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Sorbyite

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Mineral Co., Nevada, USA
© Martin Patus

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Formula:
CuPb
 
9
(Sb,As)
 
11
S
 
26
System:MonoclinicColour:Lead gray
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:
Named after Henry Clifton Sorby (1826-1908), chemist and geologist, independent research scientist of Sheffield (England) ; a pioneer in the application of physics to explain geological phenomena.


Madocite Group.

Formula redefined by Moëlo et al. (2008) as CuPb9(Sb,As)11S26, but the structure has not been determined.

Classification of Sorbyite

IMA status:Approved 1966
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.20-50
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:3.6.12.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.6.21

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 Sorbyite

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

Occurrences of Sorbyite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal

Physical Properties of Sorbyite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Lead gray
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN50=175 kg/mm2
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}
Density (calculated):5.52 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sorbyite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Space Group Setting:C2/m
Cell Parameters:a = 45.15Å, b = 4.14Å, c = 26.53Å
β = 113.42°
Ratio:a:b:c = 10.906 : 1 : 6.408
Unit Cell Volume:V 4,550.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Equant to thin tabular
Twinning:Irregular lamellae in polished sections

Optical Data of Sorbyite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:White
Pleochroism:Strong

Chemical Properties of Sorbyite

Formula:
CuPb
 
9
(Sb,As)
 
11
S
 
26
Idealised Formula:
Pb
 
19
(Sb,As)
 
20
S
 
49
Essential elements:Cu, Pb, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:As, Cu, Pb, S, Sb

Relationship of Sorbyite 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.30Playfairite
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
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
5.6.12Playfairite
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
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
5.6.22Geocronite
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
 
3-2x
Ag
 
x
Bi
 
2+x
S
 
6
5.6.27Giessenite
Pb
 
27
Cu
 
2
(Bi,Sb)
 
19
S
 
57
5.6.28Platynite
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 Sorbyite

Synonyms:
IMA1966-031IMA1966-032
Other Languages:
German:Sorbyit
Spanish:Sorbyita

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 Sorbyite

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.

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 Sorbyite

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    • Localities for Sorbyite

    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.
    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.
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai Range (Alay Range)
        • Fergana Valley
    		[Lapis 11:11-24]
    USA
     
    • Nevada
    		CanMin 9:191
        • Candelaria District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
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