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Heteromorphite

Big Photo

Kara-Kamar deposit, Gissar Range, Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad), Tajikistan
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Formula:
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
System:MonoclinicColour:Iron black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½ - 3
Name:From the Greek ετερος for "different" and μορφή "form" in allusion to a proposed dimorph.


This mineral is an intermediate member of a homologous series. The thickness of a galena sheet in the structure determines the series member. A very rare mineral.

Feather ores have often been mislabled as Heteromorphite. Please see: http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,7,158675,158759#msg-158759

Classification of Heteromorphite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.21-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.HC.10c

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.6.20.3

3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.6.10

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1886.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Heteromorphite

Type Locality:Caspari Mine, Uentrop, Arnsberg, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Year of Discovery:1849

Physical Properties of Heteromorphite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Iron black
Streak:black
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):5.73 g/cm3

Crystallography of Heteromorphite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.6Å, b = 11.93Å, c = 21.22Å
β = 90.83°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.14 : 1 : 1.779
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,442.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Pyramidal, somewhat elongated in the direction of the pyramid edges. Striated and rounded parallel to [11¯0]. Often distorted or twisted and composed of subparallel individuals. Massive.

Not a feather ore!!!

Chemical Properties of Heteromorphite

Formula:
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
Essential elements:Pb, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Pb, S, Sb
Common Impurities:Zn

Relationship of Heteromorphite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.HC.05bBaumhauerite-2a
Pb
 
11
Ag(As,Sb)
 
18
S
 
36
2.HC.05bBaumhauerite
Pb
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
9
2.HC.05eChabournéite
Tl
 
21-x
Pb
 
2x
(Sb,As)
 
91-x
S
 
147
 (x = 0-17.5)
2.HC.05dDufrénoysite
Pb
 
2
As
 
2
S
 
5
2.HC.05aGuettardite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05cLiveingite
Pb
 
9
As
 
13
S
 
28
2.HC.05fParapierrotite
Tl(Sb,As)
 
5
S
 
8
2.HC.05fPierrotite
Tl
 
2
Sb
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
16
2.HC.05dRathite
Pb
 
8
Pb
 
4-x
(Tl
 
2
As
 
2
)
 
x
(Ag
 
2
As
 
2
)As
 
16
S
 
40
2.HC.05aSartorite
PbAs
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05aTwinnite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05dVeenite
Pb
 
2
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
5
2.HC.05gMarumoite
Pb
 
32
As
 
40
S
 
92
2.HC.10aFülöppite
Pb
 
3
Sb
 
8
S
 
15
2.HC.10bPlagionite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
8
S
 
17
2.HC.10dRayite
Pb
 
8
(Ag,Tl)
 
2
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
2.HC.10dSemseyite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
2.HC.15Boulangerite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
4
S
 
11
2.HC.15Falkmanite
Pb
 
5.4
Sb
 
3.6
S
 
11
2.HC.15Plumosite
2.HC.20Robinsonite
Pb
 
4
Sb
 
6
S
 
13
2.HC.25Moëloite
Pb
 
6
Sb
 
6
S
 
14
(S
 
3
)
2.HC.30Dadsonite
Pb
 
23
Sb
 
25
S
 
60
Cl
2.HC.35Owyheeite
Ag
 
3+x
Pb
 
10-2x
Sb
 
11+x
S
 
28
, -0.13 < x > +0.20
2.HC.35Zoubekite
AgPb
 
4
Sb
 
4
S
 
10
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
5.6.11Launayite
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
5.6.24Cosalite
Pb
 
2
Bi
 
2
S
 
5
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 Heteromorphite

Other Languages:
German:Heteromorphit
Russian:Гетероморфит
Spanish:Heteromorphita

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 Heteromorphite

Reference List:Pisani (1876), C.R.: 83: 747.

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: 465-466.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 151: 193-202.

Internet Links for Heteromorphite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Heteromorphite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Heteromorphite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Heteromorphite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Lavant valley
        • Wolfsberg
          • St Gertraud
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Salzburg
      • St Johann im Pongau
        • Mühlbach am Hochkönig
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Cercado Province
        • Oruro City
    		[MinRec 32:473]
    Bulgaria
     
    • Smolyan Oblast
      • Rhodope Mts
    		[MinRec 22 p.439]
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Fichtelgebirge
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Arnsberg
          • Uentrop
    		Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, volume 151, pp. 193 (1980); Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
      • Siegerland
        • Müsen
    		Weiss. "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
        • Wilnsdorf
          • Wilden
    		Magma 1984(2), 43-49
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Westerwald
        • Wied Iron Spar District
          • Altenkirchen
            • Oberlahr
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Harz Mts
        • Harzgerode
          • Straßberg
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
          • Wolfsberg
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
    		Lapis, 17 (12), 24-33.
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Rudabányai Mts.
        • Rudabánya
    		Szakáll-Gatter-Szendrei:Hungarian Minerals Species,2005
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Gyöngyösoroszi
    		Szakáll & Gatter: 1993
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Abuta-gun
        • Takarada
    		Matsubara, S. & Miyawaki, R. (2006) Catalogue of Japanese Minerals (National Science Museum)
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai (Alay) Range
    		[Lapis 1993:11 p11-24]
        • Fergana Valley
    		[Lapis 11:11-24]
    Romania
     
    • Maramures Co.
      • Baia Mare (Nagybánya)
    		Cook N.J., Damian Gh., New data on "Plumosite" and Other Sulfosalt Minerals from the Herja Vein Deposit, Baia Mare Dist., Romania, Geologica Carphathica, (1997)
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Kremnica Mts
    		Ďuďa R., 1993 : Die mineralien der Gold und Silber - lagersttäte von Kremnitz ( Kremnica) in der Slowakei. Mineralien Welt /Haltern,Nemecko/,5, s. 20 - 32
      • Pohronský Inovec Mts
        • Nová Baňa
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
      • Štiavnica Mts
        • Banská Štiavnica Mining District
          • Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya; Schemnitz)
    Koděra, M., a kol.: Topografická mineralogie Slovenska. Sv. 1 A-Kl, Bratislava, Veda 1986, s. 448-472.
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Medzev
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
        • Rožňava (Rozsnyo; Rosenau) Mining District
    		Pauliš P., Ďuďa R., 2002:Nejznámejší mineralogická nalezište Slovenska. Kuttna, Kutná Hora, 136p
    Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
    • Žilina Region
      • Northern Low Tatra Mts
        • Partizánska Lupča
    		Bakoš, F., Chovan, M., Michálek, J., 2000 : Minerálne zloženie hydrotermálnej Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn, As mineralizácie na SV od Magurky v Nízkych Tatrách. Mineralia Slovaca, 32, 6,497 – 506
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad)
      • Gissar Range
    		Mozgova N.I., Borodaev Yu.S., Senderova V.M. (1967) DAN SSSR, v. 173, p.1418.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Wadebridge District
          • Area East of Wadebridge
            • St Endellion
              • Trewetha
    		No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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