Aleksite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aleksite
Formula:
PbBi2Te2S2
Colour:
In polished section, very pale gray with slight greenish tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.80 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
108
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:108:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a9ff134e-21c3-4a53-9f50-ba6fbabbe131
IMA Classification of Aleksite
Approved
First published:
1978
Classification of Aleksite
2.GC.40a
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2.6.3.2
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
3.7.39
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
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 |
---|---|---|
Alk | 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 Aleksite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
In polished section, very pale gray with slight greenish tint
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=40 - 65 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {0001}
on {0001}
Density:
7.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aleksite
Anisotropism:
weak
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R |
---|---|
460nm | 51.4% |
480nm | 51.8% |
500nm | 52.7% |
520nm | 52.8% |
540nm | 53.2% |
560nm | 53.1% |
580nm | 53.4% |
600nm | 53.9% |
620nm | 53.9% |
640nm | 54.2% |
660nm | 54.5% |
680nm | 54.4% |
700nm | 54.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 54.9%.
Colour in reflected light:
Light pale gray with greenish tint
Chemistry of Aleksite
Mindat Formula:
PbBi2Te2S2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Aleksite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3 1m
Setting:
P3 1m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.238(1) Å, c = 79.76(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 18.82
Unit Cell V:
1,240.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Platy grains to 1mm.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.6027 Å | (18) |
3.3230 Å | (26) |
3.0796 Å | (100) |
2.2464 Å | (51) |
2.1160 Å | (49) |
1.9733 Å | (28) |
1.7447 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Synthetic (ICDD 51-640).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Of hydrothermal origin in sulfide-quartz veins
Type Occurrence of Aleksite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Gosudarst University, Moscow; Moscow University, Moscow; A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 79060.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Lipovetskii, A.G., Borodaev, Y.S., Zav´yalov, E.N. (1978) Aleksite, PbBi2Te2S2, a new mineral. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 107(3): 315-321. [in Russian]
Synonyms of Aleksite
Other Language Names for Aleksite
Relationship of Aleksite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 | Trig. |
Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 | Trig. |
Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 | Hex. |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.GC. | Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 |
2.GC.05 | Hatchite | AgTlPbAs2S5 |
2.GC.05 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 |
2.GC.10 | Sinnerite | Cu6As4S9 |
2.GC.15 | Watanabeite | Cu4(As,Sb)2S5 |
2.GC.20 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 |
2.GC.25 | Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
2.GC.25 | Manganoquadratite | AgMnAsS3 |
2.GC.30 | Smithite | AgAsS2 |
2.GC.35 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
2.GC.35 | Debattistiite | Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 |
2.GC.40b | Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 |
2.GC.40c | Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 |
2.GC.40c | Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
2.GC.40e | Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 |
2.GC.40d | Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 |
2.GC.45 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
2.GC.50 | Mutnovskite | Pb4As2S6ICl |
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 Aleksite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-108.html
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External Links:
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References for Aleksite
Localities for Aleksite
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).
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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| [MinRec 39:476] |
| Mueller +3 other references |
Austria | |
| Cook et al. (2007) |
Belgium | |
| Godfroid (1999) +2 other references |
Brazil | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Bulgaria | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Canada | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
China | |
| Bin Shu et al. (2006) |
| Yu Wang et al. (1991) |
| Wanzhong Li (2011) |
| Jian et al. (2022) |
| Chen et al. (2022) |
| Wang et al. (2006) |
India | |
| Misra et al. (2022) |
Japan | |
| The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Izumino et al. (2015) |
| The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) |
| Int Geol Congr (2008) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Baibatsha et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
Kosovo | |
| Kołodziejczyk et al. (2017) |
Portugal | |
| Fuertes-Fuente et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| www.minerals-of-the carpathians.eu (2009) |
| Szakáll et al. (2010) |
| Cook et al. (2005) |
Russia | |
| Vakh et al. (2016) |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Chernyavsky et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) |
| Lipovetskii et al. (1978) +2 other references |
Spain | |
| Romero Silva +3 other references |
UK | |
| Cook et al. (2007) |
USA | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Castor et al. (2004) |
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