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Saddlebackite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Pb2Bi2Te2S3
Colour:
Grey, but often appears black due to specular reflection
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
7.61 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Aleksite Group
Name:
Named after the Saddleback greenstone belt, within which the type locality, Boddington gold deposit, is located.
Aleksite Group.

Chemically similar (or identical?) to UM1995-25-S:BiPbTe, though other properties seem to differ strongly.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
7277
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7277:5

IMA Classification of SaddlebackiteHide

Classification of SaddlebackiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.GC.40d

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
Dana 8th ed.:
2.2.7.

2 : SULFIDES
2 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:1

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

Pronunciation of SaddlebackiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of SaddlebackiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey, but often appears black due to specular reflection
Streak:
Blackish
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=42 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
0001 cleavage faces.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.61 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SaddlebackiteHide

Anisotropism:
Grey to yellowish - brownish grey
Bireflectance:
Weakly
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm55.8%52.6%
420nm55.8%53.0%
440nm55.8%53.4%
460nm55.6%53.8%
480nm55.2%54.1%
500nm54.7%54.3%
520nm54.2%54.4%
540nm53.5%54.5%
560nm52.8%54.5%
580nm52.2%54.5%
600nm51.8%54.4%
620nm51.3%54.3%
640nm51.0%54.2%
660nm50.7%54.1%
680nm50.5%53.9%
700nm50.3%53.8%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 55.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Greyish-white
Internal Reflections:
Slight pinkish tint is sometimes observed due, possibly, to internal reflections
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of SaddlebackiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Pb2Bi2Te2S3
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Bi35.308 %
Pb35.007 %
Te21.559 %
S8.126 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Bi, Pb, S, Te - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SaddlebackiteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.230(4) Å, c = 33.43(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 7.903
Unit Cell V:
518.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Comment:
Satisfactory single crystal X-ray diffraction patterns could not be obtained, possibly due to stacking faults or mechanical deformation of the cleavage fragments.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.379 Å(100)
2.572 Å(80)
2.597 Å(55)
1.862 Å(45)
1.849 Å(20)
1.650 Å(20)
1.636 Å(20)
Comments:
Cobalt, Canada. (ICDD 23-88).

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 SaddlebackiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Boddington Mine, Bannister, Boddington Shire, Western Australia, Australia
General Appearance of Type Material:
Millimetre-sized aggregates, platy or flaky habit.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Western Australian Museum in Perth (Catalogue number WAM M1 1997). A representative portion of the hand specimen has also been deposited with the Museum of Victoria, Melbourne (M44644).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AleksiteAltaiteGalenaNative GoldQuartz
Tsumoite
Reference:
Clarke, R.M. (1997) Saddlebackite, Pb2Bi2Te2S3, a new mineral species from the Boddinton gold deposit, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy: 3: 119-124.

Synonyms of SaddlebackiteHide

Other Language Names for SaddlebackiteHide

Relationship of Saddlebackite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Aleksite Group
Other Members of Aleksite Group:
AleksitePbBi2Te2S2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m
BabkinitePb2Bi2(S,Se)3Trig.
ClogauitePbBi4Te4S3Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
HitachiitePb5Bi2Te2S6Trig. 3m : P3m1
KochkaritePbBi4Te7Trig.
PoubaitePbBi2(Se,Te,S)4Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
RucklidgeitePbBi2Te4Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GC.05HatchiteAgTlPbAs2S5Tric. 1 : P1
2.GC.05Wallisite(Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5Tric. 1 : P1
2.GC.10SinneriteCu6As4S9Tric. 1 : P1
2.GC.15WatanabeiteCu4(As,Sb)2S5Orth.
2.GC.20SimoniteTlHgAs3S6Mon. 2/m
2.GC.25QuadratiteAg(Cd,Pb)AsS3Tet. 422 : P4322
2.GC.25ManganoquadratiteAgMnAsS3Tet. 422 : P4322
2.GC.30SmithiteAgAsS2Mon. 2/m
2.GC.35TrechmanniteAgAsS2Trig. 3 : R3
2.GC.35DebattistiiteAg9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 Tric. 1 : P1
2.GC.40aAleksitePbBi2Te2S2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m
2.GC.40cRucklidgeitePbBi2Te4Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.GC.40ClogauitePbBi4Te4S3Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GC.40eBabkinitePb2Bi2(S,Se)3Trig.
2.GC.40bKochkaritePbBi4Te7Trig.
2.GC.40cPoubaitePbBi2(Se,Te,S)4Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.GC.45TvalchrelidzeiteHg3SbAsS3Mon. 2/m
2.GC.50MutnovskitePb4As2S6IClOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

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 SaddlebackiteHide

References for SaddlebackiteHide

Localities for SaddlebackiteHide

Showing 7 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.
Australia (TL)
 
  • Western Australia
    • Boddington Shire
      • Bannister
Clarke (1997) +2 other references
China
 
  • Henan
    • Nanyang
      • Tongbai County
Vikent'ev et al. (2015, June)
    • Sanmenxia
      • Lingbao City
YIN et al. (2019)
Kazakhstan
 
  • Akmola Region
    • Bulandy District
Kovalev et al. (2018)
Romania
 
  • Hunedoara County
    • Certeju de Sus
Cook et al. (2005)
Russia
 
  • Chelyabinsk Oblast
    • Agapovsky District
Kasatkin et al. (2022)
    • Plastovsky District
      • Plast
Nekkhi Murtishi Collection
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