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Cosalite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
Bi
 
2
S
 
5
System:OrthorhombicColour:Grey
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:From the locality at the Cosala Mine, Sinaloa, Mexico.


Appears to contain Cu as an essential constituent, according to Clark (1993) ("Hey's Mineral Index").

Classification of Cosalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.34-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.JB.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
B : Galena derivatives, with Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.5.9.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
5 : 2.5 < ø < 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.6.24

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
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Type Occurrence of Cosalite

Type Locality:Cosalá Mine, Cosalá, Mun. de Cosalá, Sinaloa, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1868

Physical Properties of Cosalite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):6.76 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.86 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cosalite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 19.09Å, b = 23.89Å, c = 4.05Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.799 : 1 : 0.17
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,847.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Prismatic [001]. Frequently elongated to needle-like and capillary forms. Usually massive., in radiating prismatic, fibrous, or feathery aggregates.

Optical Data of Cosalite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Very weak
Colour in reflected light:White
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Very weak.

Chemical Properties of Cosalite

Formula:
Pb
 
2
Bi
 
2
S
 
5
Essential elements:Bi, Pb, S
All elements listed in formula:Bi, Pb, S
Common Impurities:Cu,Fe

Relationship of Cosalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.JB.05Diaphorite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
2
Sb
 
3
S
 
8
2.JB.15Freieslebenite
AgPbSbS
 
3
2.JB.15Marrite
AgPbAsS
 
3
2.JB.20Cannizzarite
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
6
S
 
13
2.JB.20Wittite
Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
(S,Se)
 
27
2.JB.25aJunoite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
8
(S,Se)
 
16
2.JB.25iNeyite
Pb
 
7
(Cu,Ag)
 
2
Bi
 
6
S
 
17
2.JB.25cNordströmite
CuPb
 
3
Bi
 
7
(Se
 
4
S
 
10
)
2.JB.25gNuffieldite
Pb
 
2
Cu(Pb,Bi)Bi
 
2
S
 
7
2.JB.25dProudite
CuPb
 
7.5
Bi
 
9.33
(S,Se)
 
22
2.JB.25hWeibullite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
8
Se
 
7
S
 
11
2.JB.25bFelbertalite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
8
S
 
19
2.JB.25jRouxelite
Cu
 
2
HgPb
 
23
Sb
 
27
S
 
65.5
2.JB.25fAngelaite
Cu
 
2
AgPbBiS
 
4
2.JB.25iIMA2008-053
Cu
 
7
Pb
 
27
Bi
 
25
S
 
68
2.JB.30aGeocronite
Pb
 
14
(Sb,As)
 
6
S
 
23
2.JB.30aJordanite
Pb
 
14
(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
23
2.JB.30bKirkiite
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
3
As
 
3
S
 
19
2.JB.30cTsugaruite
Pb
 
4
As
 
2
S
 
7
2.JB.35cPillaite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
10
S
 
23
ClO
 
0.5
2.JB.35aZinkenite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
22
S
 
42
2.JB.35bScainiite
Pb
 
14
Sb
 
30
S
 
54
O
 
5
2.JB.35dPellouxite
(Cu,Ag)Pb
 
10
Sb
 
12
S
 
27
O(Cl,S)
 
0.6
2.JB.40bAschamalmite
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
2
S
 
9
2.JB.40aBursaite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
4
S
 
11
2.JB.40bEskimoite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
15
S
 
36
2.JB.40aFizélyite
Pb
 
14
Ag
 
5
Sb
 
21
S
 
48
?
2.JB.40aGustavite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
24
2.JB.40aLillianite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
2.JB.40cOurayite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
13
2.JB.40aRamdohrite
(Cd,Mn,Fe)Ag
 
5.5
Pb
 
12
Sb
 
21.5
S
 
48
2.JB.40aRoshchinite
Ag
 
19
Pb
 
10
Sb
 
51
S
 
96
2.JB.40dSchirmerite
AgPb
 
2
Bi
 
3
S
 
7
2.JB.40aTreasurite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
15
S
 
32
2.JB.40aUchucchacuaite
AgMnPb
 
3
Sb
 
5
S
 
12
2.JB.40eUstarasite
Pb(Bi,Sb)
 
6
S
 
10
(?)
2.JB.40aVikingite
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
8
Bi
 
13
S
 
30
2.JB.40aXilingolite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
2.JB.40bHeyrovskýite
Pb
 
10
AgBi
 
5
S
 
18
2.JB.40UM1988-05-S:AgBiCuHgPb
(Hg,Ag,Cu,Pb)
 
5
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
27
2.JB.40UM1988-06-S:AgBiCuHgPb
(Pb,Hg)
 
12
(Cu,Ag)
 
3
(Bi,Sb)
 
10
(S,Te)
 
27
2.JB.40aAndorite IV
Pb
 
18
Ag
 
15
Sb
 
47
S
 
96
2.JB.55Gratonite
Pb
 
9
As
 
4
S
 
15
2.JB.60Marrucciite
Hg
 
3
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
46
2.JB.65Vurroite
Pb
 
20
Sn
 
2
(Bi,As)
 
22
S
 
54
Cl
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.6.1Sartorite
PbAs
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.2Dufrénoysite
Pb
 
2
As
 
2
S
 
5
5.6.3Liveingite
Pb
 
9
As
 
13
S
 
28
5.6.4Baumhauerite
Pb
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
9
5.6.5Gratonite
Pb
 
9
As
 
4
S
 
15
5.6.6Jordanite
Pb
 
14
(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
23
5.6.7Fülöppite
Pb
 
3
Sb
 
8
S
 
15
5.6.8Zinkenite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
22
S
 
42
5.6.9Plagionite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
8
S
 
17
5.6.10Heteromorphite
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
5.6.11Launayite
Pb
 
22
Sb
 
26
S
 
61
5.6.12Playfairite
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
5.6.13Semseyite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
5.6.14Madocite
Pb
 
17
Sb
 
16
S
 
41
5.6.15Boulangerite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
4
S
 
11
5.6.17Robinsonite
Pb
 
4
Sb
 
6
S
 
13
5.6.18Guettardite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.19Twinnite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.20Veenite
Pb
 
2
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
5
5.6.21Sorbyite
Pb
 
19
(Sb,As)
 
20
S
 
49
5.6.22Geocronite
Pb
 
14
(Sb,As)
 
6
S
 
23
5.6.23Galenobismutite
PbBi
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.25Cannizzarite
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
6
S
 
13
5.6.26Lillianite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
5.6.27Giessenite
Pb
 
27
Cu
 
2
(Bi,Sb)
 
19
S
 
57
5.6.28 Platynite
5.6.29Xilingolite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
5.6.30Weibullite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
8
Se
 
7
S
 
11
5.6.31Wittite
Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
(S,Se)
 
27
5.6.32Kirkiite
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
3
As
 
3
S
 
19
5.6.33Ustarasite
Pb(Bi,Sb)
 
6
S
 
10
(?)

Other Names for Cosalite

Synonyms:
BjelkiteBjelkiteaCuprocosaliteRetzbanyite (of Hermann)Rezbanyite (of Hermann)
Vismutsvafladt Svafvelbly
Other Languages:
German:Bleibismutit
Cosalit
Cuprocosalit
Russian:Козалит
Spanish:Bleibismutita
Cosalita
Cuprocosalita
Varieties:
Antimonian CosaliteArgentocosaliteArgentocuprocosalite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cosalite

Reference List:Genth (1868), American Journal of Science: 45: 319.

Lundström (1874), Geol. För. Förh.: 2: 178.

Groth (1874): 18.

Sjögren (1878), Geol. För. Förh.: 4: 107.

Flink (1886), Ak. Stockholm, Öfv. Bihang.: 12(2): 2, 6.

Bancroft (1910) USGS Bulletin 430: 214.

Bastin (1923), USGS Bulletin 735D: 65.

Berry (1939), University of Toronto Stud., Geol. Ser.: 42: 23.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 445-447.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 140: 114-136.

Internet Links for Cosalite

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    Localities for Cosalite

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