Breithauptite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Breithauptite
August Breithaupt
Formula:
NiSb
Colour:
Copper-red with a violet tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
7.591 - 8.23
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1840 by Julius Fröbel in honor of Saxon mineralogist Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt {May 16,1791 Probstzella, Germany - September 22, 1873). Breithaupt was professor at the Bergakademie in Freiburg, Germany and later successor to Friedrich Mohs at the Natural History Museum in Vienna. Breithaupt was a prolific systematic mineralogist and originated the concept of paragenesis. Originally named antimonickel and described in 1833 by Friedrich Stromeyer.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
763
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:763:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
d39ab2ef-7681-4130-87ec-6061825ba69d
IMA Classification of Breithauptite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Breithauptite
2.CC.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2.8.11.2
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.11.36
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
Mineral Symbols
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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bhp | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Bhp | 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 Breithauptite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Copper-red with a violet tint
Streak:
Reddish brown
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.591 - 8.23 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.629 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Breithauptite
Anisotropism:
noticeable in oil and air
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 44.9% | 49.0% |
| 420nm | 43.1% | 48.1% |
| 440nm | 41.4% | 47.1% |
| 460nm | 39.6% | 46.4% |
| 480nm | 38.2% | 45.8% |
| 500nm | 36.9% | 45.2% |
| 520nm | 35.9% | 45.5% |
| 540nm | 37.4% | 47.7% |
| 560nm | 39.5% | 49.4% |
| 580nm | 42.0% | 51.6% |
| 600nm | 44.5% | 53.4% |
| 620nm | 46.8% | 55.1% |
| 640nm | 49.1% | 56.9% |
| 660nm | 51.1% | 58.4% |
| 680nm | 52.6% | 59.8% |
| 700nm | 53.9% | 61.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 61.1%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Visible
Chemistry of Breithauptite
Mindat Formula:
NiSb
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Co,As,S
Crystallography of Breithauptite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.946 Å, c = 5.148 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.305
Unit Cell V:
69.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Thin tabular, arborescent, disseminated, massive
Twinning:
Twin plane {1011}
Crystallographic forms of Breithauptite
Crystal Atlas:
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Breithauptite - Tabular {001}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011581 | Breithauptite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 85-237 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017652 | Breithauptite | Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1010930 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73 | 1925 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.84 Å | (100) |
| 2.06 Å | (70) |
| 1.965 Å | (70) |
| 1.533 Å | (30) |
| 1.074 Å | (30) |
| 1.610 Å | (20) |
| 1.419 Å | (20) |
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]) | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
In hydrothermal veins associated with other nickle and cobalt arsenides.
Type Occurrence of Breithauptite
Reference:
Haidinger W (1845) Zweite Klasse: Geogenide. XIII. Ordnung. Kiese. I. Nickelkies. Breithauptit.. in Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Bei Braumüller and Seidel (Wien) 559-562
Synonyms of Breithauptite
Other Language Names for Breithauptite
Varieties of Breithauptite
| Arite | An As-bearing variety of breithauptite. Originally reported from Ar Mine, Eaux-Bonnes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Aquitaine, France. |
Relationship of Breithauptite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Achávalite | FeSe | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Freboldite | CoSe | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) | Hex. |
| Langisite | CoAs | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Nickeline | NiAs | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm |
| Sederholmite | beta-NiSe | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sobolevskite | PdBi | Hex. |
| Stumpflite | PtSb | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sudburyite | PdSb | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 45 photos of Breithauptite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 33 photos of Breithauptite associated with Ullmannite | NiSbS |
| 27 photos of Breithauptite associated with Nickeline | NiAs |
| 23 photos of Breithauptite associated with Silver | Ag |
| 21 photos of Breithauptite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 15 photos of Breithauptite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 8 photos of Breithauptite associated with Geversite | PtSb2 |
| 8 photos of Breithauptite associated with Froodite | α-PdBi2 |
| 8 photos of Breithauptite associated with Paolovite | Pd2Sn |
| 5 photos of Breithauptite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CC. | Tilkerodeite | Pd2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC. | UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh | (Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)9S11 |
| 2.CC. | Crowningshieldite | (Ni0.9Fe0.10)S |
| 2.CC. | Eliopoulosite | V7S8 |
| 2.CC. | Kuvaevite | Ir5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Torryweiserite | Rh5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Tamuraite | Ir5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Ferrotorryweiserite | Rh5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC.05 | Achávalite | FeSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Freboldite | CoSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) |
| 2.CC.05 | Langisite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Nickeline | NiAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Sederholmite | beta-NiSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Sobolevskite | PdBi |
| 2.CC.05 | Stumpflite | PtSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Sudburyite | PdSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Jaipurite | CoS |
| 2.CC.05 | Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 |
| 2.CC.10 | Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 2.CC.10 | Smythite | (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3) |
| 2.CC.10 | Troilite | FeS |
| 2.CC.15 | Cherepanovite | RhAs |
| 2.CC.15 | Modderite | (Co,Fe)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Ruthenarsenite | (Ru,Ni)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Westerveldite | (Fe,Ni,Co)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Minakawaite | RhSb |
| 2.CC.20 | Millerite | NiS |
| 2.CC.20 | Mäkinenite | γ-NiSe |
| 2.CC.20 | UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh | (Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S |
| 2.CC.25 | Mackinawite | FeS |
| 2.CC.30 | Hexatestibiopanickelite | (Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ? |
| 2.CC.30 | Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 |
| 2.CC.35a | Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| 2.CC.35b | Cooperite | PtS |
| 2.CC.35a | Vysotskite | PdS |
| 2.CC.45 | Jacutingaite | Pt2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC.50 | Imgreite | NiTe (?) |
Other Information
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 Breithauptite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-763.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Breithauptite
Localities for Breithauptite
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.
Argentina | |
| Econ Geol (1992) +2 other references |
Australia | |
| Stevens (1972) |
| Graham et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| L.Lawrence +1 other reference |
| Ramdohr (1950) | |
| Ramdohr (1950) | |
| Nenke (1972) +1 other reference |
| Nickel (1987) |
| Kalleske (2010) |
| Mock (1987) |
| Nickel +2 other references |
| Grguric (2003) |
Austria | |
| Feitzinger et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Gerhard Feitzinger (1988) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2010) |
| Aufschluss 1972 (SB) +1 other reference |
| Schachinger et al. (2017) |
| Pribitzer (1956) +2 other references |
| Meixner (1953) +1 other reference |
| Reiter et al. (2005) |
Canada | |
| MINFILE No 092HSE038 +1 other reference |
| Nixon et al. (1990) |
| Bernhardt Augsten et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Kelvin et al. Canadian Mineralogist 49 |
| Stefanie M. Brueckner et al. (2016) |
| Lang (1952) |
| Lang (1952) | |
| Lang (1952) | |
| Harris et al. (1984) |
| Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. ... |
| CABRI et al. (1969) |
| Canadian Mineralogist (1971) | |
| Canadian Mineralogist (1974) |
| 157-158. +1 other reference | |
| ontariominerals.com |
| Sabina (1991) | |
| Wilson (1986) |
| 159-161. +1 other reference |
| Ontario Geological Survey Miscellaneous ... +3 other references |
| Ontario Geological Survey Miscellaneous ... +1 other reference | |
| Satterly +1 other reference | |
| Sergiades | |
| ontariominerals.com | |
| Sabina (1974) | |
| R.Mielke | |
| Ontario Bureau of Mines +1 other reference | |
| King (n.d.) | |
| Sabina (2000) | |
| the Canadian Mineralogist V 11 Part 1 ... | |
| Maggie Wilson |
| Geological Survey of Canada +1 other reference | |
| Sabina (2000) | |
| Sabina (2000) | |
| Collection Andrew Debnam Mindat ID ... | |
| Sabina (2000) | |
| Ontario Geological Survey Miscellaneous ... +1 other reference | |
| Reiner Mielke |
| Sabina (1974) | |
| Sabina (1974) |
| Robinson et al. (1996) |
| Girard (1971) |
| Laurentian University specimen XRD + EDS |
| 5th International Platinum Symposium ... +3 other references |
China | |
| Yijiang Ban (1980) |
| Quan Liu (2003) +1 other reference |
| Minqing Cheng et al. (1993) |
| Zhu et al. (2016) |
| Yuan Li (1998) |
Czech Republic | |
| C.Auer (2017) |
| Ettler et al. (2009) |
| Lapis 2002 (7/8) |
| Veselovský et al. (2021) |
| Sejkora J. et al. (2015) |
Ethiopia | |
| Cook et al. (2000) |
Finland | |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2007 ... +1 other reference |
| Gervilla et al 1997. Mineralogy of ... +1 other reference |
| American Mineralogist (1977) |
| Geological Survey of Finland website | |
| Borodaev et al. (1983) | |
| Hangala Leake S. 1987 The early ... |
| Eilu (2003) |
France | |
| French BRGM data |
| De Ascençao Guedes et al. (2000) |
| De Ascençao Guedes et al. (2000) | |
| [var: Arite] Clark (1993) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| R. Pierrot |
| R. Pierrot | |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| [var: Arite] Frank Keutsch collection |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Haidinger W (1845) |
| Dr. J. Heider Sangerhausen |
| Own collection | |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Wittern (2001) | |
| Desor (04/2020) |
| Reppke (1993) |
| Reppke (1993) |
| Collection Holger Adelmann |
| Krupp et al. (1989) |
| Lapis 2001 (6) |
| Lapis (5) |
| Reppke (1993) |
| Reppke (1993) |
| Ramdohr et al. (1975) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference | |
Greece | |
| Bussolesi et al. (2020) |
| Kanellopoulos et al. (2024) |
| Economou-Eliopoulos et al. (2022) | |
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| Sørensen (1962) +2 other references |
India | |
| Safonov (1984) |
| Höller et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| Mukherjee et al. (1998) |
| Pal et al. (2009) | |
| Pal et al. (2009) | |
| Pal et al. (2009) +1 other reference | |
| Seetharam (1981) |
Ireland | |
| Ixer |
Italy | |
| Prete (1995) |
| "Les minéraux et al. (1977) |
| doi.org (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Lovisato (1894) +2 other references |
| Traverso (1898) +1 other reference |
| Stara et al. (1996) |
| doi.org (n.d.) +3 other references | |
| Stara et al. (1996) |
| AA. VV. +1 other reference | |
| Stara et al. (1996) +1 other reference | |
| Stara et al. (1996) | |
| G.Conti-Vecchi et al. (1991) | |
| Stara et al. (1996) | |
| doi.org (n.d.) +3 other references | |
| AA. VV. |
| Richard (1879) +2 other references |
| Richard (1879) +5 other references |
| Traverso (1898) +4 other references | |
| Richard (1879) +6 other references | |
| Exel (1987) |
Japan | |
| FUKUOKA et al. (1977) |
| [var: Arite] Takeo Kato: "Two Types of Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite Deposits Found in Korea." (9 pp) |
| Agata (1973) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Karpenko et al. (2011) |
Norway | |
| Naik (1975) +1 other reference |
| Cook (1996) |
| Cook (1996) | |
| F.M. Vokes (1963) +1 other reference |
| Karup-Møller (1973) |
| Saager (1967) |
Russia | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) +2 other references |
| Sharygin et al. (2010, September) |
| |
| Burlakov (1999) |
| Silyanov et al. (2022) |
| Kovalev et al. (2023) | |
| Dvorani (2016) |
| - (2014) |
| Yulia D. Gritsenko (2005) +2 other references |
| Yulia D. Gritsenko (2005) +3 other references | |
| Ryabov et al. (2010, October) |
| Goryachev et al. (2008) |
| Bryzgalov et al. (2007, November) |
| Goryachev et al. (2014) | |
| Karpov S.M. et al. (2012) +2 other references |
| Rudashevskii N S et al. (1982) |
| [var: Arite] Chernyavsky et al. (2012) | |
| Abzalov et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| Ratkin et al. (2020) |
| Gvozdev et al. (2016) |
| Kazachenko et al. (2013) |
| Antonov A.A. [Антонов А.А.] (2003) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Spiridonov et al. (2010, December) |
Serbia | |
| Radosavljević-Mihajlović et al. (2017) |
Slovakia | |
| Maťo et al. (stredné Slovensko) |
| Ďuďa R. et al. ( Kotterbach ) |
| Duda et. all. |
| Ďuďa R. (2001) | |
South Africa | |
| O'Driscoll et al. (2014) |
Spain | |
| Mata i Perelló (1990) |
| MTI Mineralogía Topográfica Ibérica |
Sweden | |
| Andersen (2009) |
| Andersen (2009) |
| Burke et al. (1990) |
| |
| |
| Zakrzewski et al (1982) |
| NJMMh 1982 |
| EurJMin 5 +1 other reference |
| Dobbe et al. (1994) | |
| Neues Jahrb.Mineral. Monatsch. |
| |
| Rincon (2022) |
| Nysten (1990) |
| T. Wikström | |
| Juve (1974) |
| Kieft et al. (1987) |
Switzerland | |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference | |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference | |
Tanzania | |
| Barrie et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Vos (2009) |
UK | |
| Kingsbury (MS1) +1 other reference |
| Stanley et al. (1991) | |
| Tindle (2008) | |
| 5th International Platinum Symposium ... |
| Prichard et al. (1988) | |
USA | |
| Illig (2015) |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 66. +1 other reference |
| Shepard (1864) |
| Januzzi et al. (1976) |
| Verbeek et al. (1) +1 other reference |
Uzbekistan | |
| Mineraly Uzbekistana (Minerals of the Uzbekistan) |
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Masaloni Mine, San Vito, South Sardinia Province, Sardinia, Italy