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Rathite

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Lengenbach Quarry, Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
© Peter Haas

Show Rathite Photos (4)
Formula:
(Pb,Tl)
 
3
As
 
5
S
 
10
System:MonoclinicColour:Silver to lead-gray, ...
Hardness:3
Name:Named after Gerhard vom Rath (1830-1888), Professor of Mineralogy, Bonn, Germany.
This page provides mineralogical data about Rathite.

Classification of Rathite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.25-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.HC.05d

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.7.12.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.7.47

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

Type Locality:Lengenbach Quarry, Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland

Physical Properties of Rathite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Silver to lead-gray, tarnishes iridescent
Streak:Chocolate-brown
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Perfect
{100} perfect.
Parting:On {010}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.33 - 5.41 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.31 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rathite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Morphology:Prismatic to short prismatic and striated [001]
Twinning:On {100} producing polysynthetic pseudo-orthorhombic crystals; also on {3¯01}. Exhibits polysynthetic twin lamellae of irregular thickness.

Optical Data of Rathite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:White
Internal Reflections:Deep red
Pleochroism:Strong

Chemical Properties of Rathite

Formula:
(Pb,Tl)
 
3
As
 
5
S
 
10
Essential elements:As, Pb, S
All elements listed in formula:As, Pb, S, Tl

Relationship of Rathite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.HC.05bBaumhauerite-2a
Pb
 
11
Ag(As,Sb)
 
18
S
 
36
2.HC.05bBaumhauerite
Pb
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
9
2.HC.05dDufrénoysite
Pb
 
2
As
 
2
S
 
5
2.HC.05aGuettardite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05cLiveingite
Pb
 
9
As
 
13
S
 
28
2.HC.05Parapierrotite
Tl(Sb,As)
 
5
S
 
8
2.HC.05Pierrotite
Tl
 
2
Sb
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
16
2.HC.05aSartorite
PbAs
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05aTwinnite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
2.HC.05dVeenite
Pb
 
2
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
5
2.HC.05Marumoite
Pb
 
32
As
 
40
S
 
92
2.HC.15Boulangerite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
4
S
 
11
2.HC.15Falkmanite
Pb
 
5.4
Sb
 
3.6
S
 
11
2.HC.15Plumosite
2.HC.20Robinsonite
Pb
 
4
Sb
 
6
S
 
13
2.HC.25Moëloite
Pb
 
6
Sb
 
6
S
 
14
(S
 
3
)
2.HC.30Dadsonite
Pb
 
23
Sb
 
25
S
 
60
Cl
2.HC.35Fülöppite
Pb
 
3
Sb
 
8
S
 
15
2.HC.35Heteromorphite
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
2.HC.35Owyheeite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
6
S
 
15
2.HC.35Plagionite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
8
S
 
17
2.HC.35Rayite
Pb
 
8
(Ag,Tl)
 
2
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
2.HC.35Semseyite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
5.7.1Seligmannite
PbCuAsS
 
3
5.7.2Bournonite
PbCuSbS
 
3
5.7.3Meneghinite
Pb
 
13
CuSb
 
7
S
 
24
5.7.4Gladite
PbCuBi
 
5
S
 
9
5.7.5Lindströmite
Pb
 
3
Cu
 
3
Bi
 
7
S
 
15
5.7.6Krupkaite
PbCuBi
 
3
S
 
6
5.7.7Hammarite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
2
Bi
 
4
S
 
9
5.7.8Friedrichite
Pb
 
5
Cu
 
5
Bi
 
7
S
 
18
5.7.9Aikinite
PbCuBiS
 
3
5.7.10Nuffieldite
Pb
 
2
Cu(Pb,Bi)Bi
 
2
S
 
7
5.7.11Jaskólskiite
Pb
 
2+x
Cu
 
x
(Sb,Bi)
 
2-x
S
 
6
 x = 0.2
5.7.12Tintinaite
Pb
 
22
Cu
 
4
(Sb,Bi)
 
30
S
 
69
5.7.13Kobellite
Pb
 
22
Cu
 
4
(Bi,Sb)
 
30
S
 
69
5.7.14Proudite
CuPb
 
7.5
Bi
 
9.33
(S,Se)
 
22
5.7.15Nordströmite
CuPb
 
3
Bi
 
7
(Se
 
4
S
 
10
)
5.7.16Watkinsonite
Cu
 
2
PbBi
 
4
(Se,S,Te)
 
8
5.7.17Pekoite
PbCuBi
 
11
(S,Se)
 
18
5.7.18Petrovicite
Cu
 
3
HgPbBiSe
 
5
5.7.19Eclarite
(Cu,Fe)Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
S
 
28
5.7.20Marrite
AgPbAsS
 
3
5.7.21Baumhauerite-2a
Pb
 
11
Ag(As,Sb)
 
18
S
 
36
5.7.22Andorite
PbAgSb
 
3
S
 
6
5.7.23Ramdohrite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
6
Sb
 
11
S
 
24
5.7.24Roshchinite
Ag
 
19
Pb
 
10
Sb
 
51
S
 
96
5.7.25Ourayite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
13
5.7.26Eskimoite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
15
S
 
36
5.7.27Fizélyite
Pb
 
14
Ag
 
5
Sb
 
21
S
 
48
 ?
5.7.28Owyheeite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
6
S
 
15
5.7.29Freieslebenite
AgPbSbS
 
3
5.7.30Diaphorite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
2
Sb
 
3
S
 
8
5.7.31Sterryite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
10
(Sb,As)
 
12
S
 
29
5.7.32Vikingite
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
8
Bi
 
13
S
 
30
5.7.33Zoubekite
AgPb
 
4
Sb
 
4
S
 
10
5.7.34Schirmerite
AgPb
 
2
Bi
 
3
S
 
7
5.7.36Gustavite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
24
5.7.37Kitaibelite
Ag
 
10
PbBi
 
30
S
 
51
5.7.38Treasurite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
15
S
 
32
5.7.39Benjaminite
(Ag,Cu)
 
3
(Bi,Pb)
 
7
S
 
12
5.7.40Lengenbachite
(Ag,Cu)
 
2
Pb
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
13
5.7.41Berryite
Pb
 
3
(Ag,Cu)
 
5
Bi
 
7
S
 
16
5.7.42Neyite
Pb
 
7
(Cu,Ag)
 
2
Bi
 
6
S
 
17
5.7.43Larosite
(Cu,Ag)
 
21
(Pb,Bi)
 
2
S
 
13
5.7.44Cupropavonite
AgCu
 
2
PbBi
 
5
S
 
10
5.7.45Padĕraite
Cu
 
5.9
Ag
 
1.3
Pb
 
1.6
Bi
 
11.2
S
 
22
5.7.46Rayite
Pb
 
8
(Ag,Tl)
 
2
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
5.7.48Hatchite
(PbTl)
 
2
AgAs
 
2
S
 
3

Other Names for Rathite

Synonyms:
ArsenomelaneRathite-alphaRathite IWiltshireite
German names:
RathitRathit I
Russian names:
Ратит
Spanish names:
Rathita

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 Rathite

Reference List:von Waltershausen in Urlaub and Nason (1857), Ann. Phys.: 100: 540.

Baumhauer (1896), Zs. Kr.: 26: 593.

Solly (1911), Mineralogical Magazine: 16: 121.

Lewis (1912) Mineralogical Magazine: 16: 197.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume I: 455-457.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 122: 433-456.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1974): 530.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (2002): 217: 580-590.

Articles/Blogs about Rathite

Internet Links for Rathite

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    Localities for Rathite

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    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.
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    (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.
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Binn Valley
        • Binn
    		Cannon, R., Hensel, H. & Raber, T. (2008): Der Reckibach-Dolomit im Binntal, Schweiz: Mineralbestand und Neufunde. Lapis, 33 (3), 20-28; 50. (in German)
        • Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld)
    		Zeits.Kryst.Min.(1896) 26, 593-602
    Mineral and/or Locality
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