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Alabandite

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Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
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Formula:
Mn
2+
 
S
System:IsometricColour:Iron black, brown, ...
Hardness:3½ - 4
Member of:Galena Group
Name:The name is derived from its supposed discovery locality at Alabanda, Aïdin, Turkey.


Galena Group.

Classification of Alabandite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.15-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CD.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.1.4

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.8.12

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
8 : Sulphides etc. of Cr, Mo, W an Mn
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Type Occurrence of Alabandite

Type Locality:Sacarîmb (Sãcãrâmb; Szekerembe; Nagyág), Hunedoara Co., Romania
Year of Discovery:1832

Occurrences of Alabandite

Geological Setting:May occur in large quantities in epithermal polymetallic sulfide veins and especially in low-temperature manganese deposits. An uncommon constituent of a number of meteorites.

Physical Properties of Alabandite

Lustre:Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Iron black, brown, greyish black, green; dull brown (tarnished)
Comment:gray-white in polished section; deep green to brown and red in thin slivers.
Streak:dark green, brown
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=164 - 176 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
on {100}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):3.95 - 4.04 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.053 g/cm3

Crystallography of Alabandite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Fm3m {F4/m 3 2/m}
Space Group Setting:Fm3m
Cell Parameters:a = 5.2236Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 142.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals cubic or octahedral, to 1 cm. Commonly massive, granular.
Twinning:Lamellar parallel to {111}

Optical Data of Alabandite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 2.70
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Colour in reflected light:Gray-white

Chemical Properties of Alabandite

Formula:
Mn
2+
 
S
Essential elements:Mn, S
All elements listed in formula:Mn, S
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Co

Relationship of Alabandite to other Species

Member of:Galena Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Altaite
PbTe
Clausthalite
PbSe
Galena
PbS
Niningerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)S
Oldhamite
(Ca,Mg)S
Common Associates:
TelluriumSphaleriteRhodoniteRhodochrositeQuartz
PyriteGalenaChalcopyriteCalciteAcanthite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.CD.05Herzenbergite
(Sn,Pb)SnS
 
2
2.CD.05Teallite
(Pb,Sn)SnS
 
2
2.CD.10Altaite
PbTe
2.CD.10Clausthalite
PbSe
2.CD.10Galena
PbS
2.CD.10Niningerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)S
2.CD.10Oldhamite
(Ca,Mg)S
2.CD.10Keilite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)S
2.CD.15aCinnabar
HgS
2.CD.15bHypercinnabar
HgS
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.8.1Brezinaite
Cr
 
3
S
 
4
3.8.2Caswellsilverite
NaCrS
 
2
3.8.3Kalininite
ZnCr
 
2
S
 
4
3.8.4Daubréelite
Fe
2+
 
Cr
3+
2
S
 
4
3.8.5Heideite
(Fe,Cr)
 
1.15
(Ti,Fe)
 
2
S
 
4
3.8.6Molybdenite
MoS
 
2
3.8.7 Molybdenite-3R
MoS
 
2
3.8.8Jordisite
MoS
 
2
3.8.9Drysdallite
Mo(Se,S)
 
2
3.8.10Tungstenite
WS
 
2
3.8.13Hauerite
MnS
 
2
3.8.14Manganoshadlunite
(Mn,Pb,Cd)(Cu,Fe)
 
8
S
 
8

Other Names for Alabandite

Synonyms:
AlabandineAlabandite (of Beudant)Glance-blende
Other Languages:
German:Alabandin
Alabandit
Blumenbachit
Braunsteinblende
Braunsteinkies
Manganblende
Manganglanz
Schwarze Blende
Schwarzerz
Japanese:閃マンガン鉱
Russian:Алабандин
Simplified Chinese:硫锰矿
Spanish:Alabandita

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 Alabandite

Reference List:

- +
Klaproth, M.H. (1802): Chemische Untersuchung des Siebenbürgischen Schwarzerzes, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Dritter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 35-43

Hewett, D.F. & O.N. Rove (1930), Occurrence and relations of alabandite, Economic Geology: 25: 36-56.

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, 834pp.: 207-208.

Abbolito E. (1960) Proprietà ottiche a luce riflessa dell'hauerite e dell'alabandite. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma pp. 1-8.

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 1269.

Internet Links for Alabandite

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    • Localities for Alabandite

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    Locality Updated: Rossie Lead Mining Company Mine, Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., New York, USAFrom Peter Cristofono, 10th Feb 2012 17:55:06