.BC.05 | Miassite | Rh17S15 |
| 2.BC.05 | Palladseite | Pd17Se15 |
| 2.BC.10 | Oosterboschite | (Pd,Cu)7Se5 |
| 2.BC.15 | Chrisstanleyite | Ag2Pd3Se4 |
| 2.BC.15 | Jagüéite | Cu2Pd3Se4 |
| 2.BC.20 | Keithconnite | Pd20Te7 |
| 2.BC.30 | Telluropalladinite | Pd9Te4 |
| 2.BC.35 | Kojonenite | Pd7-xSnTe2 (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) |
| 2.BC.35 | Luberoite | Pt5Se4 |
| 2.BC.37 | Kravtsovite | PdAg2S |
| 2.BC.40 | Oulankaite | (Pd,Pt)5(Cu,Fe)4SnTe2S2 |
| 2.BC.40 | Lukkulaisvaaraite | Pd14Ag2Te9 |
| 2.BC.42 | Monchetundraite | Pd2NiTe2 |
| 2.BC.45 | Telargpalite | (Pd,Ag)3(Te,Bi) |
| 2.BC.45 | Thalhammerite | Pd9Ag2Bi2S4 |
| 2.BC.47 | Vymazalováite | Pd3Bi2S2 |
| 2.BC.50 | Temagamite | Pd3HgTe3 |
| 2.BC.55 | Bowlesite | PtSnS |
| 2.BC.55 | Sopcheite | Ag4Pd3Te4 |
| 2.BC.60 | Laflammeite | Pd3Pb2S2 |
| 2.BC.65 | Tischendorfite | Pd8Hg3Se9 |
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 Vasilite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4160.html
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References for Vasilite
Localities for Vasilite
Showing 18 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.
Bulgaria (TL) | |
| Atanasov (1990) |
Canada | |
| McDonald et al. (2015) |
| Fedortchouk et al. (2010) |
Ecuador | |
| Barron et al. (2025) |
France | |
| Ducluzaux (2022) |
| Ducluzaux (2022) |
Greece | |
| Tsoupas et al. (2008) |
| Kapsiotis (2013) |
Greenland | |
| Mineralogical Magazine et al. (4) +1 other reference |
| Rudashevsky et al. (2023) | |
Russia | |
| Britvin et al. (2001) |
| Tolstykh et al. (2000) |
| Barkov et al. (2023) |
| Barkov et al. (2021) | |
| 33rd International Geological Congress (2008) |
| Okrugin et al. (2023) |
Slovakia | |
| Radvanec et al. (2016) |
South Africa | |
| Melcher et al. (2005) |
Quick NavTopAbout VasiliteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Konstantinovo, Kameno Municipality, Burgas Province, Bulgaria