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Athabascaite

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Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Vysočina Region, Moravia (Mähren; Maehren), Czech Republic
© J. Skupiewski

Show Athabascaite Photos (3)



Formula:
Cu
 
5
Se
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Light grey, bluish-grey ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½
Name:For the type locality
This page provides mineralogical data about Athabascaite.

Classification of Athabascaite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.03-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BA.25

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.16.17.1

2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.1.13

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Athabascaite

Type Locality:Martin Lake Mine, Uranium City, Lake Athabasca, Beaverlodge Region, Saskatchewan, Canada
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National Museum of Canada, Ottawa; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M29432.
Year of Discovery:1970
Geological Setting of type material:As inclusions in and replacements of umangite, as stringers and veinlets in carbonate veins cutting basalt.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
EucairiteClausthaliteUmangiteBerzelianiteKlockmannite
EskeborniteTyrrelliteCopperSilverUraninite
HematitePyriteCalciteBaryteQuartz
Feldspar Group

Occurrences of Athabascaite

Geological Setting:In basaltic rocks

Physical Properties of Athabascaite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Light grey, bluish-grey to white
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN15=78 kg/mm2
Density (calculated):6.59 g/cm3

Crystallography of Athabascaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.227Å, b = 11.982Å, c = 6.441Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.687 : 1 : 0.538
Unit Cell Volume:V 634.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:laths to 100 microns
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.44 (30)
3.235 (100)
3.015 (60)
1.997 (80)
1.893 (50)
1.817 (30)
1.664 (40)
Comments:Martin Lake mine, Canada.

Optical Data of Athabascaite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong, creamy white to dark blue
Reflectivity:
400nmR1=21.2%R2= 25.1%
420nmR1=19.9%R2= 25.2%
440nmR1=19.6%R2= 25.3%
460nmR1=19.3%R2= 25.4%
480nmR1=19.0%R2= 25.5%
500nmR1=18.6%R2= 25.6%
520nmR1=18.3%R2= 25.6%
540nmR1=17.8%R2= 25.5%
560nmR1=17.4%R2= 25.4%
580nmR1=16.9%R2= 25.1%
600nmR1=16.3%R2= 25.0%
620nmR1=15.5%R2= 24.5%
640nmR1=15.0%R2= 24.2%
660nmR1=14.2%R2= 23.7%
680nmR1=13.4%R2= 23.1%
700nmR1=12.5%R2= 22.4%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 25.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Light gray to blue-gray

Chemical Properties of Athabascaite

Formula:
Cu
 
5
Se
 
4
Essential elements:Cu, Se
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Se
Analytical Data:Chaméane mine, France; by electron microprobe.
Ag (0.43)
Cu (50.96)
Se (46.64)
S (2.12)
Total (100.15)
Empirical Formula:
(Cu
 
4.88
Ag
 
0.02
)(Se
 
3.60
S
 
0.40
)
Common Impurities:S

Relationship of Athabascaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.BA.05Chalcocite
Cu
 
2
S
2.BA.05Djurleite
Cu
 
31
S
 
16
2.BA.05Geerite
Cu
 
8
S
 
5
2.BA.05Roxbyite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
2.BA.10Anilite
Cu
 
7
S
 
4
2.BA.10Digenite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
2.BA.15Bornite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
4
2.BA.20Bellidoite
Cu
 
2
Se
2.BA.20Berzelianite
Cu
 
2
Se
2.BA.25Umangite
Cu
 
3
Se
 
2
2.BA.30Rickardite
Cu
 
7
Te
 
5
2.BA.30Weissite
Cu
 
2-x
Te
2.BA.35Acanthite
Ag
 
2
S
2.BA.40Mckinstryite
Ag
 
5-x
Cu
 
3+x
S
 
4
2.BA.40Stromeyerite
AgCuS
2.BA.40dUM2003-13-S:AgAuCu
Ag
 
6
AuCu
 
2
S
 
5
2.BA.45Jalpaite
Ag
 
3
CuS
 
2
2.BA.45Selenojalpaite
Ag
 
3
CuSe
 
2
2.BA.50Eucairite
AgCuSe
2.BA.55Aguilarite
Ag
 
4
SeS
2.BA.55Naumannite
Ag
 
2
Se
2.BA.60Cervelleite
Ag
 
4
TeS
2.BA.60Hessite
Ag
 
2
Te
2.BA.60Chenguodaite
Ag
 
9
Fe
3+
 
Te
 
2
S
 
4
2.BA.65Henryite
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
4
Te
 
4
2.BA.65Stützite
Ag
 
5-x
Te
 
3
, x = 0.24-0.36
2.BA.70Argyrodite
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
2.BA.70Canfieldite
Ag
 
8
SnS
 
6
2.BA.70Putzite
(Cu
 
4.7
Ag
 
3.3
)GeS
 
6
2.BA.75Fischesserite
Ag
 
3
AuSe
 
2
2.BA.75Penzhinite
(Ag,Cu)
 
4
Au(S,Se)
 
4
2.BA.75Petrovskaite
AuAg(S,Se)
2.BA.75Petzite
Ag
 
3
AuTe
 
2
2.BA.75Uytenbogaardtite
Ag
 
3
AuS
 
2
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite
(Au,Ag)
 
4
Cu(Te,Pb)
2.BA.80Bilibinskite
PbCuAu
 
3
Te
 
2
2.BA.80Bogdanovite
(Au,Te,Pb)
 
3
(Cu,Fe)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.1.1Chalcocite
Cu
 
2
S
3.1.2Djurleite
Cu
 
31
S
 
16
3.1.3Digenite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
3.1.4Anilite
Cu
 
7
S
 
4
3.1.5Roxbyite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
3.1.6Spionkopite
Cu
 
39
S
 
28
3.1.7Geerite
Cu
 
8
S
 
5
3.1.8Covellite
CuS
3.1.9Berzelianite
Cu
 
2
Se
3.1.10Bellidoite
Cu
 
2
Se
3.1.11Umangite
Cu
 
3
Se
 
2
3.1.12Yarrowite
Cu
 
9
S
 
8
3.1.14Klockmannite
CuSe
3.1.15Krut'aite
CuSe
 
2
3.1.16Weissite
Cu
 
2-x
Te
3.1.17Rickardite
Cu
 
7
Te
 
5
3.1.18Vulcanite
CuTe
3.1.19Bambollaite
Cu(Se,Te)
 
2
3.1.20Lautite
CuAsS
3.1.21Mgriite
Cu
 
3
AsSe
 
3
3.1.22Cubanite
CuFe
 
2
S
 
3
3.1.23Bornite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
4
3.1.24Fukuchilite
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
8
3.1.25Chalcopyrite
CuFeS
 
2
3.1.26Mooihoekite
Cu
 
9
Fe
 
9
S
 
16
3.1.27Haycockite
Cu
 
4
Fe
 
5
S
 
8
3.1.28Isocubanite
CuFe
 
2
S
 
3
3.1.29Idaite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
6
3.1.30Nukundamite
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
S
 
4
3.1.31Putoranite
Cu
 
9
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
16
3.1.32Orickite
2CuFeS
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
3.1.33Eskebornite
CuFeSe
 
2
3.1.34Chaméanite
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
As(Se,S)
 
4
3.1.35Talnakhite
Cu
 
9
(Fe,Ni)
 
8
S
 
16

Other Names for Athabascaite

Synonyms:
IMA1969-022
Other Languages:
German:Athabascait
Simplified Chinese:斜方硒铜矿
Spanish:Athabascaita

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 Athabascaite

Reference List:

- +
HARRIS, D.C., CABRI, L.J. & KAIMAN, S. (1969): A new copper selenide from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 135-136 (abstr.).

HARRIS, D.C., CABRI, L.J. & KAIMAN, S. (1970): Athabascaite, a new copper selenide mineral from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 207-215.

Internet Links for Athabascaite

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    • Localities for Athabascaite

    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
     
    • La Rioja
    		Excalibur Mineral specimen
    Canada
     
    • Saskatchewan
      • Beaverlodge Region
        • Lake Athabasca
          • Uranium City
    		HARRIS, D.C., CABRI, L.J. & KAIMAN, S. (1969): A new copper selenide from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 135 136 (abstr.). HARRIS, D.C., CABRI, L.J. & KAIMAN, S. (1970): Athabascaite, a new copper selenide mineral from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Mineralogist 10, 207-215. Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    China
     
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Alxa League (Alashan Prefecture)
        • Alxa Right Banner (Alashan Youqi)
    		Jiayong Pan, Chengdong Liu, Guolin Guo, Anping Chen, Fazheng Chen, Zhaobin Yan, Yiping Chen, and Rengui Wu (2009): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 29(1), 44-48
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
      • Plzeň Region
        • Planá u Mariánských Lázní (Plan)
    		Scharmová, M., Scharm, B.: Minerály selenu na uranovém ložisku Zadní Chodov. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1995, roč. 3, s. 43-47.
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Nové Město na Moravě
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
        • Rožná deposit
    		In the collection of Brent Thorne. Obtained from Paleone.pl.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Kolwezi District
          • Kolwezi
    		Can.Min. 46,19-31(2008)
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Sauxillanges
          • Chaméane
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Bad Sachsa
          • Zorge
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Harz
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Sweden
     
    • Östergötland
      • Valdemarsvik
    		Sandström, F. (2007): Skrikerum. Litiofilen 24 (1), 22-38
    Mineral and/or Locality
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