Chalcothallite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Chalcothallite
Formula:
Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4
Colour:
Lead Grey to iron black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
6.6
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
For the chemical composition.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Chalcothallite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
978
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:978:8
IMA Classification of Chalcothallite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(Tl1+,K)2(Cu1+,Cu2+,Fe2+,Ag1+)6.3Sb3-S2-4
Approval year:
1966
First published:
1967
Classification of Chalcothallite
2.BD.40
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
3.2.7.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4
3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4
5.5.16
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccth | 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 Chalcothallite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead Grey to iron black
Comment:
Iridescent tarnish
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=68 - 76 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
VHN on (001)
Tenacity:
Waxy
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {001}
indistinct on {100} {010}
perfect on {001}
indistinct on {100} {010}
Comment:
Plastic, tectonically deformed.
Density:
6.6 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.74 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chalcothallite
Anisotropism:
Distinct in orange to red-browns
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 27.6% | 31.0% |
| 420nm | 27.1% | 30.5% |
| 440nm | 26.5% | 30.1% |
| 460nm | 26.0% | 29.6% |
| 480nm | 25.5% | 29.2% |
| 500nm | 25.1% | 28.8% |
| 520nm | 24.9% | 28.4% |
| 540nm | 24.7% | 28.1% |
| 560nm | 24.6% | 27.7% |
| 580nm | 24.7% | 27.3% |
| 600nm | 24.7% | 26.9% |
| 620nm | 24.8% | 26.6% |
| 640nm | 24.8% | 26.2% |
| 660nm | 24.8% | 26.0% |
| 680nm | 24.9% | 25.7% |
| 700nm | 24.9% | 25.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 31.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy white to light gray with brownish creamy tint
Pleochroism:
Visible
Chemistry of Chalcothallite
Mindat Formula:
Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Pb,Se
Crystallography of Chalcothallite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.827(1) Å, c = 34.280(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 8.957
Unit Cell V:
502.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Lamellar aggregatesd to 2cm
Twinning:
Fine grid of lamellae parallel to (110) and (110)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014710 | Chalcothallite | Makovicky E, Johan Z, Karup-Moller S (1980) New data on bukovite, thalcusite, chalcothallite and rohaite Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 138 122-146 | 1980 | Ilimaussaq massif, Greenland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.447 Å | (100) |
| 1.913 Å | (100) |
| 3.803 Å | (70) |
| 3.015 Å | (70) |
| 3.630 Å | (50) |
| 2.704 Å | (50) |
| 2.580 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Chalcothallite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Lamellar agrgegates tp to 3x3x0.5 cm in ussingite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Ussingite veins in poikilitic sodalite syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Chalcothallite
Other Language Names for Chalcothallite
Dutch:Chalcothalliet
German:Chalkothallit
Chalcothallit
Chalcothallit
Russian:Халькоталлит
Simplified Chinese:硫锑铊铁铜矿
Spanish:Chalcothallita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Ussingite | Na2AlSi3O8OH |
| 3 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Cuprostibite | Cu2(Sb,Tl) |
| 2 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Steenstrupine-(Ce) | Na14Mn2+2Fe3+2Ce6Zr(Si6O18)2(PO4)6(PO3OH)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
| 1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BD. | Vrančiceite | Cu10Hg3S8 |
| 2.BD. | 'UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe' | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 |
| 2.BD.05 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 |
| 2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| 2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 |
| 2.BD.15 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 |
| 2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 |
| 2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S |
| 2.BD.30 | Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 |
| 2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 |
| 2.BD.45 | Sabatierite | TlCu6Se4 |
| 2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
| 2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 |
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 Chalcothallite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-978.html
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References for Chalcothallite
Localities for Chalcothallite
Showing 4 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.
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) | |
| Semenov et al. (1967) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) |
Quick NavTopAbout ChalcothalliteUnique IdentifiersIMA 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
Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland