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Bowlesite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
PtSnS
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
10.06 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
The mineral honours Dr. John Bowles (Manchester University, UK) for his contributions to ore mineralogy and mineral deposits related to mafic–ultramafic rocks.
Isotypic with cobaltite. Unique combination of (dominant) elements.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
54040
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:54040:7

Similar NamesHide

CowlesiteA valid IMA mineral speciesCaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2O

IMA Classification of BowlesiteHide

Classification of BowlesiteHide

2.BC.55

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.

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

Physical Properties of BowlesiteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
10.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BowlesiteHide

Anisotropism:
weak
Bireflectance:
weak
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
470nm50.3% 51.4%
546nm48.5% 48.9%
589nm47.9% 48.6%
650nm47.8% 48.7%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 51.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
light bluish grey
Internal Reflections:
none
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of BowlesiteHide

Mindat Formula:
PtSnS
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Pt56.406 %
Sn34.323 %
S9.271 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of BowlesiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pca21
Setting:
Pca21
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.12 Å, b = 6.12 Å, c = 6.10 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1 : 1 : 0.997
Unit Cell V:
228.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Due to the small size of bowlesite, the crystal structure was solved and refined from the powder X-ray-diffraction data of synthetic PtSnS.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
7 : Ultramafic igneous rocks
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)
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 BowlesiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
tiny grains (maximum dimension 20 μm)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
mineralogical collections of (1) the Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK, catalogue number BM2019,11 (holotype), and (2) the Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, Calci (Pisa), Italy, catalogue number 19909 (anthropotype)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of BowlesiteHide

Other Language Names for BowlesiteHide

Dutch:Bowlesiet
German:Bowlesit

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BC.PanskyitePd9Ag2Pb2S4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BC.FleetiteCu2RhIrSb2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.BC.ColdwellitePd3Ag2SIso. 432 : P4332
2.BC.'UM2004-45-Se:AgHgPd'(Ag,Cu)6Hg2Pd2Se3
2.BC.05'UM2000-47-S:CuFePdPt'PtPd(Fe,Cu)S
2.BC.05MiassiteRh17S15Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3n
2.BC.05PalladseitePd17Se15Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.BC.10Oosterboschite(Pd,Cu)7Se5Orth.
2.BC.15ChrisstanleyiteAg2Pd3Se4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BC.15JagüéiteCu2Pd3Se4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BC.20KeithconnitePd20Te7Trig. 3 : R3
2.BC.25Vasilite(Pd,Cu)16(S,Te)7Iso. 43m : I43m
2.BC.30TelluropalladinitePd9Te4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BC.35KojonenitePd7-xSnTe2 (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.8)Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BC.35LuberoitePt5Se4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BC.37KravtsovitePdAg2SOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.BC.40Oulankaite(Pd,Pt)5(Cu,Fe)4SnTe2S2Tet.
2.BC.40LukkulaisvaaraitePd14Ag2Te9Tet. 4/m : I4/m
2.BC.42MonchetundraitePd2NiTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ibam
2.BC.45Telargpalite(Pd,Ag)3(Te,Bi)Iso.
2.BC.45ThalhammeritePd9Ag2Bi2S4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BC.47VymazalováitePd3Bi2S2Iso. 23 : I213
2.BC.50TemagamitePd3HgTe3Trig. 3m : P3m1
2.BC.55SopcheiteAg4Pd3Te4Orth.
2.BC.60LaflammeitePd3Pb2S2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.BC.65TischendorfitePd8Hg3Se9Orth.

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 BowlesiteHide

References for BowlesiteHide

Localities for BowlesiteHide

Showing 2 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.
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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.
South Africa (TL)
 
  • North West
    • Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
Miyawaki et al. (2020) +2 other references
      • Rustenburg Local Municipality
        • Rustenburg
Zaccarini +1 other reference
 
and/or  
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