Benleonardite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Benleonardite
Formula:
[Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2]
Colour:
Dark grey, black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
7.76 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1986 by Chris J. Stanley, Alan J. Criddle, and James E. Chisholm in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Leonard III (12 May 1921 Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA - 5 Septermber 2008 McCall, Idaho, USA), mineralogist and geologist with the United States Geological Survey, Denver Colorado. He was a leading expert in ore microscopy. He discovered and described the new minerals paradocrasite and polhemusite, and co-authored descriptions of four other new minerals. The Eocene larch, Larix leonardii, is also named in his honor.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
817
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:817:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0975b3bb-e036-49c7-9a01-61bbb7b06459
IMA Classification of Benleonardite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ag15Cu(Sb,As)2S7Te4
Approval year:
1985
First published:
1986
Classification of Benleonardite
2.LA.50
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
3.1.10.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4
3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4
5.2.23
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bln | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Benleonardite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dark grey, black
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=105 - 125 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
7.76 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Benleonardite
Anisotropism:
Moderate to strong in tints of brown, blue and grey
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
400nm | 35.6% | 36.8% |
420nm | 35.7% | 36.6% |
440nm | 35.8% | 36.2% |
460nm | 35.7% | 35.6% |
480nm | 35.5% | 34.9% |
500nm | 35.1% | 34.1% |
520nm | 34.7% | 33.2% |
540nm | 34.1% | 32.2% |
560nm | 33.5% | 31.4% |
580nm | 32.9% | 30.7% |
600nm | 32.4% | 30.0% |
620nm | 32.0% | 29.5% |
640nm | 31.6% | 29.1% |
660nm | 31.4% | 28.7% |
680nm | 31.1% | 28.4% |
700nm | 30.8% | 28.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 36.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Pale blue
Chemistry of Benleonardite
Mindat Formula:
[Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2]
Common Impurities:
Cu
Crystallography of Benleonardite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Setting:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.623(1) (Å)(5) Å, c = 12.708(1) (Å)(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.667
Unit Cell V:
639.5 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Crusts and fracture fillings, grains and laths to 60 microns.
Twinning:
Some simple law
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
12.7 Å | (70) |
3.188 Å | (30) |
2.936 Å | (100) |
2.328 Å | (20) |
2.863 Å | (25) |
2.608 Å | (35) |
2.158 Å | (35) |
Comments:
Moctezuma mine, Mexico.
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]) |
Type Occurrence of Benleonardite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin black crusts
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
British Museum of Natural History, polished mount E.1161; BM 1985, 354.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fractures in an intensely silicified rhyolitic vitrophyre.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
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.
Synonyms of Benleonardite
Other Language Names for Benleonardite
German:Benleonardit
Spanish:Benleonardita
Relationship of Benleonardite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Argentopearceite | Ag16As2S11 | Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1 |
Argentopolybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4] | Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1 |
Argentopolybasite-T2ac | Ag16Sb2S11 | Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1 |
Cupropearceite | [Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Cupropolybasite | [Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] | Trig. 3m : P3 1m |
Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Polybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Selenopolybasite | [(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2] | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
7 photos of Benleonardite associated with Hessite | Ag2Te |
3 photos of Benleonardite associated with Cervelleite | Ag4TeS |
2 photos of Benleonardite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
1 photo of Benleonardite associated with Tlalocite | Cu10Zn6(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)(OH)25Cl · 27H2O |
1 photo of Benleonardite associated with Acanthite | Ag2S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.LA. | Gladkovskyite | MnTlAs3S6 |
2.LA. | Biagioniite | Tl2SbS2 |
2.LA. | Thunderbayite | TlAg3Au3Sb7S6 |
2.LA. | Auerbakhite | MnTl2As2S5 |
2.LA. | Ferrofettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10FeAs2S8] |
2.LA.10 | Dervillite | Ag2AsS2 |
2.LA.15 | Daomanite | CuPtAsS2 |
2.LA.20 | Vaughanite | TlHgSb4S7 |
2.LA.25 | Criddleite | TlAg2Au3Sb10S10 |
2.LA.30 | Fettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8] |
2.LA.35 | Chaméanite | (Cu,Fe)4As(Se,S)4 |
2.LA.40 | Arcubisite | Ag6CuBiS4 |
2.LA.45 | Mgriite | Cu3AsSe3 |
2.LA.55 | Tsnigriite | Ag9SbTe3S3 |
2.LA.60 | Borovskite | Pd3SbTe4 |
2.LA.65 | Jonassonite | AuBi5S4 |
2.LA.65 | Nuwaite | Ni6GeS2 |
2.LA.65 | Butianite | Ni6SnS2 |
2.LA.70 | Raberite | Tl5Ag4As6SbS15 |
2.LA.75 | Spaltiite | Tl2Cu2As2S5 |
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 Benleonardite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-817.html
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References for Benleonardite
Reference List:
Stanley, C. J., Criddle, A. J., Chisholm, J. E. (1986) Benleonardite, a new mineral from the Bambolla mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (358) 681-686 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.358.15
Jambor, John L., Grew, Edward S., Puziewicz, Jacek, Vanko, David A. (1988) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 73 (3-4) 439-445
Bindi, Luca, Stanley, Christopher J., Spry, Paul G. (2015) New structural data reveal benleonardite to be a member of the pearceite-polybasite group. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (5) 1213-1221 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.5.15
Localities for Benleonardite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Gallard-Esquivel et al. (2018) |
Austria | |
| Paar et al. (2018) |
| Horner et al. (1997) |
| Bojar (1998) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Duff (2016) |
| Rocks & Minerals 79:2 pp94-99 |
Egypt | |
| Faisal et al. (2021) |
Ibrahim M. Shalaby et al. (2004) | |
Fiji | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Pals et al. (2003) |
Iran | |
| Altenberger et al. (Ag-Au) |
Italy | |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
Japan | |
| - (unpublished species lists maintained by local collectors) +1 other reference |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Stanley et al. (1986) |
Criddle et al. (1989) +1 other reference | |
Romania | |
| Săbău et al. (2016) |
Dincă et al. (2018) +1 other reference | |
| Cristeastan et al. (2012) |
Russia | |
| Vakh et al. (2016) |
| Maslennikov et al. (2013) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2020) |
Slovakia | |
| Ďuďa R. et al. (Schemnitz) |
| Berkh et al. (2014) |
| Ďuďa (1993) |
Sweden | |
| |
UK | |
Tindle (2008) | |
| Ixer et al. (1997) |
USA | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : 871-876 |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : 871-876 |
| EDS by Dr. Rob Bowell. |
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Bambollita Mine, Moctezuma, Moctezuma Municipality, Sonora, Mexico