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Drysdallite

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Western Province, Zambia
© Sandro Maggia




Formula:
Mo(Se,S)
 
2
System:HexagonalColour:Grayish black with a ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2
Name:For Alan Roy Drysdall, Director, Geological Survey of Zambia
This page provides mineralogical data about Drysdallite.

Classification of Drysdallite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.25-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.EA.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.12.10.2

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.8.9

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
8 : Sulphides etc. of Cr, Mo, W an Mn
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Type Occurrence of Drysdallite

Type Locality:Kampijimpanga, Solwezi, North-Western Province, Zambia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian
Year of Discovery:1973
Geological Setting of type material:Oxidation zone of uranium deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
UraniniteMasuyiteApatite

Physical Properties of Drysdallite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grayish black with a brown tint
Streak:Brownish black
Hardness (Mohs):2
Hardness (Vickers):VHN7=46 - 58 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Waxy
Cleavage:Perfect
on {0001}
Comment:Pliable, difficult to pulverise
Density (calculated):6.248 g/cm3

Crystallography of Drysdallite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/mmc {P63/m 2/m 2/c}
Space Group Setting:P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:a = 3.287(1) Å, c = 12.925(2) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.932
Unit Cell Volume:V 120.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Steep pyramidal crystals, massive
Comment:Space group from synthetic material

Optical Data of Drysdallite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Very strong, light bluish gray to purplish brown
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:White to very light gray, to pinkish gray

Chemical Properties of Drysdallite

Formula:
Mo(Se,S)
 
2
Essential elements:Mo, Se
All elements listed in formula:Mo, S, Se

Relationship of Drysdallite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.EA.05Sylvanite
(Au,Ag)
 
2
Te
 
4
2.EA.10Calaverite
AuTe
 
2
2.EA.15Kostovite
CuAuTe
 
4
2.EA.15Krennerite
(Au,Ag)Te
 
2
2.EA.20Berndtite
SnS
 
2
2.EA.20Kitkaite
NiTeSe
2.EA.20Melonite
NiTe
 
2
2.EA.20Merenskyite
(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)
 
2
2.EA.20Moncheite
(Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)
 
2
2.EA.20Shuangfengite
IrTe
 
2
2.EA.20Sudovikovite
PtSe
 
2
2.EA.25Verbeekite
PdSe
 
2
2.EA.30Jordisite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Molybdenite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Tungstenite
WS
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.8.1Brezinaite
Cr
 
3
S
 
4
3.8.2Caswellsilverite
NaCrS
 
2
3.8.3Kalininite
ZnCr
 
2
S
 
4
3.8.4Daubréelite
Fe
2+
 
Cr
3+
2
S
 
4
3.8.5Heideite
(Fe,Cr)
 
1.15
(Ti,Fe)
 
2
S
 
4
3.8.6Molybdenite
MoS
 
2
3.8.7 Molybdenite-3R
MoS
 
2
3.8.8Jordisite
MoS
 
2
3.8.10Tungstenite
WS
 
2
3.8.12Alabandite
Mn
2+
 
S
3.8.13Hauerite
MnS
 
2
3.8.14Manganoshadlunite
(Mn,Pb,Cd)(Cu,Fe)
 
8
S
 
8

Other Names for Drysdallite

Synonyms:
IMA1973-027
Other Languages:
German:Drysdallit
Russian:Дрисдаллит
Spanish:Drysdallita

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 Drysdallite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 59: 1139.

Internet Links for Drysdallite

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    • Localities for Drysdallite

    The 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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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    China
     
    • Hubei Province
      • Enshi (E'xi) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Enshi Co.
          • Shuanghe
    		Linbo Yao, Zhenmin Gao, Zhusen Yang, Hongbo Long, Xianxian Ye, and Mingzai Wang (2001): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 21(1), 49-52
    Zambia
     
    • North-Western Province
      • Solwezi
    		American Mineralogist: 59: 1139
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