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Alloclasite

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Big Photo

Palhal Mine, Branca/Ribeira de Fráguas, Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro District, Portugal
© L.C. 2011

Show Alloclasite Photos (8)



Formula:
Co
 
1-x
Fe
 
x
AsS
(x ≈ 0-0.35)
System:MonoclinicColour:Steel gray to silver
Lustre:MetallicHardness:5
Name:For the Greek άλλος ("allos") for "other" and κλάσις ("klasis"), "to break", because its cleavage was believed to be different from marcasite.
Dimorph of:Glaucodot


See also the chemically very similar Cobaltite and Glaucodot.

Fe content is distinctly higher than that of cobaltite, and the Fe usually occupies about 25% of the (Co,Fe) site (Kingston, 1971).

Classification of Alloclasite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered" 1866
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.22-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.EB.10b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:2.12.6.2

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.10.16

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
10 : Sulphides etc. of Co
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Type Occurrence of Alloclasite

Type Locality:Elizabeth Mine, Oraviţa (Oravicza; Orawitza), Oraviţa-Ciclova Cu-Mo-(W) ore field, Banat Mts, Caraş-Severin Co., Romania
Year of Discovery:1866

Occurrences of Alloclasite

Geological Setting:In calcite or quartz veins of apparently low-temperature, late-stage hydrothermal origin. Also in silicified, recrystallized metamorphic rock.

Physical Properties of Alloclasite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Steel gray to silver
Streak:Nearly black
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=818 - 940 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
perfect on {101}
distinct on {010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.95 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.188 g/cm3

Crystallography of Alloclasite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:P21 {P1 1 21} {P21} {P1 21 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.661Å, b = 5.602Å, c = 3.411Å
β = 90.03°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.832 : 1 : 0.609
Unit Cell Volume:V 89.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals are prismatic parallel [010] , to 5 mm, in columnar to radiating aggregates; commonly massive.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.58 (30)
2.802 (30)
2.750 (100)
2.469 (90)
2.401 (50)
1.817 (70)
1.707 (30)

Optical Data of Alloclasite

Type:Anisotropic
Reflectivity:
400nmR1=49.5%R2= 48.2%
420nmR1=48.7%R2= 48.3%
440nmR1=48.2%R2= 48.6%
460nmR1=47.8%R2= 48.8%
480nmR1=47.6%R2= 49.2%
500nmR1=47.6%R2= 49.7%
520nmR1=47.8%R2= 50.1%
540nmR1=48.0%R2= 50.4%
560nmR1=48.1%R2= 50.5%
580nmR1=48.4%R2= 50.6%
600nmR1=48.6%R2= 50.7%
620nmR1=48.8%R2= 50.7%
640nmR1=49.0%R2= 50.5%
660nmR1=49.1%R2= 50.3%
680nmR1=49.1%R2= 50.1%
700nmR1=49.2%R2= 49.9%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 50.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Chemical Properties of Alloclasite

Formula:
Co
 
1-x
Fe
 
x
AsS


(x ≈ 0-0.35)
Essential elements:As, Co, Fe, S
All elements listed in formula:As, Co, Fe, S
Analytical Data:Elizabeth Mine, Oraviţa (Oravica), Romania.
Co (25.1)
Fe (6.7)
Ni (1.0)
As (47.5)
S (19.9)
Total (100.2)
Empirical Formula:
(Co
 
0.76
Fe
 
0.21
Ni
 
0.03
)As
 
1.13
S
 
1.11
Common Impurities:Ni

Relationship of Alloclasite to other Species

Common Associates:
SphaleriteSilverQuartzGoldGlaucodot
EmplectiteCobaltiteCobaltiteCalciteBismuthinite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.EB.05aAurostibite
AuSb
 
2
2.EB.05bBambollaite
Cu(Se,Te)
 
2
2.EB.05aCattierite
CoS
 
2
2.EB.05aErlichmanite
OsS
 
2
2.EB.05aFukuchilite
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
8
2.EB.05aGeversite
PtSb
 
2
2.EB.05aHauerite
MnS
 
2
2.EB.05aInsizwaite
Pt(Bi,Sb)
 
2
2.EB.05aKrut'aite
CuSe
 
2
2.EB.05aLaurite
RuS
 
2
2.EB.05aPenroseite
(Ni,Co,Cu)Se
 
2
2.EB.05aPyrite
FeS
 
2
2.EB.05aSperrylite
PtAs
 
2
2.EB.05aTrogtalite
CoSe
 
2
2.EB.05aVaesite
NiS
 
2
2.EB.05aVillamaninite
(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S
 
2
2.EB.05aDzharkenite
FeSe
 
2
2.EB.05aGaotaiite
Ir
 
3
Te
 
8
2.EB.10dCostibite
CoSbS
2.EB.10aFerroselite
FeSe
 
2
2.EB.10aFrohbergite
FeTe
 
2
2.EB.10cGlaucodot
(Co
 
0.50
Fe
 
0.50
)AsS
2.EB.10aKullerudite
NiSe
 
2
2.EB.10aMarcasite
FeS
 
2
2.EB.10aMattagamite
CoTe
 
2
2.EB.10eParacostibite
CoSbS
2.EB.10ePararammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.10fOenite
CoSbAs
2.EB.15aAnduoite
(Ru,Os)As
 
2
2.EB.15aClinosafflorite
CoAs
 
2
2.EB.15aLöllingite
FeAs
 
2
2.EB.15aNisbite
NiSb
 
2
2.EB.15aOmeiite
(Os,Ru)As
 
2
2.EB.15cPaxite
CuAs
 
2
2.EB.15aRammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.15aSafflorite
CoAs
 
2
2.EB.15bSeinäjokite
(Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)
 
2
2.EB.20Arsenopyrite
FeAsS
2.EB.20Gudmundite
FeSbS
2.EB.20Osarsite
(Os,Ru)AsS
2.EB.20Ruarsite
(Ru,Os)AsS
2.EB.25Cobaltite
CoAsS
2.EB.25Gersdorffite
NiAsS
2.EB.25Hollingworthite
(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS
2.EB.25Irarsite
(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
2.EB.25Jolliffeite
NiAsSe
2.EB.25Krutovite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.25Maslovite
PtBiTe
2.EB.25Michenerite
PdBiTe
2.EB.25Padmaite
PdBiSe
2.EB.25Platarsite
(Pt,Rh,Ru)AsS
2.EB.25Testibiopalladite
PdTe(Sb,Te)
2.EB.25Tolovkite
IrSbS
2.EB.25Ullmannite
NiSbS
2.EB.25Willyamite
(Co,Ni)SbS
2.EB.25Changchengite
IrBiS
2.EB.25Mayingite
IrBiTe
2.EB.25Hollingsworthite
2.EB.25Kalungaite
PdAsSe
2.EB.25Milotaite
PdSbSe
2.EB.30Urvantsevite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
 
2
2.EB.35Rheniite
ReS
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.10.1Cobaltpentlandite
(Co,Ni,Fe)
 
9
S
 
8
3.10.2Linnaeite
Co
2+
 
Co
3+
2
S
 
4
3.10.3Cattierite
CoS
 
2
3.10.4Freboldite
CoSe
3.10.5Bornhardtite
Co
2+
 
Co
3+
2
Se
 
4
3.10.6Trogtalite
CoSe
 
2
3.10.7Hastite
3.10.8Mattagamite
CoTe
 
2
3.10.9Modderite
(Co,Fe)As
3.10.10Safflorite
CoAs
 
2
3.10.11Clinosafflorite
CoAs
 
2
3.10.12Skutterudite
(Co,Fe,Ni)As
 
2-3
3.10.13Cobaltite
CoAsS
3.10.14Paracostibite
CoSbS
3.10.15Costibite
CoSbS
3.10.17Glaucodot
(Co
 
0.50
Fe
 
0.50
)AsS
3.10.18Carrollite
Cu(Co,Ni)
 
2
S
 
4

Other Names for Alloclasite

Synonyms:
Alloclase
Other Languages:
German:Alloclasit
Alloklas
Russian:Аллоклазит
Simplified Chinese:硫砷钴矿
斜硫砷钴矿
Spanish:Alloclasita

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 Alloclasite

Reference List:

- +
Tschermak (1866), A. Wien, Ber.: 53: 220.

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: 324.

Kingston, P. W. (1971): Alloclasite, cobalt-iron sulpharsenide. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 838-846.

Canadian Mineralogist: (1971): 11: 150.

Maurel, C. & Picot, P. (1973): Mechanism of transformation of alloclasite into cobaltite. Lautaret deposit. Bulletin de la Societe Francaise de Mineralogie et de Cristallographie 96, 292-297.

Scott, J. Douglas; Nowacki, W. (1976): The crystal structure of alloclasite, (CoAsS), and the alloclasite-cobaltite transformation. Canadian Mineralogist 14, 561-566.

Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh & Nichols (1990), Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. I: 10.

Canadian Mineralogist (2001): 39: 831.

Mineralogical Magazine (2002): 66: 385.

H. Yang and R.T. Downs (2008), Crystal structure of glaucodot, (Co,Fe)AsS, and its relationships to marcasite and arsenopyrite, American Mineralogist 93, 1183-1186.

Internet Links for Alloclasite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Alloclasite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Alloclasite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • La Rioja
    		Brodtkorb (2002): Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
    		[MinRec 19 p469-490 - "Sielecki, R: The Mount Isa-Cloncurry mineral field"]
        • Cloncurry district
          • Malbon
    		Lawrence et al (1998). End-Member Beyerite from the Alone Hand Mine, Cloncurry, Queensland. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 4(1): 9-11.
        • Mount Isa district
    		Croxford, N. J. W. (1974): Cobalt mineralization at Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia, with references to Mount Cobalt. Mineralium Deposita 9, 105-115.
        • Selwyn District
    		Croxford, N. J. W. (1974): Cobalt mineralization at Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia, with references to Mount Cobalt. Mineralium Deposita 9, 105-115.
    Bulgaria
     
    • Sofiya Oblast (Sofia Oblast)
      • Botevgrad
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Timiskaming District
        • Cobalt-Gowganda region
    		[www.ontariominerals.com]
            • Casey Township
            • Coleman Township
    		Reiner Mielke
    Reiner Mielke (2009)
    Handbook of Mineralogy; Petruk (1971): The Silver-Arsenide Deposits of the Cobalt-Gowganda Region, Ontario. Can. Mineral. 11, 150-186
          • Gowganda area
            • Nichol Township
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    China
     
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Bayan Nur League (Bayannao'er Prefecture)
        • Urad Rear Banner (Wulate Houqi)
    		Zhaolong Li, Wendou Xu, Yijie Xi, and Xinming Jiang (1981): Geology and Prospecting 17(6), 7-14
    • Yunnan Province
      • Yuxi Prefecture
        • Xinping Co.
    		Yuanren Chen (1976): Geology and Prospecting 12(6), 23-28
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal) District
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65
    Ondruš P, Veselovský F, Gabašová A, Hloušek J, Šrein V, Vavrín I, Skála R, Sejkora J, Drábek M (2003) Primary minerals of the Jáchymov ore district, Journal of the Czech Geological Society 48, 19-147
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Hautes-Alpes
        • Villar d'Arène
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, P.A. Poulain, "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France : Hautes-Alpes", BRGM, 1972
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Pforzheim
          • Würm
    		Lapis, 18 (2), 13-24
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		KOLITSCH, U. (1996): Cobaltit, Skutterudit und Alloklas von der Grube Clara bei Oberwolfach. - Erzgräber 10 (1), 56-59.
    • Hesse
      • Spessart
        • Gelnhausen
          • Bieber
    		Wagner, T., Lorenz, J. (2002) Mineralogy of complex Co-Ni-Bi vein mineralisation, Bieber deposit, Spessart, Germany. Mineral. Mag., 66, 385-407.
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Siegerland
        • Eiserfeld
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
          • Kohlenbach Valley
    		Henrich, M. (2009): Mineralien-Welt 20 (5), 14-27.
        • Gosenbach
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Siegerland
        • Betzdorf
          • Kirchen
    		Golze, R.; Henrich, M.; Hucko, S.; Stötzel, N. (2012): Siegerland & Westerwald. Bergbaugeschichte - Mineralienschätze - Fundorte. 800 S. Bode-Verlag. S.452-58.
          • Schutzbach
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Kerry
      • Killarney
    		S. MORETON, P. DAVIDSON, D. I. GREEN and G. RYBACK (1999) Unusual Supergene Minerals at Muckross Mine, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 17:19-24
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Sassari Province
        • Ozieri
    		Ciriotti, M.E. & Blass, G. (2010): Pot-pourri 2009: identificazioni UKiS AMI Minerali italiani di interesse. Micro (UK Report), 1/2010, 124-127.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kinki Region
        • Nara Prefecture
          • Yoshino-gun
            • Totsukawa village
    		Kingstone (1971) Canadian Mineralogist, 10, 838-846.
        • Wakayama Prefecture
          • Otsuga-mura
            • Nishi-muro-gun
    		Ohnishi et al (2004) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 134.
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Tazenakht
    		S. Weiß: Lapis 31(7/8), 72-73 (2006)
            • Agoudal
    		Georges Favreau collection
    Gunnar Farber and Thomas Witzke (2010) Lapis, 35, #11, 35-36.
    Portugal
     
    • Aveiro District
      • Albergaria-a-Velha
        • Branca/Ribeira de Fráguas
    		Marques de Sá, J. & Leal Gomes, C. (2010): Les mines de cuivre et nickel de Palhal et Telhadela, Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro, Portugal. Le Règne Minéral, 92, 36-47.
    Romania
     
    • Caraş-Severin Co.
      • Banat Mts
        • Oraviţa-Ciclova Cu-Mo-(W) ore field
          • Oraviţa (Oravicza; Orawitza)
    		Tschermak(1866); Can.Min.:11:150(1971) & 14:561(1976).
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Tuva Republic
    		Vinogradova, R. A.; Zakharov, E. P.; Krutov, G. A. (1985): Alloclasite from the Khovu-Aksy deposit (Tuva ASSR). Novye Dannye o Mineralakh 32, 188-191.
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Bashkortostan (Bashkiria) Republic
          • Baymak-Buribay District
    		Melekestseva, I. Yu. (2005): The first discovery of alloclasite in the Urals. Doklady Earth Sciences 400, 105-108.
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Gelnica Co.
    		Pauliš,P.,Ďuďa,R.,2002: Nejzajímavejší mineralogická naletište Slovenska. Kuttna,K.Hora, 136p
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Huelva
        • Alosno
          • Tharsis
            • Tharsis Mines
    		Tornos, F., González Clavijo, E., and Spiro, B. (1998): Mineralium Deposita 33, 150-169.
        • Minas de Riotinto
    		Bocamina, (4), (1999) 50-86.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Penzance
    		[Embrey & Symes, 1987, 39 - "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon"]
          • St Hilary
    		[UKJMM 20:7-37]
      • Cumbria
        • North and Western Region (Cumberland)
          • Braithwaite District
            • Causey Pike
              • Scar Crag
    		BMS Database; Handbook of Mineralogy; R. A. Ixer, C. J. Stanley and D. J. Vaughan (1979) Cobalt-, Nickel-, and Iron-Bearing Sulpharsenides from the North of England. Mineralogical Magazine 43:389-395.
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Bethel Borough
        • McGrath District
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2008, Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1225.
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Mayer
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 102.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Montgomery Co.
        • Marlborough Township
          • Perkiomenville
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    • Washington
      • Snohomish Co.
        • Sultan District
          • Sultan Basin
            • Little Chief Peak
    		Bart Cannon Collection
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