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Guanajuatite

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Santa Catarina Mine, Rancho Calvillo, Santa Rosa, Sierra de Santa Rosa, Mun. de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

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Formula:
Bi
 
2
(Se,S)
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Bluish gray
Hardness:2½ - 3
Name:From the type locality near Guanajuato, Mexico.
Dimorph of:Paraguanajuatite


Easily distinguishable from the more common (in Guanajuato) paraguanajuatite if macroscopic as the latter has platy/foliated aggregates with perfect cleavage whereas guanajuatite resembles minerals of the stibnite group.

Classification of Guanajuatite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.08-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.DB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
Dana 8th edition ID:2.11.2.4

2 : SULFIDES
11 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:3
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.7.19

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
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Type Occurrence of Guanajuatite

Type Locality:Santa Catarina Mine, Rancho Calvillo, Santa Rosa, Sierra de Santa Rosa, Mun. de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1873

Occurrences of Guanajuatite

Geological Setting:Low to moderate temperature hydrothermal deposits

Physical Properties of Guanajuatite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Bluish gray
Streak:Shiny gray
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Hardness (Vickers):VHN10=53 - 82 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct {010}
indistinct {001}
Density (measured):6.25 - 6.98 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.54 g/cm3

Crystallography of Guanajuatite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Space Group Setting:Pnma
Cell Parameters:a = 11.37Å, b = 11.55Å, c = 4.054Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.984 : 1 : 0.351
Unit Cell Volume:V 532.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Acicular crystals, massive (granular, foliated, fibrous)

Optical Data of Guanajuatite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:White with yellowish hue
Pleochroism:Visible

Chemical Properties of Guanajuatite

Formula:
Bi
 
2
(Se,S)
 
3
Essential elements:Bi, Se
All elements listed in formula:Bi, S, Se
Common Impurities:S

Relationship of Guanajuatite to other Species

Common Associates:
BismuthiniteBismuthClausthaliteNevskiteGalena
PyriteCalcite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.DB.05Antimonselite
Sb
 
2
Se
 
3
2.DB.05Bismuthinite
Bi
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.05Metastibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.05Pääkkönenite
Sb
 
2
AsS
 
2
2.DB.05Stibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.10Ottemannite
beta Sn
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.10Suredaite
PbSnS
 
3
2.DB.15Bowieite
(Rh,Ir,Pt)
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.15Kashinite
(Ir,Rh)
 
2
S
 
3
2.DB.20Montbrayite
(Au,Sb)
 
2
Te
 
3
2.DB.25Edgarite
FeNb
 
3
S
 
6
2.DB.30Tarkianite
(Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)
 
4
S
 
8
2.DB.35Cameronite
AgCu
 
7
Te
 
10
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.7.1Patrónite
VS
 
4
3.7.2Duranusite
As
 
4
S
3.7.3Dimorphite
As
 
4
S
 
3
3.7.4Realgar
As
 
4
S
 
4
3.7.5Pararealgar
As
 
4
S
 
4
3.7.6Alacránite
As
 
8
S
 
9
3.7.7Uzonite
As
 
4
S
 
5
3.7.8Orpiment
As
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.9Jeromite
3.7.10Laphamite
As
 
2
(Se,S)
 
3
3.7.11Getchellite
AsSbS
 
3
3.7.12Wakabayashilite
[(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
9
][As
 
4
S
 
5
]
3.7.13Pääkkönenite
Sb
 
2
AsS
 
2
3.7.14Stibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.15Metastibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.16Tellurantimony
Sb
 
2
Te
 
3
3.7.17Bismuthinite
Bi
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.18Nevskite
Bi(Se,S)
3.7.21Ikunolite
Bi
 
4
(S,Se)
 
3
3.7.22Laitakarite
Bi
 
4
Se
 
2
S
3.7.23Poubaite
PbBi
 
2
(Se,Te,S)
 
4
3.7.24Tellurobismuthite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
3
3.7.25Součekite
PbCuBi(S,Se)
 
3
3.7.26Tsumoite
BiTe
3.7.27Pilsenite
Bi
 
4
Te
 
3
3.7.28Hedleyite
Bi
 
7
Te
 
3
3.7.29Tetradymite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
S
3.7.30Joséite
Bi
 
4
TeS
 
2
3.7.31Joséite-B
Bi
 
4
Te
 
2
S
3.7.32Ingodite
Bi
 
2
TeS
3.7.33Sulphotsumoite
Bi
 
3
Te
 
2
S
3.7.34Kawazulite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
Se
3.7.36Skippenite
Bi
 
2
TeSe
 
2
3.7.37Kochkarite
PbBi
 
4
Te
 
7
3.7.38Rucklidgeite
(Bi,Pb)
 
3
Te
 
4
3.7.39Aleksite
PbBi
 
2
Te
 
2
S
 
2
3.7.40Junoite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
8
(S,Se)
 
16

Other Names for Guanajuatite

Synonyms:
Castillite (of Domeyko)FrenzeliteSelenobismutite (of Vernadsky)Selenwismutglanz
Other Languages:
German:Frenzelit
Guanajuatit
Russian:Гуанахуатит
Simplified Chinese:硒铋矿
Spanish:Frenzelita
Guanajuatita

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 Guanajuatite

Reference List:

- +
Hermann (1858) J. pr. Chem.: 75: 448.

Domeyko (1879): 310.

Vernadsky (1922) Mineralogical Magazine: 19: 349.

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: 278-279.

American Mineralogist (1950): 35: 362.

Internet Links for Guanajuatite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Guanajuatite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Guanajuatite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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  • Find Guanajuatite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
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    • Localities for Guanajuatite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Robinson Co.
        • Cobar
          • Kaloogleguy
    		L.B. Gilligan and J.G. Byrnes Cobar Metallogenic Map 1:250 000
    • Northern Territory
      • Tennant Inlier
        • Tennant Creek
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		www.crocoite.com (Steve Sorrell) and refs therein
    Brazil
     
    • Goiás
      • Cavalcante
    		Botelho, N.F., Moura, M.A., Peterson, R.C., Stanley, C.J., Silva, D.V.G. (2006): "Kalungaite, PdAsSe, a new platinum-group mineral from the Buraco do Ouro gold mine, Cavalcante, Goiás State, Brazil", Mineralogical Magazine 70, 123-130
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Mackenzie District
        • Great Bear Lake
    		Rod Tyson, The Port Radium District, Northwest Territories, Canada Mineralogical Record (1989) vol.20. #3, pp 201-208 .
    B. J. Kieller (1965) Mineralogy of the No. 2 Zone Eldorado Mine, Port Radium Northwest Territories. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 13:452
    Chile
     
    • Arica and Parinacota Region
      • Parinacota Province
        • Ticnamar area
    		Econ Geol (1991) 86:1206-1221
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Aude
        • Carcassonne
          • Mas-Cabardès
            • Salsigne
    		F. Boyer and P.Picot : "Sur la Présence de Maldonite (Au2Bi) à Salsigne (Aude)", Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral. Cristallogr., LXXXVI, N°4, 429
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Fichtelgebirge
          • Weißenstadt
            • Großschloppen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Schwandorf
          • Wölsendorf Fluorite mining District
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Bad Lauterberg
    		Koch, H.-P. (2008): Die Minerale der Grube "Frische Lutter" bei Bad Lauterberg, Harz (Teil 1). Aufschluss 59, 65-76.
        • St Andreasberg District
          • St Andreasberg
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Harz
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Mexico
     
    • Aguascalientes
      • Mun. de Tepezalá
        • El Cobre
    		Panczner (1987): 219.
    • Guanajuato
      • Mun. de Guanajuato
        • Sierra de Santa Rosa
          • Rancho Calvillo
    		Panczner(1987):115-292.
          • Santa Rosa
            • Rancho Calvillo
    		American Mineralogist, 35, 337(1950); Panczner (1987): 115-292.
    Romania
     
    • Caraş-Severin Co.
      • Banat Mts
        • Ocna de Fier-Dognecea District
    		http://minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Magadanskaya Oblast'
        • Kolyma River Basin
          • Ducat District
            • Omsukchan
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
      • Primorskiy Kray
    		Rodionov, S.M., Schnaider, A.A., Romanovsky, N.P., and Gurovich, V.G. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(4), 285-296.
      • Sakhalinskaya Oblast'
        • Kuril Islands
          • Iturup Island
    		http://maurice.strahlen.org/kurilles/kurilles.htm
    • Northern Region
      • Karelia Republic
        • Lake Onega
          • Zaonezhie peninsula
            • Velikaya Guba uran-vanadium deposit
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 83, pages 1118, 1998
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Arvika
    		Scherbina, A. S. (1941): The gold-rich chalcocite-bornite deposit of Glava in Vermland, Sweden, and its geological setting. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Geol., Beilage-Band, 76A, 377-458.
    • Västerbotten
      • Boliden
    		No reference listed
    Switzerland
     
    • Zürich
      • Glattfelden
        • Weiach
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 202.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		MinRec 15:5
          • Darwin
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    Hall, Wayne Everett & E.M. Mackevett (1958), Economic geology of the Darwin quadrangle, Inyo County, California: Calif Division of Mines Special Report 51, 77 pp.: 17; Hall, Wayne Everett & Edward M. Mackevett (1963), Geology and ore deposits of the Darwin quadrangle, Inyo County, California: USGS PP 368: 61; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 208.
    • Idaho
      • Lemhi Co.
        • Kirtley Creek District
          • Kirtley Creek
    		R&M 70:4 pp 242-263
    • Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • Hilltop District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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