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Baksanite

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Baksan Valley, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Northern Caucasus Region, Russia
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Bi
 
6
Te
 
2
S
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Bright steel-grey
Lustre:MetallicHardness:1½ - 2
Name:Named after the discovery locality.


Compare also Unnamed (Bi Sulphide) and Unnamed (Bi4TeS5).

Classification of Baksanite

IMA status:Approved 1992
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.10-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.DC.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
C : Variable M:S
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Type Occurrence of Baksanite

Type Locality:Anomaly No. 3, Tyrnyauz Mo-W deposit, Baksan valley, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Northern Caucasus Region, Russia
Geological Setting of type material:In small chlorite-calcite nests and veins in garnet-magnetite skarn.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MagnetiteJoséiteIngoditeGoldChlorite Group
CalciteBismuthiniteAndradite

Physical Properties of Baksanite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Bright steel-grey
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Hardness (Vickers):VHN5=62 kg/mm2
Cleavage:Perfect
{001}
Density (measured):8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.98 g/cm3

Crystallography of Baksanite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:P3m1 {P3 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.249Å, c = 62.82Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 14.785
Unit Cell Volume:V 982 ų
Z:3
Morphology:Only {001} observed.
Twinning:None observed.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.65 (14)
4.50 (46)
3.58 (22)
3.53 (15)
3.30 (20)
3.09 (100)
2.255 (38)
2.126 (25)

Optical Data of Baksanite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Distinct anisotropism from pale yellow to grey
Bireflectance:Veryt faint
Reflectivity:
470nmR1=48.2%R2= 52.1%
546nmR1=48.4%R2= 52.5%
589nmR1=48.8%R2= 51.9%
650nmR1=49.2%R2= 51.0%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 52.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:Bright white
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:White to pale grey

Chemical Properties of Baksanite

Formula:
Bi
 
6
Te
 
2
S
 
3
Essential elements:Bi, S, Te
All elements listed in formula:Bi, S, Te
Analytical Data:Means of twenty sets of electron microprobe data
Bi (76.40)
Pb (2.15)
Sb (0.12)
Te (14.33)
Se (0.00)
S (6.64)
Total: 99.64 wt%
Empirical Formula:
(Bi
 
5.77
Pb
 
0.16
Sb
 
0.22
)
 
Σ5.95
(Te
 
1.77
S
 
3.27
)
 
Σ5.04
Common Impurities:Sb,S,Pb

Relationship of Baksanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.DC.05Hedleyite
Bi
 
7
Te
 
3
2.DC.05Ikunolite
Bi
 
4
(S,Se)
 
3
2.DC.05Ingodite
Bi
 
2
TeS
2.DC.05Joséite-B
Bi
 
4
Te
 
2
S
2.DC.05Kawazulite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
Se
2.DC.05Laitakarite
Bi
 
4
Se
 
2
S
2.DC.05Nevskite
Bi(Se,S)
2.DC.05Paraguanajuatite
Bi
 
2
(Se,S)
 
3
2.DC.05Pilsenite
Bi
 
4
Te
 
3
2.DC.05Skippenite
Bi
 
2
TeSe
 
2
2.DC.05Sulphotsumoite
Bi
 
3
Te
 
2
S
2.DC.05Tellurantimony
Sb
 
2
Te
 
3
2.DC.05Tellurobismuthite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
3
2.DC.05Tetradymite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
S
2.DC.05Tsumoite
BiTe
2.DC.05Joséite-C
Bi
 
16
Te
 
3
S
 
9
2.DC.05Protojoséite
Bi
 
4
TeS
 
2
2.DC.05Sztrókayite
Bi
 
3
TeS
 
2
2.DC.05Vihorlatite
Bi
 
24
Se
 
17
Te
 
4
2.DC.05Telluronevskite
Bi
 
3
TeSe
 
2
2.DC.05UM1983-09-S:BiPbTe
PbBi
 
3
S
 
2
Te

Other Names for Baksanite

Synonyms:
IMA1992-042
Other Languages:
German:Baksanit
Spanish:Baksanita

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 Baksanite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Record: 28: 483.

Doklady Akademii Nauk: 347(6): 787-791.

Internet Links for Baksanite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Baksanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Baksanite

    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.
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    (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.
    Iran
     
    • Lorestan Province
      • Ashour Abad
    		Nezafatis, N. (2006): Au-Sn-W-Cu Mineralization in the Astaneh-Sarband Area, West Central Iran. PhD thesis, University of Tübingen (Germany), 116 pp.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Caucasus Region
      • Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
        • Baksan valley
          • Tyrnyauz Mo-W deposit
    		AM 48 (1963), 930; DAN 347/6 (1996), 787; AM 82 (1997), 1038; MR 28 (1997), 428; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Revúca Co.
        • Chyžné
    		Bálintová T., Ozdín D.,2006:Sulphosalts from Chyžné-Herichová in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia). Acta Miner.-Petrograph.,Abstract Series 5, Szeged, p.8
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