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Atheneite

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Itabira, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
© 2007, JGW

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Formula:
(Pd,Hg)
 
3
As
System:HexagonalColour:Grey
Lustre:MetallicHardness:5
Name:
For Greek goddes Pallas Athena, in allusion to it's palladium content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Atheneite.

Classification of Atheneite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/A.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.AC.05a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
C : Alloys of metalloids with PGE
Dana 8th edition ID:2.2.4.1

2 : SULFIDES
2 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.12.26

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

Type Locality:Itabira, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
Year of Discovery:1974
Geological Setting of type material:Placer

Physical Properties of Atheneite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=419 - 442 kg/mm2
Density (measured):10.2 g/cm3
Density (calculated):10.16 g/cm3

Crystallography of Atheneite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P6/mmm {P6m 2/m 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 6.798Å, c = 3.483Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.512
Unit Cell Volume:V 139.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Blebs

Optical Data of Atheneite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Distinct
Colour in reflected light:White with a bluish tint
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Pale yellow-white to bluish gray-white

Chemical Properties of Atheneite

Formula:
(Pd,Hg)
 
3
As
Essential elements:As, Pd
All elements listed in formula:As, Hg, Pd
Common Impurities:Au,Cu,Sb

Relationship of Atheneite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.AC.05bVincentite
Pd
 
3
As
2.AC.10cArsenopalladinite
Pd
 
8
(As,Sb)
 
3
2.AC.10bMertieite-II
Pd
 
8
(Sb,As)
 
3
2.AC.10aStillwaterite
Pd
 
8
As
 
3
2.AC.15aIsomertieite
Pd
 
11
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
2.AC.15bMertieite-I
Pd
 
11
(Sb,As)
 
4
2.AC.15aMiessiite
Pd
 
11
Te
 
2
Se
 
2
2.AC.20bPalarstanide
Pd
 
8
(As,Sn)
 
3
2.AC.20aStibiopalladinite
Pd
 
5
Sb
 
2
2.AC.20cMenshikovite
Pd
 
3
Ni
 
2
As
 
3
2.AC.25eMajakite
PdNiAs
2.AC.25aPalladoarsenide
Pd
 
2
As
2.AC.25fPalladobismutharsenide
Pd
 
2
(As,Bi)
2.AC.25cPalladodymite
(Pd,Rh)
 
2
As
2.AC.25bRhodarsenide
(Rh,Pd)
 
2
As
2.AC.25dNaldrettite
Pd
 
2
Sb
2.AC.30UM1999-02-As:NiRh
(Rh,Ni)
 
7
As
 
4
2.AC.30Polkanovite
Rh
 
12
As
 
7
2.AC.35aGenkinite
(Pt,Pd,Rh)
 
4
Sb
 
3
2.AC.35bUngavaite
Pd
 
4
Sb
 
3
2.AC.40Polarite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
2.AC.45cBorishanskiite
Pd
 
1+x
(As,Pb)
 
2
 , x = 0-0.2
2.AC.45aFroodite
α-PdBi
 
2
2.AC.45bIridarsenite
(Ir,Ru)As
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.12.1Seinäjokite
(Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)
 
2
3.12.2Laurite
RuS
 
2
3.12.3Ruthenarsenite
(Ru,Ni)As
3.12.4Anduoite
(Ru,Os)As
 
2
3.12.5Ruarsite
(Ru,Os)AsS
3.12.6Xingzhongite
(Pb,Cu,Fe)(Ir,Pt,Rh)
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.7Rhodplumsite
Rh
 
3
Pb
 
2
S
 
2
3.12.8Cuprorhodsite
(Cu,Fe)Rh
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.9Konderite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Rh,Pt,Ir)
 
8
S
 
16
3.12.10Bowieite
(Rh,Ir,Pt)
 
2
S
 
3
3.12.11Cherepanovite
RhAs
3.12.12Hollingworthite
(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS
3.12.13Vysotskite
(Pd,Ni)S
3.12.14Vasilite
(Pd,Cu)
 
16
(S,Te)
 
7
3.12.15Palladseite
Pd
 
17
Se
 
15
3.12.16Oosterboschite
(Pd,Cu)
 
7
Se
 
5
3.12.17Telluropalladinite
Pd
 
9
Te
 
4
3.12.18Temagamite
Pd
 
3
HgTe
 
3
3.12.19Sopcheite
Ag
 
4
Pd
 
3
Te
 
4
3.12.20Michenerite
PdBiTe
3.12.21Kotulskite
Pd(Te,Bi)
 
1-2
3.12.22Telargpalite
(Pd,Ag)
 
3
(Te,Bi)
3.12.23Merenskyite
(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)
 
2
3.12.24Palladoarsenide
Pd
 
2
As
3.12.25Stillwaterite
Pd
 
8
As
 
3
3.12.27Majakite
PdNiAs
3.12.28Palarstanide
Pd
 
8
(As,Sn)
 
3
3.12.29Arsenopalladinite
Pd
 
8
(As,Sb)
 
3
3.12.30Vincentite
Pd
 
3
As
3.12.31Palladobismutharsenide
Pd
 
2
(As,Bi)
3.12.32Stibiopalladinite
Pd
 
5
Sb
 
2
3.12.33Hexatestibiopanickelite
Ni(Te,Sb)
3.12.34Sudburyite
(Pd,Ni)Sb
3.12.35Testibiopalladite
PdTe(Sb,Te)
3.12.36Borovskite
Pd
 
3
SbTe
 
4
3.12.37Isomertieite
Pd
 
11
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
3.12.38Mertieite-I
Pd
 
11
(Sb,As)
 
4
3.12.39Mertieite-II
Pd
 
8
(Sb,As)
 
3
3.12.40Sobolevskite
PdBi
3.12.41Froodite
α-PdBi
 
2
3.12.42Polarite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
3.12.43Urvantsevite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
 
2
3.12.44Cooperite
(Pt,Pd,Ni)S
3.12.45Braggite
(Pt,Pd,Ni)S
3.12.46Kharaelakhite
(Pt,Cu,Pb,Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
3.12.47Malanite
Cu(Pt
3+
 
,Ir
3+
 
)
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.48Moncheite
(Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)
 
2
3.12.49Maslovite
PtBiTe
3.12.50Sperrylite
PtAs
 
2
3.12.51Platarsite
(Pt,Rh,Ru)AsS
3.12.52Geversite
PtSb
 
2
3.12.53Daomanite
CuPtAsS
 
2
3.12.54Genkinite
(Pt,Pd,Rh)
 
4
Sb
 
3
3.12.55Stumpflite
Pt(Sb,Bi)
3.12.56Insizwaite
Pt(Bi,Sb)
 
2
3.12.57Erlichmanite
OsS
 
2
3.12.58Omeiite
(Os,Ru)As
 
2
3.12.59Osarsite
(Os,Ru)AsS
3.12.60Kashinite
(Ir,Rh)
 
2
S
 
3
3.12.61Inaglyite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Ir,Pt)
 
8
S
 
16
3.12.62Cuproiridsite
(Cu,Fe)Ir
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.63Iridarsenite
(Ir,Ru)As
 
2
3.12.64Irarsite
(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
3.12.65Tolovkite
IrSbS

Other Names for Atheneite

Synonyms:
IMA1973-050
Other Languages:
German:Atheneit
Spanish:Atheneita

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 Atheneite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 59: 1330.

Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 528-543.

Internet Links for Atheneite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Atheneite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Atheneite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Atheneite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Brazil
     
    • North Region
      • Pará
        • Carajás mineral province
          • Curionópolis
    		Villas, R.N., and Dias Santos, M. (2001): Mineralium Deposita 36, 300-331
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Iron Quadrangle
    		Min.Mag.(1974) 39, 528-543
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
            • Dovyren Highlands
    		Rudashevskiy N.S., Krecer D.A., Orsoev D.A., Kislov E.V. (2003) Palladium-platinum mineralization in vein Cu-Ni-ores of Yoko-Dovyrenskiy laiered massif, - DAN, 391(4), p. 519-522 (in Rus.)
    • Northern Region
      • Komi Republic
        • Prepolar Ural
          • upper part of the Kozhim river basin
            • Maldynyrd (Maldy-nyrd) range
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
    		Minerals of South Africa
    The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 43, pp. 1711-1734 (2005)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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