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Playfairite

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Big Photo

Khaidarkan (Chaidarkan) Sb-Hg deposit, Fergana Valley, Alai (Alay) Range, Osh Oblast, Kyrgyzstan
© Brent Thorne 2011




Formula:
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
System:MonoclinicColour:Lead gray to black
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:
Name: Honors John Playfair (1748-1819), Scottish mathematician, physicist, and geologist, Professor of Mathematics and Natural History (1785-1819), University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is best known for his pioneering work on geomorphology.
This page provides mineralogical data about Playfairite.

Classification of Playfairite

IMA status:Approved 1966
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.20-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.LB.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
B : With essential Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.6.4.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.6.12

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
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Type Occurrence of Playfairite

Type Locality:Taylor Pit (Concession XIV; Lot 13), Huntingdon Township, Madoc Area, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada
Year of Discovery:1966

Occurrences of Playfairite

Geological Setting:Dolomitic and calcitic marbles. Coating sulfosalt minerals.

Physical Properties of Playfairite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Lead gray to black
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN50=154 kg/mm2
Cleavage:Perfect
on {100}
Density (calculated):5.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Playfairite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 45.12Å, b = 8.29Å, c = 21.45Å
β = 92.53°
Ratio:a:b:c = 5.443 : 1 : 2.587
Unit Cell Volume:V 8,015.44 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Tabular crystals
Twinning:Very fine twin lamellae

Chemical Properties of Playfairite

Formula:
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
Essential elements:Pb, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Pb, S, Sb
Common Impurities:As

Relationship of Playfairite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.LB.05Miharaite
Cu
 
4
FePbBiS
 
6
2.LB.30Ardaite
Pb
 
19
Sb
 
13
S
 
35
Cl
 
7
2.LB.30Launayite
Pb
 
22
Sb
 
26
S
 
61
2.LB.30Madocite
Pb
 
17
Sb
 
16
S
 
41
2.LB.30Sorbyite
CuPb
 
9
(Sb,As)
 
11
S
 
26
2.LB.30Sterryite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
10
(Sb,As)
 
12
S
 
29
2.LB.35Larosite
(Cu,Ag)
 
21
(Pb,Bi)
 
2
S
 
13
2.LB.40Petrovicite
Cu
 
3
HgPbBiSe
 
5
2.LB.40Mazzettiite
Ag
 
3
HgPbSbTe
 
5
2.LB.45Crerarite
Pt
 
2-x
(Bi,Pb)
 
11
(S,Se)
 
11
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
5.6.10Heteromorphite
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
5.6.11Launayite
Pb
 
22
Sb
 
26
S
 
61
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
CuPb
 
9
(Sb,As)
 
11
S
 
26
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 Playfairite

Synonyms:
IMA1966-019
Other Languages:
German:Playfairit
Spanish:Playfairita

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 Playfairite

Reference List:

- +
JAMBOR, J.L. (1967): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 1. Canadian Mineralogist 9, 7-24.

JAMBOR, J.L. (1967): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 2. Mineral descriptions. Canadian Mineralogist 9, 191-213.

JAMBOR, J.L. (1968): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 3. Syntheses, paragenesis, origin. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 507-521.

JAMBOR, J.L., LAFLAMME, J.H.G. & WALKER, D.A. (1982): A re-examination of the Madoc sulfosalts. Mineralogical Record 13, 93-100.
.

Internet Links for Playfairite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Playfairite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
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  • Fabre Minerals - search for Playfairite specimens
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    • Localities for Playfairite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Hastings Co.
        • Madoc Area
          • Huntingdon Township
    		JAMBOR, J.L. (1967): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 1. Canadian Mineralogist 9, 7-24. JAMBOR, J.L. (1967): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 2. Mineral descriptions. Canadian Mineralogist 9, 191-213. JAMBOR, J.L. (1968): New lead sulfantimonides from Madoc, Ontario. 3. Syntheses, paragenesis, origin. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 507-521. JAMBOR, J.L., LAFLAMME, J.H.G. & WALKER, D.A. (1982): A re-examination of the Madoc sulfosalts. Mineralogical Record 13, 93-100.
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Hautes-Alpes
        • Orpierre
    		Y. Moelo et al. : "Playfairite,(chlorosulfosel de plomb) du gisement des Cougnasses (Hautes Alpes), Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral. Cristallogr. , 1987
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai (Alay) Range
        • Fergana Valley
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Lander Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2012. 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.
    Current server date and time: 4th Nov 2012 13:53:00