Hutchinsonite
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Formula:
TlPbAs5S9
Colour:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
4.6
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Dr. Arthur Hutchinson (6 July 1866, London, UK – 12 December 1937, Cambridge, UK), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Cambridge.
This page provides mineralogical data about Hutchinsonite.
Classification of Hutchinsonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
2/E.13-45
2.HD.45
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
D : With Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
D : With Tl
3.8.6.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
5.5.7
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
Pronounciation of Hutchinsonite
Pronounciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Hutchinsonite
Adamantine
Colour:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Streak:
Scarlet-vermillion to deep cherry-red
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010} good.
{010} good.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
4.6 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Hutchinsonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 3.078 nβ = 3.176 nγ = 3.188
2V:
Measured: 37° , Calculated: 36°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.110

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Type:
Anisotropic
Anisotropism:
Strong
Dispersion:
marked to extreme
Internal Reflections:
Marked carmine-red
Chemical Properties of Hutchinsonite
Formula:
TlPbAs5S9
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,Sb
Crystallography of Hutchinsonite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.8 Å, b = 35.35 Å, c = 8.16 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.306 : 1 : 0.231
Unit Cell V:
3,115.32 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Prismatic to acicular [001]. Dominant prism {410}. Radiating tufts at times.
Type Occurrence of Hutchinsonite
Other Language Names for Hutchinsonite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Orpiment | 102 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Orpiment on mindat.org. |
Baryte | 42 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Baryte on mindat.org. |
Pyrite | 20 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Pyrite on mindat.org. |
Realgar | 14 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Realgar on mindat.org. |
Arsenic | 9 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Arsenic on mindat.org. |
Argentobaumhauerite | 6 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Argentobaumhauerite on mindat.org. |
Quartz | 4 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Quartz on mindat.org. |
Sphalerite | 3 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Sphalerite on mindat.org. |
Jordanite | 3 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Jordanite on mindat.org. |
Geocronite | 3 photos of Hutchinsonite associated with Geocronite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
2.HD.05 | Lorándite | TlAsS2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
2.HD.05 | Weissbergite | TlSbS2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
2.HD.15 | Christite | TlHgAsS3 | Mon. 2/m |
2.HD.20 | Jankovićite | Tl5Sb9(As,Sb)4S22 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
2.HD.25 | Rebulite | Tl5Sb5As8S22 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
2.HD.30 | Imhofite | Tl5.8As15.4S26 | Mon. 2/m |
2.HD.35 | Edenharterite | PbTlAs3S6 | Orth. |
2.HD.40 | Jentschite | TlPbAs2SbS6 | Mon. |
2.HD.50 | Bernardite | TlAs5S8 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
2.HD.55 | Sicherite | TlAg2(As,Sb)3S6 | Orth. |
2.HD.60 | Gabrielite | Tl6Ag3Cu6(As,Sb)9S21 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
5.5.1 | Lorándite | TlAsS2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.5.2 | Ellisite | Tl3AsS3 | Trig. 3m : R3m |
5.5.3 | Imhofite | Tl5.8As15.4S26 | Mon. 2/m |
5.5.4 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 | Mon. 2/m |
5.5.6 | Christite | TlHgAsS3 | Mon. 2/m |
5.5.6 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
5.5.8 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 | Tric. |
5.5.9 | Bernardite | TlAs5S8 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.5.10 | Vrbaite | Hg3Tl4As8Sb2S20 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmca |
5.5.11 | Rebulite | Tl5Sb5As8S22 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.5.12 | Gillulyite | Tl2As7.5Sb0.3S13 | Mon. |
5.5.13 | Weissbergite | TlSbS2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
5.5.14 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 | Orth. |
5.5.15 | Vaughanite | TlHgSb4S7 | Tric. |
5.5.16 | Chalcothallite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
5.5.17 | Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
5.5.18 | Parapierrotite | TlSb5S8 | Mon. m |
5.5.19 | Criddleite | TlAg2Au3Sb10S10 | Mon. |
5.5.20 | Chabournéite | Tl4Pb2(Sb,As)20S34 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Contains thallium, lead and arsenic, three toxic elements - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.
References for Hutchinsonite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Solly (1904), Cambridge Philosophical Society, Proceedings: 12: 277.
Solly (1905), Mineralogical Magazine: 14: 72.
Smith and Prior (1907), Mineralogical Magazine: 14: 283.
Guisca (1930), Min. Mitt.: 10: 170.
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: 468-470.
Takéuchi, Y., Ghose, S., Nowacki, W. (1965): The crystal structure of hutchinsonite, (Tl,Pb)2As5S9. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 121, 321-348.
White, J.S. & Nelen, J.A. (1985): Hutchinsonite from Quiruvilca, Peru. Mineralogical Record 16, 459-460.
Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 86: 163-178.
Matsushita, Y., Takéuchi, Y. (1994): Refinement of the crystal structure of hutchinsonite, TlPbAs5S9. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 209, 475-478.
Internet Links for Hutchinsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1954.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Hutchinsonite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Zhou, T.F., Fan, Y., Yuan, F., Wu, M.A., Hou, M.J., Voicu, G., Hu, Q.H., Zhang, Q.M., and Yue, S.C. (2005): Mineralogy and Petrology 85(3/4), 243-251 |
| Guanglong Shu, Shimin Ma, and Jishun Liu (2007): Geology and Prospecting 43(2), 1-7 |
| Baogui Zhang, Zhong Zhang, Guohong Gong, Sanxue Wang, and Mingzai Wang (1995): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 15(2), 138-143; Minzhi Yang (2000): Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry 19(4), 381-383 |
Germany | |
| P. Ramdohr, (1980) The Ore Minerals and Their Intergrowths,2nd ed., Pergammon Press, pg 740. |
Iran | |
| W. H. Paar, A. Pring, Y. Moëlo, C. J. Stanley, H. Putz, D. Topa, A. C. Roberts, R. S. W. Braithwaite (2009): Daliranite, PbHgAs2S6, a new sulphosalt from the Zarshouran Au-As deposit, Takab region, Iran. Mineralogical Magazine, 73, 871-881. |
Japan | |
| Shimizu, M., Matsuyama, F. and Shimizu, M. (1999): Hutchinsonite, TlPb(As,Sb)5S9 chabournéite, Tl2Pb(Sb,As)10S17 and unnamed (Tl,Ag)2Pb6(As,Sb)16S31 from the Toya-Takarada mine, Hokkaido, Japan -Tl mineralisation in the Kuroko deposits. Resource Geology, Special Issue no. 20, 31-37. |
Peru | |
| White, J.S. & Nelen, J.A. (1985): Hutchinsonite from Quiruvilca, Peru. Mineralogical Record 16, 459-460; Hyrsl & Rosales (2003) Mineralogical Record, 34, 241-254 |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Cambridge Phil.Soc.Proc.(1904) 12, 277 and Mineralogical Magazine(1905) 14, 72-82 |
Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru