Vrbaite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Vrbaite
Karl B. Vrba
Formula:
Hg3Tl4As8Sb2S20
Colour:
Dark gray-black with bluish tint, dark red (thin fragment)
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
5.27 - 5.33
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Karl B. Vrba (10 November 1845, Klatovy, Austrian Empire - 7 December 1922 Prague, Czechoslovakia), Professor of Mineralogy, Charles University, Prague (Czech Republic).
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Vrbaite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4211
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4211:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
5b75b119-f9e0-4f5f-be6b-bd51a27c2ccc
IMA Classification of Vrbaite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1912
Classification of Vrbaite
2.HF.20
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
F : With SnS and PbS archetype structure units
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
F : With SnS and PbS archetype structure units
3.7.15.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
5.5.10
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Vrb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Vrbaite
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dark gray-black with bluish tint, dark red (thin fragment)
Streak:
Pale yellow-red
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {010}.
On {010}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
5.27 - 5.33 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.29 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vrbaite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
Dispersion:
r > v
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 45.8% | 48.6% |
| 440nm | 38.2% | 40.6% |
| 480nm | 33.8% | 36.7% |
| 520nm | 30.8% | 34.0% |
| 560nm | 28.6% | 31.1% |
| 600nm | 27.6% | 29.2% |
| 640nm | 27.1% | 28.8% |
| 680nm | 26.6% | 28.4% |
| 700nm | 26.4% | 28.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 48.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bluish-white
Internal Reflections:
Red
Chemistry of Vrbaite
Mindat Formula:
Hg3Tl4As8Sb2S20
Crystallography of Vrbaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmca
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.18 Å, b = 23.23 Å, c = 11.22 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.567 : 1 : 0.483
Unit Cell V:
3,435.24 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Small crystals, tabular {010} or pyramidal {111}. Occur in groups.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010725 | Vrbaite | Ohmasa M, Nowacki W (1971) The crystal structure of vrbaite, Hg3Tl4As8Sb2S20 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 134 360-380 |  | 1971 | Allchar, Macedonia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.04 Å | (100) |
| 3.33 Å | (80) |
| 2.57 Å | (80) |
| 5.18 Å | (60) |
| 3.15 Å | (60) |
| 2.29 Å | (60) |
| 4.31 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Vrbaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small orthorhombic crystals embedded in realgar and orpiment.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic, 25292.
2) National School of Mines, Paris, France.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, R939.
2) National School of Mines, Paris, France.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, R939.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal As-Tl sulfide deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Ježek, B. (1912) Vrbait, ein neues Thalliummineral von Allchar in Macedonien. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie und Mineralogie: 51: 365-378.
Synonyms of Vrbaite
Other Language Names for Vrbaite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Vrbaite associated with Metacinnabar | HgS |
| 2 photos of Vrbaite associated with Chert | |
| 2 photos of Vrbaite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 1 photo of Vrbaite associated with Avicennite | Tl2O3 |
| 1 photo of Vrbaite associated with Parapierrotite | TlSb5S8 |
| 1 photo of Vrbaite associated with Arseniosiderite | Ca2Fe3+3(AsO4)3O2 · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Vrbaite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Vrbaite associated with Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.HF. | Ramosite | Pb25.7Sn8.3Mn3.4Sb6.4S56.2 |
| 2.HF.25a | Cylindrite | Pb3Sn4FeSb2S14 |
| 2.HF.25b | Franckeite | Fe2+(Pb,Sn2+)6Sn4+2Sb2S14 |
| 2.HF.25a | Lévyclaudite | Pb8Sn7Cu3(Bi,Sb)3S28 |
| 2.HF.25b | Potosíite | Pb6Sn3FeSb3S16 |
| 2.HF.25b | Coiraite | (Pb,Sn)12.5Sn5FeAs3S28 |
| 2.HF.25a | Abramovite | Pb2SnInBiS7 |
| 2.HF.25b v | Plumbostannite | Pb2Fe2Sn2Sb2S11 |
| 2.HF.25a | Merelaniite | Mo4Pb4VSbS15 |
| 2.HF.30 | Lengenbachite | Ag4Cu2Pb18As12S39 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Contains thallium, mercury and arsenic - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.
Internet Links for Vrbaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4211.html
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References for Vrbaite
Reference List:
Spencer, L. J. (1913) A (sixth) list of new mineral names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 16 (77) 352-378 doi:10.1180/minmag.1913.016.77.09
Frondel, Clifford (1941) Unit cell and space group of vrbaite (Tl(As,Sb)3S5), seligmannite (CuPbAsS3) and samsonite (Ag4MnSb2S6) American Mineralogist, 26 (1) 25-28
Localities for Vrbaite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Roth et al. (2017) |
Greenland | |
| Sørensen (2001) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Kagaya (1962) |
North Macedonia (TL) | |
| Ježek (1912) +3 other references |
| Christian Reweitzer +1 other reference | |
| Ðorđević et al. (2020) | |
Russia | |
| |
| Pekov (1998) | |
| Stepanov +8 other references |
USA | |
| King (2014, October) |
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Crven Dol, Allchar, Ržanovo, Kavadarci Municipality, North Macedonia