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Watkinsonite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Watkinsonite (13)

Watkinsonite Gallery Search Photos of Watkinsonite

Edit Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Watkinsonite, etc.

Zálesí uranium deposit, Zálesí, Javorník, Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic

Watkinsonite, etc.

El Dragón mine, Porco Municipality, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí, Bolivia

Watkinsonite, etc.

El Dragón mine, Porco Municipality, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí, Bolivia

Watkinsonite, etc.

Zálesí uranium deposit, Zálesí, Javorník, Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic

Watkinsonite, etc.

El Dragón mine, Porco Municipality, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí, Bolivia

Watkinsonite, etc.

El Dragón mine, Porco Municipality, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí, Bolivia

Watkinsonite, etc.

Zálesí uranium deposit, Zálesí, Javorník, Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic

Watkinsonite, etc.

El Dragón mine, Porco Municipality, Antonio Quijarro Province, Potosí, Bolivia

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About WatkinsoniteHide

Formula:

Cu₂PbBi₄(Se,S,Te)₈

Colour:

Black

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

3½

Specific Gravity:

7.82 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named in honor of David Hugh Watkinson (b. 1937), Professor of Geology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, petrologist and economic geologist, investigator of the hydrothermal mobility of the platinum-group elements.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Otish Mountains U deposit, Otish Mountains, Baie-James, Nord-du-Québec, Québec, Canada

Cu-analog of litochlebite. Closely related to luxembourgite.

Structurally related to berryite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

4247

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:4247:1

GUID
(UUID V4):

7c706bf4-f086-4f29-b560-27ba5990bff4

IMA Classification of WatkinsoniteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

PbCu₂Bi₄(Se,S)₈

Approval year:

1985

First published:

1987

Type description reference:

Johan, Z., Picot, P., Ruhlmann, F. (1987) The ore mineralogy of the Otish Mountains uranium deposit, Quebec: skippenite, Bi₂Se₂Te, and watkinsonite, Cu₂PbBi₄(Se,S)₈, two new mineral species. The Canadian Mineralogist, 25 (4) 625-638

Classification of WatkinsoniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.HB.20e

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
B : With Cu, Ag, Fe, Sn and Pb

Dana 8th ed.:

3.7.21.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2

Hey's CIM Ref.:

5.7.16

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Wat	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Wat	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019)	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of WatkinsoniteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Black

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₅=155 - 186 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

None Observed

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Density:

7.82 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of WatkinsoniteHide

Anisotropism:

Moderate; blue-grey to dark greyish brown

Bireflectance:

Not discernible in air, is very weak in oil, from greyish white to bluish white

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂
420nm	46.0%	46.6%
440nm	46.7%	47.2%
460nm	47.3%	47.6%
480nm	47.7%	48.0%
500nm	47.9%	48.3%
520nm	48.1%	48.5%
540nm	48.0%	48.6%
560nm	47.8%	48.7%
580nm	47.8%	48.8%
600nm	47.9%	48.8%
620nm	47.9%	48.9%
640nm	48.0%	48.9%
660nm	48.0%	49.0%
680nm	47.9%	49.0%
700nm	47.9%	49.0%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 49.0%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

White with a bluish tint

Internal Reflections:

None observed

Chemistry of WatkinsoniteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₂PbBi₄(Se,S,Te)₈

Elements listed:

Bi, Cu, Pb, S, Se, Te - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of WatkinsoniteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/m

Setting:

P2₁/m

Cell Parameters:

a = 12.921(3) Å, b = 3.997(1) Å, c = 14.989(3) Å
β = 109.2(2)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 3.233 : 1 : 3.75

Unit Cell V:

731 Å³

Twinning:

None observed

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0017825	Watkinsonite	Topa D, Makovicky E, Sejkora J, Dittrich H (2010) The crystal structure of watkinsonite, Cu2PbBi4Se8, from the Zalesi uranium deposit, Czech Republic The Canadian Mineralogist 48 1109-1118		2010	Zalesi uranium deposit, Czech Republic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Watkinsonite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Topa D'
'Makovicky E'
'Sejkora J'
'Dittrich H'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 48 
_journal_year 2010
_journal_page_first 1109
_journal_page_last 1118
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of watkinsonite, Cu2PbBi4Se8,
 from the Zalesi uranium deposit, Czech Republic
;
_database_code_amcsd 0017825
_chemical_compound_source 'Zalesi uranium deposit, Czech Republic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cu1.68 Ag.32 Pb Bi4 Se8'
_cell_length_a 12.952
_cell_length_b 4.1523
_cell_length_c 15.155
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 108.931
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 770.959
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      7.823
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/m 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cu1   0.37880   0.25000   0.90090   0.68000   0.08800
Ag1   0.38600   0.25000   0.90060   0.32000   0.07900
Cu2   0.47134   0.25000   0.53715   1.00000   0.02580
Pb   0.23691   0.25000   0.33139   1.00000   0.02880
Bi1   0.04295   0.25000   0.88759   1.00000   0.01670
Bi2   0.56525   0.25000   0.29021   1.00000   0.01610
Bi3   0.70545   0.25000   0.90960   1.00000   0.01730
Bi4   0.92454   0.25000   0.37818   1.00000   0.02130
Se1   0.12568   0.25000   0.50967   1.00000   0.01410
Se2   0.13530   0.25000   0.11562   1.00000   0.01520
Se3   0.30144   0.25000   0.73696   1.00000   0.01890
Se4   0.43836   0.25000   0.06837   1.00000   0.01850
Se5   0.61451   0.25000   0.70857   1.00000   0.01610
Se6   0.63573   0.25000   0.48096   1.00000   0.01510
Se7   0.80926   0.25000   0.11716   1.00000   0.01550
Se8   0.95263   0.25000   0.69674   1.00000   0.01360
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Cu1 0.06000 0.18400 0.02500 0.00000 0.02100 0.00000
Ag1 0.10900 0.09700 0.00700 0.00000 -0.01200 0.00000
Cu2 0.03000 0.01200 0.03700 0.00000 0.01400 0.00000
Pb 0.02550 0.01740 0.04380 0.00000 0.01170 0.00000
Bi1 0.01760 0.01260 0.01890 0.00000 0.00430 0.00000
Bi2 0.01520 0.01280 0.01930 0.00000 0.00420 0.00000
Bi3 0.01550 0.01200 0.02240 0.00000 0.00340 0.00000
Bi4 0.01870 0.01670 0.02570 0.00000 0.00310 0.00000
Se1 0.01260 0.01300 0.01600 0.00000 0.00400 0.00000
Se2 0.01270 0.01400 0.01700 0.00000 0.00300 0.00000
Se3 0.01370 0.01300 0.03000 0.00000 0.00700 0.00000
Se4 0.01730 0.01400 0.02600 0.00000 0.00900 0.00000
Se5 0.01500 0.01200 0.02100 0.00000 0.00600 0.00000
Se6 0.01350 0.01200 0.01800 0.00000 0.00200 0.00000
Se7 0.01320 0.01300 0.02000 0.00000 0.00400 0.00000
Se8 0.01360 0.01100 0.01500 0.00000 0.00300 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.573 Å	(90b)
2.976 Å	(100)
2.929 Å	(100)
2.407 Å	(70)
2.140 Å	(70b)
2.065 Å	(70b)
1.484 Å	(70)
2.245 Å	(60)
3.133 Å	(50)
2.831 Å	(50)
2.767 Å	(50)
1.873 Å	(50)
1.667 Å	(50b)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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 WatkinsoniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Otish Mountains U deposit, Otish Mountains, Baie-James, Nord-du-Québec, Québec, Canada

General Appearance of Type Material:

Irregulat grains, also partly replacing skippenite crystals, penetrating along their interstices.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Johan, Z., Picot, P., Ruhlmann, F. (1987): The ore mineralogy of the Otish Mountains uranium deposit, Quebec: skippenite, Bi2Se2Te, and watkinsonite, Cu2PbBi4(Se,S)8, two new mineral species. The Canadian Mineralogist: 25: 625-638.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/CM25_625.pdf

Synonyms of WatkinsoniteHide

IMA1985-024

Other Language Names for WatkinsoniteHide

German:Watkinsonit

Japanese:ヲットキンソン石

Spanish:Watkinsonita

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

30 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Clausthalite	PbSe
25 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Penroseite	(Ni,Co,Cu)Se₂
19 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Krut'aite	CuSe₂
16 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Eldragónite	Cu₆BiSe₄(Se₂)
9 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Grundmannite	CuBiSe₂
9 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Quijarroite	Cu₆HgPb₂Bi₄Se₁₂
8 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Klockmannite	CuSe
7 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
4 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
4 photos of Watkinsonite associated with Gold	Au

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.HB.	Barikaite	Ag₃Pb₁₀(Sb₈As₁₁)S₄₀	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.HB.	Carducciite	(Ag₂Sb₂)Pb₁₂(As,Sb)₁₆S₄₀	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.HB.	Sardashtite	Ag₉Cu_2.5Pb₄₁Sb_36.5As₇S₁₁₂	Mon. 2/m
2.HB.	Interliveingite	AgPb₁₈As₂₅S₅₆	Mon. 2 : P2₁
2.HB.	Reckibachite	Ag₂Pb₁₂As₁₄Sb₄S₄₀	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.HB.05a	Aikinite	PbCuBiS₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.HB.05a	Friedrichite	Pb₅Cu₅Bi₇S₁₈	Orth. mm2
2.HB.05a	Gladite	PbCuBi₅S₉	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05a	Hammarite	Pb₂Cu₂Bi₄S₉	Orth.
2.HB.05c	Jaskólskiite	Cu_xPb_2+x(Sb,Bi)_2-xS₅ (x ~ 0.15)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05a	Krupkaite	PbCuBi₃S₆	Orth. mm2
2.HB.05a	Lindströmite	Pb₃Cu₃Bi₇S₁₅	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05b	Meneghinite	Pb₁₃CuSb₇S₂₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05a	Pekoite	PbCuBi₁₁S₁₈	Orth. mm2
2.HB.05a	Emilite	Pb_2.7Cu_2.7Bi_5.3S₁₂	Orth. mm2 : Pmc2₁
2.HB.05	UM2000-46-S:BiCuPb	Cu_0.33Pb_0.33Bi_7.67S₁₂
2.HB.05a	Salzburgite	Pb_1.6Cu_1.6Bi_6.4S₁₂	Orth. mm2 : Pmc2₁
2.HB.05	UM1990-54-Se:BiCuPb	CuPb(Ni,Co)_0.3Bi₃Se₆
2.HB.05a	Paarite	Pb_1.7Cu_1.7Bi_6.3S₁₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn
2.HB.10c	Eclarite	(Cu,Fe)Pb₉Bi₁₂S₂₈	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.HB.10b	Giessenite	Pb₂₇Cu₂(Bi,Sb)₁₉S₅₇	Mon. 2/m
2.HB.10b	Izoklakeite	Pb₂₇(Cu,Fe,Ag)₂(Sb,Bi)₁₉S₅₇	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.10a	Kobellite	Pb₂₂Cu₄(Bi,Sb)₃₀S₆₉	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.10a	Tintinaite	Pb₂₂Cu₄(Sb,Bi)₃₀S₆₉	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.15	Benavidesite	Pb₄MnSb₆S₁₄	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.HB.15	Jamesonite	Pb₄FeSb₆S₁₄	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.HB.20d	Berryite	Cu₃Ag₂Pb₃Bi₇S₁₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.HB.20b	Buckhornite	AuPb₂BiTe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
2.HB.20a	Nagyágite	[Pb₃(Pb,Sb)₃S₆](Au,Te)₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.HB.20c	Museumite	[Pb₂(Pb,Sb)₂S₈][(Te,Au)₂]	Mon. 2
2.HB.20e	Litochlebite	Ag₂PbBi₄Se₈	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.HB.20b	Jaszczakite	[Bi₃S₃][AuS₂]	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.HB.20e	Luxembourgite	AgCuPbBi₄Se₈	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.HB.25	Meerschautite	(Ag,Cu)₆Pb_43-2xSb_44+2xS₁₁₂O_x (x ~0.5)	Mon. 2 : P2₁

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for WatkinsoniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-4247.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Watkinsonite on Webmineral

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for WatkinsoniteHide

Reference List:

Förster, H.-J., Tischendorf, G., Rhede, D. (2005) Mineralogy of the Niederschlema-Alberoda U-Se-polymetallic ore deposit, Erzgebirge, Germany. V. Watkinsonite, nevskite, bohdanowiczite, and other bismuth minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (3) 899-908 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.3.899

Topa, D., Makovicky, E., Sejkora, J., Dittrich, H. (2010) The crystal structure of watkinsonite, Cu₂PbBi₄Se₈, from the Zalesi uranium deposit, Czech Republic. The Canadian Mineralogist, 48 (5) 1109-1118 doi:10.3749/canmin.48.5.1109

(2023) Watkinsonite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for WatkinsoniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Austria
Styria Bruck-Mürzzuschlag District Neuberg an der Mürz Altenberg an der Rax Eselberg ⓘ Selenide occurrence	Postl et al. (1997)

Bolivia
Potosí Antonio Quijarro Province Porco Municipality ⓘ El Dragón mine	Kempff et al. (La Paz, 2009) +2 other references

Canada (TL)
Québec Nord-du-Québec Baie-James Otish Mountains ⓘ Otish Mountains U deposit (TL)	Johan et al. (1987)

Czech Republic
Olomouc Region Jeseník District Javorník Zálesí ⓘ Zálesí uranium deposit	Topa et al. (2010) +1 other reference

Germany
Lower Saxony Göttingen District Bad Lauterberg ⓘ Frische Lutter vein (incl. Lutter adit; South Rothäuser adit; North Rothäuser adit)	Koch et al. (2018)
Saxony Erzgebirgskreis Aue-Bad Schlema ⓘ Alberoda	Förster et al. (2005)
ⓘ Schlema-Hartenstein mining district	Förster et al. (2005)
Zwickau District Hartenstein ⓘ Shaft 371	Färber (n.d.)

Watkinsonite

About WatkinsoniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of WatkinsoniteHide

Classification of WatkinsoniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of WatkinsoniteHide

Optical Data of WatkinsoniteHide

Chemistry of WatkinsoniteHide

Crystallography of WatkinsoniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of WatkinsoniteHide

Synonyms of WatkinsoniteHide

Other Language Names for WatkinsoniteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for WatkinsoniteHide

References for WatkinsoniteHide

Localities for WatkinsoniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide