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Potosíite

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Big Photo

San José Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
Pb
 
6
Sn
 
3
FeSb
 
3
S
 
16
System:TriclinicHardness:2½
Name:Named after Potosi, Bolivia.
A variety of Franckeite

A Sn(II)-poor variety franckeite; originally thought to be a separate species.
See also incaite.

Originally reported from Andacaba deposit, Linares Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia.

Classification of Potosíite

IMA status:Discredited 1997
Explanation of status:Sn(II)-poor variety of franckeite.
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.17-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.HF.25b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
F : With SnS and PbS archetype structure units
Dana 8th edition ID:3.1.4.4

3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:6.1.21

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
1 : Sulphostannates and other sulfides containing Sn
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Physical Properties of Potosíite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Potosíite

Crystal System:Triclinic

Chemical Properties of Potosíite

Formula:
Pb
 
6
Sn
 
3
FeSb
 
3
S
 
16
Essential elements:Fe, Pb, S, Sb, Sn
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Pb, S, Sb, Sn
Common Impurities:Ag,In

Relationship of Potosíite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.HF.20Vrbaite
Tl
 
4
Hg
 
3
Sb
 
2
As
 
8
S
 
20
2.HF.25aCylindrite
Pb
 
3
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
14
2.HF.25bFranckeite
Fe
2+
 
(Pb,Sn
2+
 
)
 
6
Sn
4+
2
Sb
 
2
S
 
14
2.HF.25bIncaite
(Pb,Ag)
 
4
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
15
2.HF.25aLévyclaudite
Pb
 
8
Sn
 
7
Cu
 
3
(Bi,Sb)
 
3
S
 
28
2.HF.25bCoiraite
(Pb,Sn)
 
12.5
Sn
 
5
FeAs
 
3
S
 
28
2.HF.25aAbramovite
Pb
 
2
SnInBiS
 
7
2.HF.30Lengenbachite
(Ag,Cu)
 
2
Pb
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
13
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
6.1.1Kuramite
Cu
 
3
SnS
 
4
6.1.2Mohite
Cu
 
2
SnS
 
3
6.1.3Velikite
(Cu,Hg)
 
11
Sn
 
4
S
 
16
6.1.4Hemusite
Cu
 
6
SnMoS
 
8
6.1.5Kiddcreekite
Cu
 
6
SnWS
 
8
6.1.6Stannite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.7Rhodostannite
Cu
 
2
FeSn
 
3
S
 
8
6.1.8Mawsonite
Cu
 
6
Fe
 
2
SnS
 
8
6.1.9Chatkalite
Cu
 
6
FeSn
 
2
S
 
8
6.1.10Ferrokesterite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.11Kesterite
Cu
 
2
(Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
6.1.12Stannoidite
Cu
+
6
Cu
2+
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
3
Sn
 
2
S
 
12
6.1.13Černýite
Cu
 
2
(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
6.1.14Vinciennite
Cu
+
7
Cu
2+
3
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Sn(As,Sb)S
 
16
6.1.15Pirquitasite
Ag
 
2
ZnSnS
 
4
6.1.16Hocartite
Ag
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.17Teallite
(Pb,Sn)SnS
 
2
6.1.18Franckeite
Fe
2+
 
(Pb,Sn
2+
 
)
 
6
Sn
4+
2
Sb
 
2
S
 
14
6.1.19Lévyclaudite
Pb
 
8
Sn
 
7
Cu
 
3
(Bi,Sb)
 
3
S
 
28
6.1.20Cylindrite
Pb
 
3
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
14
6.1.22Sakuraiite
(Cu,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(In,Sn)S
 
4
6.1.23Petrukite
(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)
 
3
(Sn,In)S
 
4
6.1.24Incaite
(Pb,Ag)
 
4
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
15

Other Names for Potosíite

Synonyms:
IMA1980-057
Other Languages:
German:Potosiit
Japanese:ポトシ鉱
Spanish:Potosiita

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 Potosíite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 1249-1250.

Canadian Mineralogist (186): 24: 45.

Moëlo, Y., Makovicky, E., Mozgova, N.N., Jambor, J.L., Cook, N., Pring, A., Paar, W., Nickel, E.H., Graeser, S., Karup-Møller, S.; Balić-Žunić, T.; Mumme, W.G., Vurro, F., Topa, D., Bindi, L., Bente, K., Shimizu, M. (2008): the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalt Subcommittee. Revision of sulfosalt definition and nomenclature. A review of sulfosalts systematics. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20, 7-46.

Internet Links for Potosíite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
  • Potosiite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Potosíite

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Jujuy
      • Rinconada Department
        • Pirquitas Ag-Sn Deposit
    		Amer.Min.(2000) 85, 1066-1075
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Cercado Province
        • Oruro City
    		Alfredo Petrov collection; Excalibur Mineral Co. SEM-EDS analysis
    • Potosí Department
      • José María Linares Province
    		No reference listed
      • Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province)
        • Llallagua
    		Hyrsl, J. & A. Petrov (2006): Famous Mineral Localities: Llallagua, Bolivia. Mineralogical Record. 37: 117-162
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Liard Mining Division
        • Turnagain River area
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Japan
     
    • Kyushu Region
      • Oita Prefecture
        • Ono-gun
    		Shimizu, M. et al. (1992) "Potosiite and incaite from the Hoei Mine, Japan", Mineralogy and Petrology, 46, 2, 155-161
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