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Kostovite

Big Photo

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia
© Frank Keutsch

Formula:
CuAuTe
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Grayish white
Hardness:2 - 2½
Name:For Professor Ivan Kostov (1913-), Bulgarian Mineralogist
This page provides mineralogical data about Kostovite.

Classification of Kostovite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.16-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.EA.15

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:2.12.13.4

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.3.3

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

Type Locality:Chelopech Au-Cu Mine, Chelopech, Panagyurishte (Panagurishte) Obshchina, Srednogorie (Sredna Gora; Srdnia Gora) Region, Pazardzhik (Pazardjik) Oblast, Bulgaria
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Geologicai Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and at the
University of Sofia, as well as in the Mineralogical Museum of the Academy
of Sciences of the USSR and the Mineragraphic Laboratory of
IGEM (Institute of Geology of the Ore Deposits,P
Year of Discovery:1966
Geological Setting of type material:Replacement copper deposit

Physical Properties of Kostovite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grayish white
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=0180 - 0186 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct in one direction
Density (calculated):07.94 g/cm3

Crystallography of Kostovite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 16.5Å, b = 8.84Å, c = 4.42Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.867 : 1 : 0.5
Unit Cell Volume:V 644.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:20-50 micron equant to slightly elongated grains.
Twinning:Fine lamellar

Optical Data of Kostovite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Distinct: pinkish grayish brown, yellowish gray, brownish gray and reddish hues.
Colour in reflected light:Creamy white
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:light creamy white (lighter)
to light creamy brownish (darker)

Chemical Properties of Kostovite

Formula:
CuAuTe
 
4
Essential elements:Au, Cu, Te
All elements listed in formula:Au, Cu, Te
Common Impurities:Ag,Fe,Sb,S

Relationship of Kostovite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.EA.05Sylvanite
(Au,Ag)
 
2
Te
 
4
2.EA.10Calaverite
AuTe
 
2
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.30Drysdallite
Mo(Se,S)
 
2
2.EA.30Jordisite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Molybdenite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Tungstenite
WS
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.3.1Calaverite
AuTe
 
2
3.3.2Krennerite
(Au,Ag)Te
 
2
3.3.4Uytenbogaardtite
Ag
 
3
AuS
 
2
3.3.5Fischesserite
Ag
 
3
AuSe
 
2
3.3.6Petrovskaite
AuAg(S,Se)
3.3.7Petzite
Ag
 
3
AuTe
 
2
3.3.8Muthmannite
AuAgTe
 
2
3.3.9Sylvanite
(Au,Ag)
 
2
Te
 
4
3.3.10Penzhinite
(Ag,Cu)
 
4
Au(S,Se)
 
4
3.3.11Bezsmertnovite
(Au,Ag)
 
4
Cu(Te,Pb)
3.3.12Bilibinskite
PbCuAu
 
3
Te
 
2
3.3.13Bogdanovite
(Au,Te,Pb)
 
3
(Cu,Fe)
3.3.14Montbrayite
(Au,Sb)
 
2
Te
 
3

Other Names for Kostovite

Synonyms:
IMA1965-002
Other Languages:
German:Kostovit
Spanish:Kostovita

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 Kostovite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 29-36.

Mineralogical Magazine (1990): 54: 617.

Ivan K. Bonev, Rumen Petrunov, Nigel J. Cook, Cristiana L. Ciobanu (2005) Kostovite and its argentian varieties: Deposits and mineral associations. GEOCHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY • 42 • SOFIA • 2005 pp 1-22

Internet Links for Kostovite

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

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
    		reflected light and SEM/EDS study
    Bulgaria
     
    • Pazardzhik (Pazardjik) Oblast
      • Srednogorie (Sredna Gora; Srdnia Gora) Region
        • Panagyurishte (Panagurishte) Obshchina
          • Chelopech
    		Geol. Ore deposit (1966) no. 3, p. 37; Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Econ.Geol.: 83; 395-404
    China
     
    • Shandong Province
      • Linyi Prefecture
        • Pingyi Co.
          • Tongshi complex
    		Anthony, J.W., et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy.
    Finland
     
    • Etelä-Suomen Lääni
      • Orivesi
    		Economic Geology (1996) 91:1335-1353
    Ghana
     
    • Western Region
      • Ashanti gold belt
        • Obuasi
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1990 54 : 617-627
    Greece
     
    • Aegean Islands (Aiyaíon) Department
      • Kykládes Prefecture
        • Cyclade Islands (Cyclades; Kikladhes; Nomos Kikladhon)
          • Tinos Island
    		Ref.: Bernard, H. & Hyrsl, J., Minerals and Their Localities, 2004
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Shizuoka Prefecture
          • Shimoda City
            • Rendaiji
    		Int Geol Congr (2008) Oslo. MRD-09
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
    		Lapis 2001(1), 11-40
    Papua New Guinea
     
    • Eastern Highlands Province
      • Kainantu
    		ESPI, Joseph O., SPRY, Paul G., HAYASHI, Ken-ichiro, KOMURO, Kosei, and MURAKAMI, HiroyasuTHE BILIMOIA AU-BI-W-TE DEPOSIT, KAINANTU, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND CONDITIONS OF FORMATION 2006, Geological Society of America, Philadelphia Annual Meeting (22–25 October 2006)
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Pervomayskiy
    		Lehmann, B., Heinhorst, J., Hein, U., Neumann, M., Weisser, J.D., and Fedesejev, V. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 241-249.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
    		[MinRec 24:421]
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 269; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    • Colorado
      • Lake Co.
        • Alicante
          • Buckeye Gulch
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Uzbekistan
     
    • Tashkent (Toshkent) Viloyati
      • Angren Region
        • Chatkal-Kuraminskii Range
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Mashonaland West
      • Kadoma District
    		Econ.Geol.: 83; 395-404
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 14th Oct 2009 08:12:39