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Mátraite

Formula:
ZnS
System:TrigonalColour:Brownish yellow
Hardness:3½ - 4
A variety of Sphalerite

A densely twinned columnar variety of sphalerite. Discredited as 2006-C.
Originally reported from Gyöngyösoroszi, Mátra Mts., Heves Co., Hungary.

Classification of Mátraite

IMA status:Discredited 2006
Explanation of status:= wurtzite-3R (discredited IMA 2006-C).
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.13-20

2 : Sulphides
C : Sulphides with metal: sulphur, selenium and tellurium = 1:1
13 : Wurtzite series
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.15.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.4.3

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
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Physical Properties of Mátraite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Brownish yellow
Streak:White, yellow
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4

Crystallography of Mátraite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 3.8Å, c = 9.4Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.474
Unit Cell Volume:V 117.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Mátraite

Formula:
ZnS
Essential elements:S, Zn
All elements listed in formula:S, Zn
Common Impurities:Fe

Relationship of Mátraite to other Species

Related Minerals - Strunz Grouping):
2/C.13-Wurtzite Group
2/C.13-10Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
2/C.13-30Greenockite
CdS
2/C.13-40Cadmoselite
CdSe
2/C.13-50Rambergite
MnS
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
3.4.1Niningerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)S
3.4.2Oldhamite
(Ca,Mg)S
3.4.4Sphalerite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)S
3.4.5Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
3.4.6Stilleite
ZnSe
3.4.7Greenockite
CdS
3.4.8Hawleyite
CdS
3.4.9Cadmoselite
CdSe

Other Names for Mátraite

German names:
Matrait
Spanish names:
Matraita

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 Mátraite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1960): 45: 1131.

Acta Mineral.-Petrogr. (Szeged)(2000): 41 (Suppl.): 124.

Burke, Ernest A.J. (2007) A Mass Discreditation of GQN Minerals. Canadian Mineralogist: 44(6): 1557-1560.

Nitta, E., Kimata, M., Hoshino, M., Echigo, T., Hamasaki, S., Nishida, N., Shimizu, M., Akasaka, T. (2008): Crystal chemistry of ZnS minerals formed as high-temperature volcanic sublimates: mátraite identical with sphalerite. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 103, 145-151.

Internet Links for Mátraite

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  • External Links:
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    Localities for Mátraite

    (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.
    Hungary
     
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
    Am Min 45 (1960), 1131
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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