Launayite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
CuPb10(Sb,As)12S20
Colour:
Lead-gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
5.83 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by John L. Jambor in 1967 in honor of Louis Auguste Alphonse de Launay (19 July 1860, Paris, France - 30 June 1938, Paris, France) for his contributions to the origins of mineral deposits. De Launay was a professor at the School of Mines in Paris, a geologist, speleologist, writer, biographer, and poet.
This page provides mineralogical data about Launayite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2341
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2341:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0da68feb-20de-464c-b4a1-3f0e71b5faf2
IMA Classification of Launayite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CuPb10(Sb,As)13S20
Approval year:
1966
First published:
1967
Classification of Launayite
2.LB.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
B : With essential Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
B : With essential Pb
3.6.6.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
5.6.11
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Lau | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Lau | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Launayite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead-gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=171 - 197 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100} and {001}
{100} and {001}
Fracture:
Fibrous
Density:
5.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Launayite
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
470nm | 42.6% | 38.6% |
546nm | 43.8% | 36.9% |
589nm | 42.7% | 36.2% |
650nm | 40.9% | 35.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 43.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
White to gray
Chemistry of Launayite
Mindat Formula:
CuPb10(Sb,As)12S20
Common Impurities:
As
Crystallography of Launayite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 42.58 Å, b = 4.01 Å, c = 32.16 Å
β = 102.02°
β = 102.02°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 10.618 : 1 : 8.02
Unit Cell V:
5,370.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Comment:
Space groups C2, Cm or C2/m (pseudocell).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.45 Å | (100) |
4.17 Å | (80) |
2.92 Å | (80) |
2.010 Å | (70) |
3.40 Å | (60) |
2.836 Å | (50) |
3.97 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Launayite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Observed only in polished sections.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, 12176.
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada.
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Marble.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Jambor, J.L. (1967) New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. Part 2 - mineral descriptions. The Canadian Mineralogist: 9: 191-213.
Synonyms of Launayite
Other Language Names for Launayite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.LB. | Ciriottiite | Cu(Cu,Ag)3Pb19(Sb,As)22(As2)S56 |
2.LB. | Hayyanite | Cu5Ag11Pb76Sb71As17(As2+)8S224 |
2.LB.05 | Miharaite | Cu4FePbBiS6 |
2.LB.30 | Ardaite | Pb19Sb13S35Cl7 |
2.LB.30 | Madocite | Pb19(Sb,As)16S43 |
2.LB.30 | Playfairite | Pb16(Sb,As)19S44Cl |
2.LB.30 | Sorbyite | CuPb9(Sb,As)11S26 |
2.LB.30 | Sterryite | Cu(Ag,Cu)3Pb19(Sb,As)22(As-As)S56 |
2.LB.35 | Larosite | (Cu,Ag)21PbBiS13 |
2.LB.40 | Petrovicite | Cu3HgPbBiSe5 |
2.LB.40 | Mazzettiite | Ag3HgPbSbTe5 |
2.LB.45 | Crerarite | Pt2-x(Bi,Pb)11(S,Se)11 |
2.LB.50 | Quijarroite | Cu6HgPb2Bi4Se12 |
2.LB.55 | Znamenskyite | Pb4In2Bi4S13 |
Other Information
Notes:
1:1 HNO3 rapidly tarnishes launayite iridescent, then black.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Launayite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2341.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Launayite
Reference List:
Jambor, John Leslie (1967) New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. Part 2 - mineral descriptions. The Canadian Mineralogist, 9 (2) 191-213
Moëlo, Yves, Makovicky, Emil, Mozgova, Nadejda N., Jambor, John L., Cook, Nigel, Pring, Allan, Paar, Werner, Nickel, Ernest H., Graeser, Stephan, Karup-Møller, Sven, Balic-unic, Tonči, Mumme, William G., Vurro, Filippo, Topa, Dan (2008) Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20 (1) 7-62 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1778
Localities for Launayite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Bodon +2 other references |
Canada (TL) | |
| Jambor (1967) +3 other references |
Indonesia | |
| Nur et al. (2012) |
Slovakia | |
| Adamus B. et all. +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (4) |
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