Chalcothallite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Chalcothallite
Formula:
Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4
Colour:
Lead Grey to iron black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
6.6
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
For the chemical composition.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Chalcothallite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
978
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:978:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
2c25c928-867e-455f-9280-8d409b85957f
IMA Classification of Chalcothallite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(Cu,Fe,Ag)6.3(Tl,K)2SbS4
First published:
1967
Classification of Chalcothallite
2.BD.40
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
3.2.7.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4
3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4
5.5.16
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
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 |
---|---|---|
Ccth | 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 Chalcothallite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead Grey to iron black
Comment:
Iridescent tarnish
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=68 - 76 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
VHN on (001)
Tenacity:
Waxy
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {001}
indistinct on {100} {010}
perfect on {001}
indistinct on {100} {010}
Comment:
Plastic, tectonically deformed.
Density:
6.6 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.74 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chalcothallite
Anisotropism:
Distinct in orange to red-browns
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
400nm | 27.6% | 31.0% |
420nm | 27.1% | 30.5% |
440nm | 26.5% | 30.1% |
460nm | 26.0% | 29.6% |
480nm | 25.5% | 29.2% |
500nm | 25.1% | 28.8% |
520nm | 24.9% | 28.4% |
540nm | 24.7% | 28.1% |
560nm | 24.6% | 27.7% |
580nm | 24.7% | 27.3% |
600nm | 24.7% | 26.9% |
620nm | 24.8% | 26.6% |
640nm | 24.8% | 26.2% |
660nm | 24.8% | 26.0% |
680nm | 24.9% | 25.7% |
700nm | 24.9% | 25.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 31.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy white to light gray with brownish creamy tint
Pleochroism:
Visible
Chemistry of Chalcothallite
Mindat Formula:
Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4
Common Impurities:
Pb,Se
Crystallography of Chalcothallite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.827(1) Å, c = 34.280(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 8.957
Unit Cell V:
502.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Lamellar aggregatesd to 2cm
Twinning:
Fine grid of lamellae parallel to (110) and (110)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0014710 | Chalcothallite | Makovicky E, Johan Z, Karup-Moller S (1980) New data on bukovite, thalcusite, chalcothallite and rohaite Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 138 122-146 | 1980 | Ilimaussaq massif, Greenland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.447 Å | (100) |
1.913 Å | (100) |
3.803 Å | (70) |
3.015 Å | (70) |
3.630 Å | (50) |
2.704 Å | (50) |
2.580 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Chalcothallite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Lamellar agrgegates tp to 3x3x0.5 cm in ussingite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Ussingite veins in poikilitic sodalite syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Semenov, E.I., Sørensen, H., Bessmertnaja, M.S., Novorossova, L.E. (1967) Chalcothallite – a new sulphide of copper and thallium from the Ilímaussaq alkaline intrusion, South Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland, 181(5), 13-26.
Synonyms of Chalcothallite
Other Language Names for Chalcothallite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Ussingite | Na2AlSi3O8OH |
3 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Cuprostibite | Cu2(Sb,Tl) |
2 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Steenstrupine-(Ce) | Na14Mn2+2Fe3+2Ce6Zr(Si6O18)2(PO4)6(PO3OH)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.BD. | UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 |
2.BD. | Vrančiceite | Cu10Hg3S8 |
2.BD.05 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 |
2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
2.BD.15 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 |
2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 |
2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 |
2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S |
2.BD.30 | Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 |
2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 |
2.BD.30 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 |
2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 |
2.BD.45 | Sabatierite | TlCu6Se4 |
2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 |
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 Chalcothallite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-978.html
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References for Chalcothallite
Localities for Chalcothallite
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.
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
Karup-Møller et al. (2001) | |
| Semenov et al. (1967) |
Karup-Møller et al. (2001) |
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Mount Nakkaalaaq, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland