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Wittite

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Falun mine, Falun, Dalarna, Sweden
© DV Minerals

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Formula:
Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
(S,Se)
 
27
System:MonoclinicColour:Light lead-gray
Hardness:2 - 2½
Name:Named after T. Witt, Swedish mining engineer at the Falun Mine.


Studies of the distribution of Se in the crystal structure are necessary to determine whether wittite is a Se-rich variety of cannizzarite or an independent species (Moëlo et al., 2008).

Classification of Wittite

IMA status:Questionable/Doubtful
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.34-65
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.JB.20

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
B : Galena derivatives, with Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.6.5.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.6.31

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone
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Type Occurrence of Wittite

Type Locality:Falun mine, Falun, Dalarna, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1924

Physical Properties of Wittite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Light lead-gray
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
One good cleavage. Cleabage surfaces show striations at 57° to 57.5°.

Crystallography of Wittite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 29.15Å, b = 4.07Å, c = 15.83Å
β = 98.5°
Ratio:a:b:c = 7.162 : 1 : 3.889
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,857.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Wittite

Formula:
Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
(S,Se)
 
27
Essential elements:Bi, Pb, S
All elements listed in formula:Bi, Pb, S, Se

Relationship of Wittite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.JB.05Diaphorite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
2
Sb
 
3
S
 
8
2.JB.10Cosalite
Pb
 
2
Bi
 
2
S
 
5
2.JB.15Freieslebenite
AgPbSbS
 
3
2.JB.15Marrite
AgPbAsS
 
3
2.JB.20Cannizzarite
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
6
S
 
13
2.JB.25aJunoite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
8
(S,Se)
 
16
2.JB.25iNeyite
Ag
 
2
Cu
 
6
Pb
 
25
Bi
 
26
S
 
68
2.JB.25cNordströmite
CuPb
 
3
Bi
 
7
(Se
 
4
S
 
10
)
2.JB.25gNuffieldite
Pb
 
2
Cu(Pb,Bi)Bi
 
2
S
 
7
2.JB.25dProudite
CuPb
 
7.5
Bi
 
9.33
(S,Se)
 
22
2.JB.25hWeibullite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
8
Se
 
7
S
 
11
2.JB.25bFelbertalite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
8
S
 
19
2.JB.25jRouxelite
Cu
 
2
HgPb
 
23
Sb
 
27
S
 
65.5
2.JB.25fÁngelaite
Cu
 
2
AgPbBiS
 
4
2.JB.25iCuproneyite
Cu
 
7
Pb
 
27
Bi
 
25
S
 
68
2.JB.30aGeocronite
Pb
 
14
(Sb,As)
 
6
S
 
23
2.JB.30aJordanite
Pb
 
14
(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
23
2.JB.30bKirkiite
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
3
As
 
3
S
 
19
2.JB.30cTsugaruite
Pb
 
4
As
 
2
S
 
7
2.JB.35cPillaite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
10
S
 
23
ClO
 
0.5
2.JB.35aZinkenite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
22
S
 
42
2.JB.35bScainiite
Pb
 
14
Sb
 
30
S
 
54
O
 
5
2.JB.35dPellouxite
(Cu,Ag)Pb
 
10
Sb
 
12
S
 
27
O(Cl,S)
 
0.6
2.JB.35eChovanite
Pb
 
15-2x
Sb
 
14+2x
S
 
36
O
 
x
 (x ~ 0.2)
2.JB.40bAschamalmite
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
2
S
 
9
2.JB.40aBursaite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
4
S
 
11
2.JB.40bEskimoite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
15
S
 
36
2.JB.40aFizélyite
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
14
Sb
 
21
S
 
48
2.JB.40aGustavite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
24
2.JB.40aLillianite
Pb
 
3-2x
Ag
 
x
Bi
 
2+x
S
 
6
2.JB.40cOurayite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
13
2.JB.40aRamdohrite
(Cd,Mn,Fe)Ag
 
5.5
Pb
 
12
Sb
 
21.5
S
 
48
2.JB.40aRoshchinite
Ag
 
19
Pb
 
10
Sb
 
51
S
 
96
2.JB.40dSchirmerite
PbAgBi
 
3
S
 
6
 - Pb
 
3
Ag
 
1.5
Bi
 
3.5
S
 
9
2.JB.40aTreasurite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
15
S
 
32
2.JB.40aUchucchacuaite
AgMnPb
 
3
Sb
 
5
S
 
12
2.JB.40eUstarasite
Pb(Bi,Sb)
 
6
S
 
10
 (?)
2.JB.40aVikingite
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
8
Bi
 
13
S
 
30
2.JB.40aXilingolite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
2.JB.40bHeyrovskýite
Pb
 
10
AgBi
 
5
S
 
18
2.JB.40UM1988-05-S:AgBiCuHgPb
(Hg,Ag,Cu,Pb)
 
5
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
27
2.JB.40UM1988-06-S:AgBiCuHgPb
(Pb,Hg)
 
12
(Cu,Ag)
 
3
(Bi,Sb)
 
10
(S,Te)
 
27
2.JB.40aAndorite IV
Pb
 
18
Ag
 
15
Sb
 
47
S
 
96
2.JB.55Gratonite
Pb
 
9
As
 
4
S
 
15
2.JB.60Marrucciite
Hg
 
3
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
46
2.JB.65Vurroite
Pb
 
20
Sn
 
2
(Bi,As)
 
22
S
 
54
Cl
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.6.1Sartorite
PbAs
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.2Dufrénoysite
Pb
 
2
As
 
2
S
 
5
5.6.3Liveingite
Pb
 
9
As
 
13
S
 
28
5.6.4Baumhauerite
Pb
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
9
5.6.5Gratonite
Pb
 
9
As
 
4
S
 
15
5.6.6Jordanite
Pb
 
14
(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
23
5.6.7Fülöppite
Pb
 
3
Sb
 
8
S
 
15
5.6.8Zinkenite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
22
S
 
42
5.6.9Plagionite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
8
S
 
17
5.6.10Heteromorphite
Pb
 
7
Sb
 
8
S
 
19
5.6.11Launayite
Pb
 
22
Sb
 
26
S
 
61
5.6.12Playfairite
Pb
 
16
Sb
 
18
S
 
43
5.6.13Semseyite
Pb
 
9
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
5.6.14Madocite
Pb
 
17
Sb
 
16
S
 
41
5.6.15Boulangerite
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
4
S
 
11
5.6.17Robinsonite
Pb
 
4
Sb
 
6
S
 
13
5.6.18Guettardite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.19Twinnite
Pb(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.20Veenite
Pb
 
2
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
5
5.6.21Sorbyite
CuPb
 
9
(Sb,As)
 
11
S
 
26
5.6.22Geocronite
Pb
 
14
(Sb,As)
 
6
S
 
23
5.6.23Galenobismutite
PbBi
 
2
S
 
4
5.6.24Cosalite
Pb
 
2
Bi
 
2
S
 
5
5.6.25Cannizzarite
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
6
S
 
13
5.6.26Lillianite
Pb
 
3-2x
Ag
 
x
Bi
 
2+x
S
 
6
5.6.27Giessenite
Pb
 
27
Cu
 
2
(Bi,Sb)
 
19
S
 
57
5.6.28Platynite
5.6.29Xilingolite
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
6
5.6.30Weibullite
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
8
Se
 
7
S
 
11
5.6.32Kirkiite
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
3
As
 
3
S
 
19
5.6.33Ustarasite
Pb(Bi,Sb)
 
6
S
 
10
 (?)

Other Names for Wittite

Other Languages:
Afrikaans:Wittite
German:Wittit
Simplified Chinese:硫硒铅铋矿
Spanish:Wittita
Varieties:
Argentian Wittite

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 Wittite

Reference List:

- +
Johansson (1924), Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi: 9: 2.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 451.

American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 397.

Mineralogy and Petrology (1992): 46: 137-153.

American Mineralogist (1993): 78: 238.

Borodaev, Y.S., Garavelli, A., Garbarino, C., Grillo, S.M., Mozgova, N.N., Organova, N.I., Trubkin, N.V., and Vurro, F. (2000) Rare sulfosalts from Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. III. Wittite and cannizzarite. Canadian Mineralogist: 38: 23-34.

Moëlo, Y., Makovicky, E., Mozgova, N.N., Jambor, J.L., Cook, N., Pring, A., Paar, W., Nickel, E.H., Graeser, S., Karup-Møller, S.; Balić-Žunić, T.; Mumme, W.G., Vurro, F., Topa, D., Bindi, L., Bente, K., Shimizu, M. (2008): the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalt Subcommittee. Revision of sulfosalt definition and nomenclature. A review of sulfosalts systematics. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20, 7-46.

Internet Links for Wittite

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    • Localities for Wittite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Northern Territory
      • Tennant Inlier
        • Tennant Creek
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    China
     
    • Jiangxi Province
      • Ganzhou Prefecture
        • Anyuan Co.
    		Yingchen Ren (1999): Contributions to Geology and Mineral Resources Research 14(1), 1-12, 38
        • Yudu Co.
    		Yingchen Ren (1999): Contributions to Geology and Mineral Resources Research 14(1), 1-12, 38
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • St Blasien
          • Urberg
    		K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
    		BORODAEV Y.S., GARAVELLI A., GARBARINO C., GRILLO S.M., MOZGOVA N.N., ORGANOVA N.I., TRUBKIN N.V., VURRO F. (2000): Rare sulfosalts from Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. III. Wittite and cannizzarite. - Canadian Mineralogist - 38, 23-34.
    • Veneto
      • Vicenza province
        • Torrebelvicino
    		antonio zordan collection
    Kazakhstan
     
    Spiridonov, E. M. (1982): Mineralogy of the Ichkeul'mes skarn copper deposit, central Kazakhstan. Novye Dannye o Mineralakh 30, 208-226.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Magadanskaya Oblast'
        • Kolyma River Basin
          • Ducat District
            • Omsukchan
    		Can Min 38:23-34; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Plast
            • Kochkar' District
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Rožňava Co.
        • Rochovce
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Falun
    		Arkiv Kemi Min.Geol.(1924) 9, 2
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Le Trient Valley
        • Les Marécottes
    		Am Min 88:4 pp 676-685
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Dragoon Mts
          • Middle Pass District
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
            • Middlemarch Pass area
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 422.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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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