Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Erythrite vs. Skutterudite
Pretty pink and poisonous Erythrite is against its shiny silver and structurally-useful Skutterudite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Roterbärite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
06658800017272473235389.jpg
Adit

Roter Bär Mine, St Andreasberg, Braunlage, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany
Formula:
PdBiCuSe3
Colour:
Greyish white
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
7.23 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Lapieite Group
Name:
Named after the type locality.
Isostructural with:
Lapieite, Lisiguangite, Mückeite
A selenio-salt. Chemically the Se analogue of the (Pmmm-structured) malyshevite. Known synthetic analogue. Unique combination of elements.


Hide all sections | Show all sections

Name EncodingHide

ASCII-7:
Roterbarite

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
53743
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53743:0

IMA Classification of RoterbäriteHide

Classification of RoterbäriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.GA.25

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

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

Physical Properties of RoterbäriteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Greyish white
Streak:
Grey
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
7.23 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of RoterbäriteHide

Anisotropism:
Weak; pale orange brown to grey rotation tints
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm38.8%41.0%
420nm39.6%41.6%
440nm40.7%42.2%
460nm41.8%42.7%
470nm42.4%43.0%
480nm42.9%43.3%
500nm43.8%43.8%
520nm44.6%44.2%
540nm45.3%44.4%
546nm45.4%44.4%
560nm45.8%44.6%
580nm46.5%44.6%
589nm46.8%44.6%
600nm47.0%44.6%
620nm47.4%44.6%
640nm47.6%44.6%
650nm47.7%44.6%
660nm47.8%44.6%
680nm48.1%44.6%
700nm48.2%44.7%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 48.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Dark cream to slightly greenish cream
Internal Reflections:
None
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Dark cream to slightly greenish cream

Chemistry of RoterbäriteHide

Mindat Formula:
PdBiCuSe3
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Se38.465 %
Bi33.935 %
Pd17.281 %
Cu10.319 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Se
Bi
Pd
Cu
Elements listed:
Bi, Cu, Pd, Se - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
S

Crystallography of RoterbäriteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
222 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P212121
Setting:
P212121
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.00 Å, b = 7.99 Å, c = 13.59 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.626 : 1 : 1.701
Unit Cell V:
542.92 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
(Bi,Sb)CuNiSsub>3 structure-type

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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 RoterbäriteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Roter Bär Mine, St Andreasberg, Braunlage, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany
General Appearance of Type Material:
Euhedral to subhedral grains, up to 50 μm in diameter, in clausthalite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
In the mineralogical collections of the Geosammlung, Technische Universität Clausthal, Adolph-Roemer-Straße 2A, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AnkeriteBaryteBohdanowicziteChalcopyriteClausthalite
DolomiteNative GoldHematiteMertieite
Reference:
Vymazalová, Anna, Cabral, Alexandre R., Laufek, František, Ließmann, Wilfried, Stanley, Chris J., Lehmann, Bernd (2020) Roterbärite, PdCuBiSe3, a new mineral species from the Roter Bär mine, Harz Mountains, Germany. Mineralogy and Petrology, 114 (5). 443-451 doi:10.1007/s00710-020-00703-1

Synonyms of RoterbäriteHide

Other Language Names for RoterbäriteHide

Relationship of Roterbärite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Lapieite Group
Other Members of Lapieite Group:
LapieiteNiCuSbS3Orth. 222 : P212121
LisiguangitePtCuBiS3Orth. 222 : P212121
MalyshevitePdCuBiS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
MückeiteNiCu(Bi,Sb)S3Orth. 222 : P212121

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GA.PyradoketositeAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m
2.GA.ArsiccioiteAgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.EckeriteAg2CuAsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.05ProustiteAg3AsS3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.GA.05PyrargyriteAg3SbS3Trig. 3m : R3c
2.GA.10XanthoconiteAg3AsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.10PyrostilpniteAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.GA.15SamsoniteAg4MnSb2S6Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.GA.20BytíziteCu3SbSe3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.GA.20SkinneriteCu3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.GA.20WitticheniteCu3BiS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25LapieiteNiCuSbS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25LisiguangitePtCuBiS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25MalyshevitePdCuBiS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
2.GA.25MückeiteNiCu(Bi,Sb)S3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.30AktashiteCu6Hg3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30NowackiiteCu6Zn3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30ZhengminghuaiteCu6Fe3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30GruzdeviteCu6Hg3Sb4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.35LaffittiteAgHgAsS3Mon. 2/m
2.GA.40'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)'AgFe2TlAs2S6
2.GA.40RouthieriteTl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40StalderiteTl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40RalphcannoniteAgZn2TlAs2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40FerrostalderiteCuFe2TlAs2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.45ErniggliiteTl2SnAs2S6Trig. 3 : P3
2.GA.50CerromojoniteCuPbBiSe3Orth.
2.GA.50SeligmannitePbCuAsS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
2.GA.50SoučekiteCuPbBi(S,Se)3Orth. mm2
2.GA.50'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)'PbCuBiSe3
2.GA.50BournonitePbCuSbS3Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.GA.55EldragóniteCu6BiSe4(Se2) Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)

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 RoterbäriteHide

References for RoterbäriteHide

Localities for RoterbäriteHide

Showing 1 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.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

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.
Germany (TL)
 
  • Lower Saxony
    • Goslar District
      • Braunlage
        • St Andreasberg
Cabral et al. (2015) +4 other references
Quick NavTopName EncodingUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 2, 2026 04:35:34 Page updated: August 26, 2026 21:18:16
Go to top of page