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Benleonardite

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Big Photo

Bambollita Mine (Oriental Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
© Brent Thorne 2010




Formula:
Ag
 
8
(Sb,As)Te
 
2
S
 
3
System:TetragonalColour:dark grey, black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3
Name:Named in 1986 by Chris J. Stanley, Alan J. Criddle, and James E. Chisholm in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Leonard III [May 12, 1921 Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA - 2008 McCall, Idaho, USA], mineralogist and geologist with the United States Geological Survey, Denver Colorado
This page provides mineralogical data about Benleonardite.

Classification of Benleonardite

IMA status:Approved 1985
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.05-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.LA.50

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.1.10.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.23

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

Type Locality:Bambollita Mine (Oriental Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Place of Conservation of Type Material:British Museum of Natural History
Year of Discovery:1985
Geological Setting of type material:Fractures in an intensely silicified rhyolitic vitrophyre.

Physical Properties of Benleonardite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:dark grey, black
Hardness (Mohs):3
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=105 - 125 kg/mm2
Density (calculated):7.76 g/cm3

Crystallography of Benleonardite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.603(5) Å, c = 12.726(5) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.927
Unit Cell Volume:V 554.85 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crusts and fracture fillings, grains and laths to 60 microns.
Twinning:Some simple law
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
12.7 (70)
3.188 (30)
2.936 (100)
2.328 (20)
2.863 (25)
2.608 (35)
2.158 (35)
Comments:Moctezuma mine, Mexico.

Optical Data of Benleonardite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Moderate to strong in tints of brown, blue and grey
Reflectivity:
400nmR1=35.6%R2= 36.8%
420nmR1=35.7%R2= 36.6%
440nmR1=35.8%R2= 36.2%
460nmR1=35.7%R2= 35.6%
480nmR1=35.5%R2= 34.9%
500nmR1=35.1%R2= 34.1%
520nmR1=34.7%R2= 33.2%
540nmR1=34.1%R2= 32.2%
560nmR1=33.5%R2= 31.4%
580nmR1=32.9%R2= 30.7%
600nmR1=32.4%R2= 30.0%
620nmR1=32.0%R2= 29.5%
640nmR1=31.6%R2= 29.1%
660nmR1=31.4%R2= 28.7%
680nmR1=31.1%R2= 28.4%
700nmR1=30.8%R2= 28.1%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 36.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:Pale blue

Chemical Properties of Benleonardite

Formula:
Ag
 
8
(Sb,As)Te
 
2
S
 
3
Essential elements:Ag, S, Sb, Te
All elements listed in formula:Ag, As, S, Sb, Te
Analytical Data:Moctezuma mine, Mexico; by electron microprobe, average of 14 analyses.
Ag (64.5)
Cu (0.1)
Sb (7.3)
As (1.4)
Te (18.7)
S (8.0)
Total (100.0)
Empirical Formula:
Ag
 
7.80
Cu
 
0.02
(Sb
 
0.78
As
 
0.24
)Te
 
1.90
S
 
3.25
Common Impurities:Cu

Relationship of Benleonardite to other Species

Common Associates:
SphaleriteQuartzPyriteHessiteDolomite
Acanthite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.LA.10Dervillite
Ag
 
2
AsS
 
2
2.LA.15Daomanite
CuPtAsS
 
2
2.LA.20Vaughanite
TlHgSb
 
4
S
 
7
2.LA.25Criddleite
TlAg
 
2
Au
 
3
Sb
 
10
S
 
10
2.LA.30Fettelite
[Ag
 
6
As
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
10
HgAs
 
2
S
 
8
]
2.LA.35Chaméanite
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
As(Se,S)
 
4
2.LA.40Arcubisite
Ag
 
6
CuBiS
 
4
2.LA.45Mgriite
Cu
 
3
AsSe
 
3
2.LA.55Tsnigriite
Ag
 
9
SbTe
 
3
(S,Se)
 
3
2.LA.60Borovskite
Pd
 
3
SbTe
 
4
2.LA.65Jonassonite
AuBi
 
5
S
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.2.1Smithite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.2Trechmannite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.3Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.4Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.5Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
5.2.7Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
5.2.8Miargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
5.2.9Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.11Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
5.2.12Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.13Billingsleyite
Ag
 
7
AsS
 
6
5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
5.2.15Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
5.2.16Aramayoite
Ag(Sb,Bi)S
 
2
5.2.17Matildite
AgBiS
 
2
5.2.18Schapbachite
AgBiS
 
2
5.2.19Pavonite
(Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
 
3
S
 
5
5.2.20Arcubisite
Ag
 
6
CuBiS
 
4
5.2.21Bohdanowiczite
AgBiSe
 
2
5.2.22Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
5.2.24Volynskite
AgBiTe
 
2

Other Names for Benleonardite

Synonyms:
IMA1985-043
Other Languages:
German:Benleonardit
Spanish:Benleonardita

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 Benleonardite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 73: 439.

Stanley, C.J., Criddle, A.J. and Chisholm, J.E. (1986): Benleonardite, a new mineral from the Bambolla mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico. Mineralogical Magazine, 50, 681–686.

Spry, P.G. and Thieben, S.E. (1996): Two new occurrences of benleonardite, a rare silver–tellurium sulphosalt, and a possible new occurrence of cervelleite. Mineralogical Magazine, 60, 871–876.

Internet Links for Benleonardite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Benleonardite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Benleonardite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Lungau
        • Murwinkel
          • Rotgülden
    		Horner, J., Neubauer, F., Paar, W.H., Hansmann, W., Koeppel, V., and Robl, K. (1997): Mineralium Deposita 32, 555-568.
    • Styria
      • Birkfeld
        • Gasen
    		Bojar, H.-P. et al. (1998)
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Kenora District
        • Red Lake Gold District
          • Balmertown
    		Rocks & Minerals 79:2 pp94-99
    Fiji
     
    • Viti Levu
      • Tavua Gold Field
        • Vatukoula
    		D. W. Pals and P. G. Spry "Telluride mineralogy of the low-sulfidation" Mineralogy and Petrology (2003) 79: 285–307
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Ossola Valley
          • Baceno
            • Devero Alp (Devero Valley; Val Devero)
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Shizuoka Prefecture
          • Shimoda City
            • Rendaiji
    		(unpublished species lists maintained by local collectors; needs confirmation)
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
        • Moctezuma
    		Min.Mag.(1986) 50, 681-686
    A. J. Criddle, J. E. Chisholm & C. J. Stanley (1989): Cervelleite, Ag4TeS, a new mineral from the Bambolla mine, Mexico, and a description of a photo-chemical reaction involving cervelleite, acanthite and hessite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 1, 371-380.
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
    		Ďuďa R.,Kotuľak P., Káňa R., 1993: Bergbau und Mineralien von Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz), Slowakei. Emser Hefte, 14, 3, 1-70, Haltern
      • Žiar nad Hronom Co.
    		Ďuďa R., 1993 : Die mineralien der Gold und Silber - lagersttäte von Kremnitz ( Kremnica) in der Slowakei. Mineralien Welt /Haltern,Nemecko/,5, s. 20 - 32
    Sweden
     
    • Västerbotten
      • Boliden
    UK
     
    Tindle, A.G. (2008) Minerals of Britian and Ireland
    USA
     
    • Montana
      • Fergus Co.
        • Warm Springs District (Gilt Edge District; Gold Hill District; Maiden District)
          • Cone Butte Sub District
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : 871-876
      • Madison Co.
        • Norwegian District (Whitehall District)
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : 871-876
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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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