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Athabascaite

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Big Photo

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:Royal Ontarion Museum
Year of Discovery:1970

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

Optical Data of Athabascaite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong, creamy white to dark blue
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
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
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:

- +
American Mineralogist: 56: 632.

Internet Links for Athabascaite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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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.
    Canada
     
    • Saskatchewan
      • Beaverlodge Region
        • Lake Athabasca
          • Uranium City
    		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
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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.
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